Linear IR sensor array- Information needed! With pics!

[Wizzard1]

Here's an image sensor I picked up on Ebay. It's thermal, IR.

I can see the leads connecting the cells in the linear array- I think they will either be photovoltaic or photoconductive. A simple probing with a multimeter will figure this out

I think the small leads at the bottom are a temp sensor. Its mounted on a 4-some of stacked Peltier modules.

Does anybody know anything about this sensor? It's a replacement for a Probeye thermal imager.

I believe the vertical resolution is 6, but there seem to be 32 sensors... Maybe they can be soldered to, if the unit was disassembled, to "unlock" them? I can handle this fine pitch soldering, unless the sensor is destoryed outside it's protective gas bubble.

[CPUShack]

that should be filled with a low pressure inert gas, as the sensor has to be kept cool and isolated from the outside environment typically

[Wizzard1]

Ah, that I knew I'm just wondering if it was to be opened back up, would it be damaged? I think the sheilding gas MUST be Argon- Nitrogen and CO2 interfere too much with IR.

I'm also thinking, perhaps, that each group of sensors which seem to be used are ganged with their neighbor sensors... Seems odd only 1:6 sensors being used, I think this holds true with their production models.

[mavroxur]

If you allow air into the bubble, you do three things -

1) Possibly introduce contaminants such as dust / dirt / moisture / etc

2) Will induce IR scatter, unless the bubble is evacuated and refilled with Argon.

3) if any moisture is present, it will condense on the sensor array when the peltiers are on, interfering with operation or destroying it when powered up.


And at least one of the wires at the bottom is a common ground or common Vcc.

[CPUShack]

4) allow more heat to be transferred to the sensor surface, degrading performance.

It is interesting only one of 6 is used, but maybe that was a limitation of the interface to it?

[Wizzard1]

Ah, I had not thought of dust/moisture. That could be a problem, but with it's evac tube, I think I could get it pretty clean in there before sealing it back up. I would be refilling it back with Argon, of course.

This is the input I enjoy I have confirmed the polarity of the peltiers, their model is:
Marlow Industries MI4012T
which is a 4-stack rated for 1A at between 6V and 7.2V.

I'm going to attach a proper heatsink to the aluminum block at the base, and give it a run-in. I think cooling stopped when the thermistor hit 20K, it reads 1.3K at room temperature.

I think with a proper heatsink, it can go even lower.

Lastly, I will be testing the sensors some time this weekend- I'm going to point an incandesent light bulb at them

[Piktscher]

There are not many manufactures of IR-sensors. You have to distinguih thermal detectors (microbolometers) and photon detectors. Photon detectors are cooled to nearly absolute zero temperature, microbolometers are just thermally stabilzed.

If you have no use for the sensor line, I would be interested

[Wizzard1]

@Piktscher- I may be interested in selling it. It's an interesting piece, but my friend and I thought it would be far more useful. Please PM me an offer if you'd like to.