An infrared thermometer measures a temperature of an energy zone. The infrared thermometer comprises a beam splitter for splitting an incident light beam from an energy zone into an infrared light beam and a visible light beam; an infrared detector for detecting the infrared light beam and generating a signal indicative of a temperature of the energy zone according to the detected infrared light beam; and a sighting device having an optical module for generating a reflective reticle image and transmitting the visible light beam to generate a target image at a sight window, wherein the sighting device is configured to superimpose the reflective reticle image over the target image at the sight window to align the infrared detector with the energy zone. The infrared thermometer and an associated measurement method facilitate the alignment of the energy zone by the users, thereby improving the accuracy of the measurement.

A radiation detector includes a substrate and a membrane suspended above the substrate by spacers, wherein the spacers electrically contact a radiation sensor formed in the membrane and thermally insulate the membrane from the substrate.

A method of estimating non-linearity in a response of an optical detector comprises emitting optical radiation at different intensities. The method includes, at each intensity: amplitude modulating the emitted optical radiation at a modulating frequency to produce amplitude modulated optical radiation; detecting the amplitude modulated optical radiation with the optical detector to produce a detected waveform; and generating a Fourier transform of the detected waveform that includes a fundamental frequency equal to the modulating frequency and harmonics thereof. The method further includes estimating the non-linearity in the response of the optical detector based on a change in an amplitude of a second harmonic of the fundamental frequency relative to an amplitude of the fundamental frequency across the Fourier transforms corresponding to the different intensities.

A spectroscopic sensor includes a wiring substrate having a main surface, a light detector disposed on the main surface of the wiring substrate, a Fabry-Perot interference filter, a spacer which is provided on the main surface of the wiring substrate and supports the Fabry-Perot interference filter so that the Fabry-Perot interference filter and the light detector are separated from each other, and a stein connected to a ground potential. A second current path which has a smaller electric resistance than that of an arbitrary first current path which extends from the Fabry-Perot interference filter to the light detector via the spacer and the wiring substrate is formed between the Fabry-Perot interference filter and the stein.

A spectroscopic sensor includes a wiring substrate having a main surface, a light detector disposed on the main surface of the wiring substrate, a Fabry-Perot interference filter, a spacer which is provided on the main surface of the wiring substrate and supports the Fabry-Perot interference filter so that the Fabry-Perot interference filter and the light detector are separated from each other, and a stein connected to a ground potential. A second current path which has a smaller electric resistance than that of an arbitrary first current path which extends from the Fabry-Perot interference filter to the light detector via the spacer and the wiring substrate is formed between the Fabry-Perot interference filter and the stein.

A lens allows infrared light to pass therethrough. An infrared sensor includes infrared detection elements arranged in two or more columns. The infrared sensor is rotated around a scan rotation axis that passes through part of the lens to scan a detection range, and outputs an output signal indicating a thermal image of the detection range. At least two infrared detection elements in the infrared sensor are located at positions displaced from each other with respect to the scan rotation axis. Among the infrared detection elements, the number of first infrared detection elements having a smaller half-width of a point spread function in a scan direction than that in the direction of the scan rotation axis is larger than the number of second infrared detection elements having a larger half-width of a point spread function in the scan direction than that in the direction of the scan rotation axis.

A lens allows infrared light to pass therethrough. An infrared sensor includes infrared detection elements arranged in two or more columns. The infrared sensor is rotated around a scan rotation axis that passes through part of the lens to scan a detection range, and outputs an output signal indicating a thermal image of the detection range. At least two infrared detection elements in the infrared sensor are located at positions displaced from each other with respect to the scan rotation axis. Among the infrared detection elements, the number of first infrared detection elements having a smaller half-width of a point spread function in a scan direction than that in the direction of the scan rotation axis is larger than the number of second infrared detection elements having a larger half-width of a point spread function in the scan direction than that in the direction of the scan rotation axis.

An infrared photodetection device (10) includes a detection unit (1) and a calculation unit (3). The detection unit (1) detects infrared light in a particular, first wavelength range. The calculation section (3) calculates an optical signal component detected by the detection unit 1 from a detection value of the detection unit (1) and a thermal signal component representing an amount of change of a thermal signal caused by a rise in temperature when infrared light is incident on the detection unit (1), and calculates the temperature of a measurement object (30) from the calculated optical signal component and the calculated thermal signal component.

An infrared photodetection device (10) includes a detection unit (1) and a calculation unit (3). The detection unit (1) detects infrared light in a particular, first wavelength range. The calculation section (3) calculates an optical signal component detected by the detection unit 1 from a detection value of the detection unit (1) and a thermal signal component representing an amount of change of a thermal signal caused by a rise in temperature when infrared light is incident on the detection unit (1), and calculates the temperature of a measurement object (30) from the calculated optical signal component and the calculated thermal signal component.

Described herein is a detector for detecting optical radiation, especially within the infrared spectral range, specifically with regard to sensing at least one of transmissivity, absorption, emission and reflectivity, being capable of avoiding or diminishing a cross detection between sensor areas, specifically between adjacent sensor areas, thus, avoiding or diminishing a deterioration of a measurement based on the at least one sensor signal.