Parameter extraction of resistive thermal sensors

Abstract

Obtaining thermal parameters is important in evaluating the performance of thermal microsensors. Two experimental methods are described here for the study of the pressure-dependent thermal behavior of the sensors: a bolometric method that utilizes a chopped light input to obtain a sensor frequency response, and deriving its thermal data therefrom; a d.c, electrical method that measures the heat required for balance under d.c. bias, and obtaining sensor information. The thermal conductance and capacitance, absorptance, as well as emissivity of a sensor can be extracted from the experimental measurements. These parameters provide the essential data for the electrothermal SPICE program in the related design simulations.