Pyroelectric detectors are ideal for gas analysis. Until now, things have become complicated when a large number of gases need to be measured. There were often simply too few measuring channels available. The new LRM-278 from InfraTec now offers the perfect solution for precisely this problem. This detector is the first of its kind in the world to combine eight measuring channels in a TO8 housing with a diameter of 15.2 millimeters. This doubles the number of gases that can be detected with a single detector of this size.

When looking at the design of the single-supply detector, two details stand out that contribute significantly to the fact that such a powerful solution fits into such small dimensions. The first detail is the central window built directly into the cap, which all other models in the series of miniaturized multi-channel detectors also have. The correspondingly large aperture of 8.5 × 8.5 ^mm2 means that the LRM-278 has a very large field of view (FOV). One result of this is its excellent signal-to-noise ratio.

The second detail is hidden inside the detector. The sensitive pyroelements, the compensation elements and the 2 × 2 ^mm2 filters are placed directly on top of each other on special frames. Thanks to this stacked design, there is sufficient free space for all other components.

Temperature sensor directly in the detector

The frames with sensitive elements and filters are arranged in a square, each with three by three fields. With a total of eight measuring channels, one field remains free - the one in the middle. A temperature sensor is located here. In gas measuring devices, the temperature is usually also measured. Until now, however, this has not been possible directly in the detector. Measuring the temperature inside the detector, for example, offers the option of very accurately compensating for the typical temperature drift of the filters with the help of a calibration.

In addition to the measuring accuracy, the advantages resulting from the current operation of the LRM-278 also come into play. Above all, this means that it impresses with its fast display of signal changes and its dynamic response behavior. The resulting high signal voltage simplifies the circuit design and makes the detector more robust against interference. The higher signal levels make it easier to integrate the detector into measurement modules.

Due to all these advantages, the LRM-278 is predestined for extremely complex tasks within gas analysis. These include the analysis of medical and technical gases, the measurement of emissions as well as applications in the field of safety technology.

Sensor + Test, Hall 5, Stand 332