A method and an infrared measuring system for determining a temperature distribution of a surface without contact includes an infrared detector array with a detector array substrate and respective pluralities of measuring pixels and reference pixels. The measuring pixels are each connected to the detector array substrate with a first thermal conductivity, are sensitive to infrared radiation, and each provide a measurement signal for determining a temperature measurement value that depends on the intensity of the incident infrared radiation. The reference pixels are each connected to the detector array substrate with a second thermal conductivity and each provide a measurement signal for determining a temperature measurement value. The reference pixels are implemented as blind pixels that are substantially insensitive to infrared radiation. The temperature measurement values of the measuring pixels are corrected by a pixel-associated temperature drift component determined with reference to the temperature measurement values of the reference pixels.

Methods and apparatus for preventing solar damage, and other heat-related damage, to uncooled microbolometer pixels. In certain examples, a thermochroic membrane that becomes highly reflective at temperatures above a certain threshold is applied over at least some of the microbolometer pixels to prevent the pixels from being damaged by excessive heat.

Methods and apparatus for preventing solar damage, and other heat-related damage, to uncooled microbolometer pixels. In certain examples, at least some of the pixels of an uncooled microbolometer are configured with a bimetallic thermal shorting structure that protects the pixel(s) from excessive heat damage. In other examples a thermochroic membrane that becomes highly reflective at temperatures above a certain threshold is applied over the microbolometer pixels to prevent the pixels from being damaged by excessive heat.

Methods and apparatus for preventing solar damage, and other heat-related damage, to uncooled microbolometer pixels. In certain examples, at least some of the pixels of an uncooled microbolometer are configured with a bimetallic thermal shorting structure that protects the pixel(s) from excessive heat damage. In other examples a thermochroic membrane that becomes highly reflective at temperatures above a certain threshold is applied over the microbolometer pixels to prevent the pixels from being damaged by excessive heat.

A device is disclosed including a substrate and a floating blinded infrared detector and/or a shunted blinded infrared detector. The floating blinded infrared detector may include an infrared detector coupled to and thermally isolated from the substrate; and a blocking structure disposed above the infrared detector to block external thermal radiation from being received by the infrared detector; and wherein the blocking structure comprises a plurality of openings. The shunted blinded infrared detector may include an additional infrared detector coupled to the substrate; an additional blocking structure disposed above the infrared detector to block external thermal radiation from being received by the additional infrared detector; and a material that thermally couples the additional infrared detector to the substrate and the additional blocking structure. Methods for using and forming the device are also disclosed.