Abstract: Graphene-based thermopiles are provided. The graphene-based thermopiles may include thermocouples having one or more graphene strips that may be polarized to adjust their Seebeck coefficients. The polarized graphene strips may have larger Seebeck coefficients than the materials conventionally used in thermopile devices. As a result, the graphene-based thermopiles may generate large output voltages using fewer thermocouples than conventional thermopile devices.

Abstract: A thermopile sensor array is provided. The thermopile sensor array may include multiple pixels formed by multiple thermopiles arranged on a single common shared support membrane. A separation between the edge of the shared support membrane and the outermost thermopile(s) may be included to provide additional thermal isolation between the thermopile and an underlying silicon substrate.

Abstract: Graphene-based thermopiles are provided. The graphene-based thermopiles may include thermocouples having one or more graphene strips that may be polarized to adjust their Seebeck coefficients. The polarized graphene strips may have larger Seebeck coefficients than the materials conventionally used in thermopile devices. As a result, the graphene-based thermopiles may generate large output voltages using fewer thermocouples than conventional thermopile devices.

Abstract: A thermopile sensor array is provided. The thermopile sensor array may include multiple pixels formed by multiple thermopiles arranged on a single common shared support membrane. A separation between the edge of the shared support membrane and the outermost thermopile(s) may be included to provide additional thermal isolation between the thermopile and an underlying silicon substrate.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for measuring length of an optical fiber, a light source of a selected wavelength transmitted along the fiber is modulated by both a first and a second light modulation signal, which light modulation signals each differ in frequency from a first modulation frequency by a fixed amount. A time detector responds, alternately during a period, to the light signal as modulated by of each of the first and second light modulation signals by using each of the light signal modulation frequencies as a reference. Consequently, the output of the time detector has a phase responsive to the effective length of the fiber. A phase sensitive detector receives as a signal input an output of the time detector means. A second modulation frequency defines the period of alternation of response and provides a reference input to the phase sensitive detector.

Abstract: A thermoelectric alloy composition is described comprising from 5% to 95% silicon, from 95% to 5% Germanium, from 0.01% to 0.2% lead and from 0% to 0.2% tin, all percentages being atomic percentages. In a preferred composition at least 50% silicon and 50% Germanium is present with 0.03% to 0.1% lead and from 0 to 0.05% tin. Tin and lead in combination provide lower thermal conductivity and a greater figure of merit than with lead or tin alone. Other preferred compositions are provided and a thermoelectric material and a p-n coupling thermoelectric generator (10) incorporating the alloy is disclosed. The alloy composition provides high efficiency of power to heat loss and minimizes running costs.

Abstract: A fibre optic gyroscope is provided with temperature compensation means which impose on the coiled fibre a thermal coefficient of expansion which is selected to be approximately equal in value to the refractive index temperature coefficient of the fibre, thereby reducing the Scale Factor temperature coefficient. The temperature compensation means may be in the form of a former element or a coating applied to the fibre.