A thermal pixel configured as an electromagnetic emitter and/or an electromagnetic detector. The thermal pixel comprises a micro-platform suspended with semiconductor nanowires from a surrounding support platform. The nanowires comprise phononic structure providing a decrease in thermal conductivity. In some embodiments, the pixel is structured for operation within a broad bandwidth or a limited bandwidth. Metamaterial and/or photonic crystal filters provide pixel operation over a limited bandwidth. In some other embodiments, the micro-platform comprises a nanotube structure providing a broadband emission/absorption spectral response.

A method for manufacturing a near-infrared sensor cover includes a film setting step. The film setting step includes setting a heater film on a first molding die and setting a hard coating film on a second molding die. The method for manufacturing a near-infrared sensor cover further includes a base molding step for molding a base including clamping a mold, injecting molten plastic into a gap between the heater film and the hard coating film, and curing the molten plastic.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for providing electromagnetic radiation sensing using sequential beam splitting. The apparatuses can include a micro-mirror chip having a plurality of light reflecting surfaces, an image sensor having an imaging surface, and a beamsplitter unit located between the micro-mirror chip and the image sensor. The beamsplitter unit includes a plurality of beamsplitters aligned along a horizontal axis that is parallel to the micro-mirror chip and the imaging surface. The beamsplitters implement the sequential beam splitting. Because of the structure of the beamsplitter unit, the height of the arrangement of the micro-mirror chip, the beamsplitter unit, and the image sensor is reduced such that the arrangement can fit within a mobile device. Within a mobile device, the apparatuses can be utilized for human detection, fire detection, gas detection, temperature measurements, environmental monitoring, energy saving, behavior analysis, surveillance, information gathering and for human-machine interfaces.

Electromagnetic metamaterial cells are described. An example of an electromagnetic metamaterial cell includes spatially separate absorptive features disposed in a planar rotationally symmetric arrangement. Each of the absorptive features may include a curvilinear segment that is convex relative to a center of symmetry of the arrangement. In some embodiments, each of the absorptive features includes one or more forks extending from the curvilinear segment. Each of the one or more forks may include a stem and at least two tines extending from the stem. The electromagnetic metamaterial cell may be included in a detector, such as a microbolometer, which itself may be included in a Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) system. In some embodiments, the FTIR system may be used to characterize fluid in a wellbore. The fluid may be a drilling fluid or a downhole fluid, such as crude oil.

A system is provided for a vehicle having a front, a rear, a right side and a left side. The system includes an infrared detecting device mounted on the front of the vehicle. The infrared detecting device is constructed and arranged to 1) detect variations in road temperature and 2) detect heat tracks left on a road lane by preceding vehicles. A control unit is mounted in the vehicle and is connected to the infrared detecting device so as to process signals received from the infrared detecting device, the control unit being constructed and arranged 1) to predict road conditions based on the variations in road temperature detected by the infrared detecting device or 2) to predict road lane location, based on a path defined by the heat tracks detected by the infrared detecting device.

An infrared sensor module and a forehead thermometer are provided. The infrared sensor module includes a light guide structure and an infrared sensor element. An annular hollow space is formed inside the light guide structure and passes therethrough. A first and second opening is formed on two opposite sides of the light guide structure, respectively. A diameter of the first opening is greater than a diameter of the second opening. The annular hollow space includes a matte and reflective area, the matte area has serration portions, and each of the serration portions extends from the first opening to the second opening and is arranged parallel to each other. The reflective area is formed between the second opening and the matte area. The infrared sensor element is disposed at the second opening. The forehead thermometer includes a casing, a circuit board, the infrared sensor module, and an operating switch.

A microelectromechanical infrared sensing device is provided, which includes a substrate, a sensing plate, a reflecting plate, a plurality of first supporting elements, a plurality of second supporting elements and a plurality of stoppers. The second supporting elements are connected to the sensing plate, such that the sensing plate is suspended above the substrate. The reflecting plate is disposed between the substrate and the sensing plate. The first supporting elements are connected to the reflecting plate, such that the reflecting plate is suspended between the substrate and the reflecting plate. When the reflecting plate moves toward the substrate and at least one of the stoppers contacts the substrate or the reflecting plate, the distance between the reflecting plate and the sensing plate increases.

A method of making a light converting optical system comprising providing a first optical layer, a thin sheet of reflective light scattering material, a light source, a second optical layer approximately coextensive with the first optical layer, a continuous broad-area photoabsorptive film layer approximately coextensive with the first optical layer, positioning the thin sheet of reflective light scattering material parallel to the first optical layer, positioning the continuous broad-area photoabsorptive film layer between and parallel to the first optical layer and the thin sheet of reflective material, and positioning the second optical layer on a light path between the light source and the continuous broad-area photoabsorptive film layer. The first optical layer has a microstructured broad-area front surface comprising an array of linear grooves disposed side by side and extending along a straight line between two edges of the layer.

An infrared detector includes a thermoelectric element, an infrared light absorber located on the thermoelectric element, and an electrical signal detecting element. The infrared light absorber includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes entangled with each other to form a network structure and a plurality of carbon particles in the network structure. The electrical signal detecting element is configured to detect a change of an electrical signal of the thermoelectric element.

A long-wave infrared detecting element includes a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field; a substrate on the magnetic field generator; a superparamagnetic material layer disposed to be separated from the substrate and magnetized by the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator; a support unit on the substrate to support the superparamagnetic material layer such that the superparamagnetic material layer separated from the substrate, such that the support unit and the superparamagnetic material layer generate heat by absorbing infrared radiation from the outside; and a magneto-electric conversion unit that generates an electrical signal proportional to both a strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator and the magnetization of the superparamagnetic material layer.