Uncooled infrared sensors for the detection and identification of chemical products of combustion

US5959299A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Raytheon Company · US

Inventors

• Carlos Castro · Garland, US
• Malcolm J. Bevan · Dallas, US
• Sebastian R. Borrello · Dallas, US
• Kent R. Carson · McKinney, US
• Luigi Colombo · Dallas, US
• Herbert F. Schaake · Denton, US
• Donald F. Weirauch · Dallas, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 1, 1997
• Grant date: Sep 28, 1999
• Expiry date: Apr 1, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10F39/1847

Abstract

This is a sensor for, and a method of, determining if a particular type of flame is present, using at least two uncooled HgCdTe detector films on a common IR transmissive substrate. Specific examples of the types of radiation which can be identified include gasoline flames, natural gas flames, and organic combustion flames (identified, e.g., by comparing the amount of combined carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide to the amount of water vapor). The ratio of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide can also be determined. The sensor can include a first HgCdTe filter (88) on a common IR transmissive substrate (42), a first uncooled HgCdTe detector film (86) over the first filter (88), and a second uncooled HgCdTe detector film (92) on a CdTe insulator which is either on the first uncooled HgCdTe detector film, or on a second HgCdTe filter (94) provided on the common IR transmissive substrate.