KEMET Corporation Infrared Sensors 13

Infrared sensors are electronic devices that detect infrared radiation and convert it into a measurable electrical signal. Infrared radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation that lies in the non-visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, with wavelengths longer than visible light but shorter than radio waves.

Infrared sensors work by detecting the heat emitted by objects in their field of view. They typically consist of an infrared detector, which absorbs the radiation and generates an electrical signal proportional to the amount of heat detected, and a signal processing circuit, which amplifies and analyzes the signal to determine the presence, location, and intensity of the infrared radiation.

Infrared sensors are widely used in a variety of applications, including remote temperature sensing, motion detection, gas detection, and flame detection. They are commonly used in industrial settings for process control, monitoring and inspection, and in consumer electronics for home automation, security systems, and remote controls.

One of the key advantages of infrared sensors is their ability to detect objects and conditions that are not visible to the naked eye, such as temperature gradients and gas leaks. They are also non-contact sensors, which means they can detect objects without physical contact, making them ideal for applications where contact with the object is not desirable or possible.

However, infrared sensors also have some limitations, such as their susceptibility to interference from ambient heat sources, their limited range and resolution, and their inability to detect non-thermal infrared radiation, such as that emitted by some types of plastics.