Comparison of Pyroelectric and Thermopile Detectors

摘要

Thermal infrared detectors are distinguished by the advantages of a wide wavelength response, nornrequirement for cooling, high-temperature stability, high signal-to-noise ratio and low cost.rnConsequently, they are widely used in consumer products and in instrumentation. In the literature onerncan find many publications with regard to details either of pyroelectric detectors or thermopiles but arncomparison of both thermal detectors could seldom be found. The main principles and the basicrndesign of both the pyroelectric detector and the thermopile will be discussed as a starting point. Thenrnthe electro-optical properties of typical representatives of both the pyroelectric detector and thernthermopile produced from our companies will be compared. Measurement results of blackbodyrnresponsivity, noise, and specific detectivity and spectral response will be displayed and discussed.rnThe authors will conclude with a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of pyroelectricrndetectors and thermopiles, including the electro-optical properties as well as the costs and typicalrnapplications of both thermal detector types.