Like all detectors from InfraTec, it is based on single-crystal lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) and is used in gas analysis and flame detection. In contrast to other materials, LiTaO3 offers high sensitivity and a good signal-to-noise ratio without additional cooling or temperature stabilisation. For high-precision measurement, especially in gas analysis, synchronisation of the emitter and detector clock is necessary. For the digital pyroelectric detectors, a clock input (pin) is available for this purpose, which is used to specify the system clock or the exact sample time. This allows a time signal with a highly precise sampling rate to be generated.
Another special feature compared to analogue technology of our digital detector is the “Fast Recovery after Saturation”. This function detects overdriving due to a faulty operating condition – for example, due to extreme temperature fluctuations or mechanical influences – and automatically resets the analogue front-end.
PyrIQ convert the analogue signal, which can be filtered and amplified in several stages, directly into a digital signal with a 16-bit resolution. The entire signal processing is carried out by an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), whereby the analogue front-end acts like a classic transimpedance amplifier. Thus, users receive a digital measurement signal that can be read out via an I²C interface and immediately processed.