PyrIQ – Digital Detectors for Easy System Integration

Go Digital: Reaching the Goal More Quickly with Less Effort

We are introducing: our digital detector for easy system integration with variable signal processing and improved electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). 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.

The digital detector is ideal for simple system integration in gas analysis and flame detection. By using the digital detector, the user receives a digital measurement signal that can be read out and immediately processed. 

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.

The digital detector converts 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.

InfraTec Sensor Division - block diagram digital detectors
Digital Detectors

Startup a Detector with Digital Interface

This white paper is intended to show how to put the digital detector into operation with a basic microcontroller board like the Arduino Uno. You will also learn how to configure the detector and retrieve data.

infratec_whitepaper_startup-a-digital-detector.pdf

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Digital Pyroelectric Detectors – What are the Advantages?

  • Sensor Division Glossary - Digital Detectors Simple Integration

    Simple Integration

    The integrated ASIC, which already contains an A/D converter, eliminates complex signal processing steps and the detector can be connected directly to the microcontroller without adjustments. This enables fast and simple system integration. The user is provided with the digital measured values with a sampling rate of up to 1 kHz, which can be read out and directly processed without additional hardware components via the I²C interface.

  • Sensor Division Glossary - Digital Detectors Improved EMC

    Improved Electromagnetic Compatibility

    The entire signal conversion of the detector is spatially concentrated and shielded, resulting in a higher electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). The detector is more resistant to electromagnetic interference, so that EMC measures can be reduced by the user.

  • Sensor Division Glossary - Digital Detectors Variable Signal Processing

    Variable Signal Processing

    The most important features for characterising the performance of a pyroelectric detector are the frequency-dependent sensitivity, noise density and detectivity D*. Depending on the measurement system (measurement setup) and principle, there are different requirements for a well-dimensioned signal processing. The digital detector offers full flexibility in the configuration of the detector parameters, during development and also in later use. The sensitivity of the digital detector can be flexibly adjusted depending on the radiated power falling on the detector, in order to optimally utilise the subsequent input voltage range of the A/D converter. Feedback resistor Rf and feedback capacitance Cf can be set individually for each spectral channel of the detector. This allows the user to optimally adapt the performance of sensitivity and stability to the requirements of the application.

  • AD Converter

    High Performance

    Converts the analogue signal, which can be filtered and amplified in several stages, directly into a digital signal with a 16-bit resolution.

Analogue vs. Digital – Which Detector for which Application?

Analogue pyroelectric detectors have proven their worth for decades. Their integration into the device design can be made flexible but requires a high degree of electronic skill. The performance of the detectors can be fully utilised. Considering the effort required for system integration, digital pyroelectric detectors have clear advantages. The functions already integrated into the detector – although limiting the scope for design – significantly reduce the effort required for system integration. The following table provides a quick overview of advantages and disadvantages:

 
 
Digital pyroelectric detectors
 
Analogue pyroelectric detectors
 
Detector seriesLRD, LID
 
LIE, LME, LIM, LMM, LRM
 
PropertiesDetectors with integrated ASIC for transimpedance amplification, 16-bit A/D conversion and signal conditioning
 
Maximum flexibility for system integration by the user (free choice of external A/D converter and interface)
 
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)++
 
+
 
Integrated temperature measurementYes
 
Yes (available for LRM)
 
Flexible adjustment of feedback componentsYes (Rf = 2 GΩ … 1 TΩ; Cf = 50 fF … 6.4 pF)
 
No
 
Requirements for system integration on the device sideLow
 
High
 
Power consumption (typical)1 mW
 
0.1 mW
 
Signal to noise ratio+
 
Current mode ++ / Voltage mode +++
 
Sampling rate (maximum)1 kHz
 
Free to select
 
Max. Modulation Frequency100 Hz
 
4 kHz
 
Supply voltage1.8 … 3.6 V
 
Up to ± 5V
 

Configuration of PyrIQ Detectors

This white paper is intended to help you find a suitable PyrIQ-configuration for your application by following a “good practice”-strategy as well as stating the effects and potential drawbacks for all available PyrIQ-parameters.

infratec_whitepaper_configuration_pyriq.pdf

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  • Digital pyroelectric detector from InfraTec - Picure credits: © istockphoto / gsshot

    Go Digital – Reaching the Goal More Quickly with Less Effort

    InfraTec has been developing and producing pyroelectric detectors for over 30 years now. They have been tried and proven for numerous demanding customer applications in recent decades. However, to reduce the expenditure for customers and to facilitate the system integration of a detector, InfraTec has developed the digital pyroelectric detector (LRD).

  • Digital compensated 2-channel detector in the TO39 housing: LID-2322

    Small but Mighty – The Digital 2-Channel Detector

    The LID-2322 combines two spectral channels with a digital output signal in a TO39 housing. It is ideally suited for the use in mobile devices due to its compactness. Together with its low power consumption and thermal compensation, it is the deal choice when it comes to applications in harsh environments. To operate the detector, only two other connections are necessary in addition to the connections to the supply voltage. In this way, it can be both parameterised and read out. The external hardware effort is thus reduced to a minimum and the integration of the detector into the application is significantly simplified. A fifth pin, which can be used to specify an external clock, also enables this detector to read out the measurement data at the exact time and to synchronise it with a radiation source.

Get in contact with InfraTec sensor division

Would You Like to Know More?

It is not unusual for tasks to be associated with special requirements. Discuss your specific application needs with our experienced engineers, receive further technical information or learn more about our additional services.

Europe & Rest of World

InfraTec GmbH
Infrarotsensorik und Messtechnik
Gostritzer Str. 61 – 63
01217 DresdenGERMANY

Download Flyer

Download the flyer about the digital detectors and learn more about the possibilities using a digital detector.

Various Fields of Application for PyrIQ Detectors

Digital detectors are just as suitable for the use in gas analysis and flame sensing as detectors with analogue signal output. But especially if the environmental conditions require a compact and easy-to-integrate detector, a detector with integrated digitisation will be a good choice. Thus, among other things, the digital version is suitable for the field of air-conditioning and building technology when it comes to measuring air quality. Since this correlates well with the carbon dioxide concentration in the air, the CO2 content of the room air is used for demand-controlled ventilation control in buildings and rooms. The CO2 concentration is measured according to the principle of non-dispersive infrared measurement technology. For this purpose, suitable IR filters are integrated into the detector in order to be able to make an accurate and reproducible measurement. This ensures good air quality at all times. In this context, the compactness of the detector, which results from the integration of the entire signal pre-processing, is an advantage. Another benefit is the low sensitivity of the digital output signal to interference caused by mobile phone networks, Bluetooth or wi-fi. In flame sensor technology, pyroelectric detectors capture spectral ranges that are characteristic for burning organic substances such as wood, natural gas, petrol and various plastics. Flame sensors are used in the fields of industrial fire protection and early fire detection and withstand even the most adverse environmental conditions. Due to the low interference sensitivity of the digital detector, the risk of false alarms caused by electromagnetic interference sources is significantly reduced.

environment gasanalysis picture credits © istock/fizkes

Further Possible Applications for the Digital Detector:

  • Agricultural industry, for example for monitoring the atmosphere in greenhouses and in research projects on plants
  • Gas detectors for explosive gases, for example for mining or drilling platforms
  • Process gas analysis, for example for measuring exhaust gases in industrial plants

Detector Search

InfraTec offers five different product groups including approximately 50 standard pyroelectric detectors. Choose your suitable infrared detectors with the help of our detailed detector search.

Overview of all standard infrared detectors
Sensor division InfraTec detectors overview