Abstract: A device for detecting electromagnetic radiation is provided, including a substrate; a matrix of thermal detectors disposed on the substrate; and a structure encapsulating the matrix of thermal detectors, including an encapsulating layer extending continuously around and above the matrix of thermal detectors so as to define with the substrate a cavity in which the matrix of thermal detectors is disposed, the encapsulating layer including at least one internal bearing section, which bears directly against the substrate between two adjacent thermal detectors of said matrix, said at least one internal bearing section including a sidewall and a peripheral wall, the sidewall being separate from the peripheral wall in a plane parallel to a plane of the substrate, and the peripheral wall encircling the matrix of thermal detectors.

Abstract: A device for detecting electromagnetic radiation, including a substrate; at least one thermal detector, placed on the substrate, including an absorbing membrane suspended above the substrate; and an encapsulating structure encapsulating the thermal detector, including an encapsulating layer extending around and above the thermal detector so as to define with the substrate a cavity in which the thermal detector is located; wherein the encapsulating layer includes at least one through-orifice that is what is referred to as an exhaust vent, each exhaust vent being placed so that at least one thermal detector has a single exhaust vent located facing the corresponding absorbing membrane, preferably plumb with the center of said absorbing membrane.

Abstract: A device for detecting electromagnetic radiation is provided, including a substrate; at least one thermal detector placed on the substrate; and an encapsulating structure encapsulating the detector, including a thin encapsulating layer of a material that is transparent to said radiation, extending around and above the detector so as to define with the substrate a cavity in which the detector is located; wherein the thin encapsulating layer comprises a peripheral wall that encircles the detector, and that has a cross section, in a plane parallel to the plane of the substrate, of square or rectangular shape, corners of which are rounded.

Abstract: A bolometric detector includes a substrate; bolometric detection microbridges suspended above the substrate and thermally insulated from the substrate; bolometric compensation microbridges suspended above the substrate and thermalized to the substrate; and a read circuit formed in the substrate to apply a biasing to the detection microbridges and to the compensation microbridges and to form differences between signals generated by detection microbridges and signals generated by compensation microbridges under the effect of the applied biasing. Each detection microbridge and each compensation microbridge includes electrically-conductive anchoring nails connected to the read circuit, a membrane attached to the anchoring nails above the substrate, and a thermometric element arranged in the membrane. The detector further includes thermal short-circuit elements between the membrane of each compensation microbridge and the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting electromagnetic radiation, comprising: a substrate; a matrix of thermal detectors, which matrix is placed on the substrate; and a detector-encapsulating structure, including an encapsulating layer extending around and above the matrix of detectors so as to define with the substrate a cavity in which the matrix of detectors is located; in which the encapsulating layer comprises at least one section, which is what is referred to as an internal bearing section, located between two adjacent detectors, and which bears directly against the substrate.

Abstract: A device for detecting electromagnetic radiation, including a substrate; at least one thermal detector, placed on the substrate, including an absorbing membrane suspended above the substrate; and an encapsulating structure encapsulating the thermal detector, including an encapsulating layer extending around and above the thermal detector so as to define with the substrate a cavity in which the thermal detector is located; wherein the encapsulating layer includes at least one through-orifice that is what is referred to as an exhaust vent, each exhaust vent being placed so that at least one thermal detector has a single exhaust vent located facing the corresponding absorbing membrane, preferably plumb with the centre of said absorbing membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting electromagnetic radiation, comprising: a substrate (3); at least one thermal detector (2), placed on the substrate; and an encapsulating structure (5) encapsulating the detector, including a thin encapsulating layer (6) made of a material that is transparent to said radiation, extending around and above the detector so as to define with the substrate a cavity (4) in which the detector (2) is located; characterized in that the thin encapsulating layer comprises a peripheral wall (6a) that encircles the detector, and that has a cross section, in a plane parallel to the plane of the substrate, of square or rectangular shape the corners (6a-3) of which are rounded.

Abstract: An infrared detection device including an infrared heat detector and a connection pad each spaced apart from an etching stop layer by a non-zero distance substantially equal relatively to each other, wherein first and second electrically conducting vias are respectively electrically connected to first and second portions of a metal line of a penultimate level of electrical interconnections, and wherein an empty space formed in a first inter-metal dielectric layer surrounds the first electrically conducting via and extends under the infrared heat detector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use, as a thin sensitive-material film for bolometric detection, of at least one material based on an alloy comprising at least one chalcogenide, said chalcogen element being chosen from sulfur, selenium, telluride and their mixtures, characterized in that said material furthermore contains a sufficient amount of carbon and/or boron to confer upon the material a temperature coefficient of resistivity value at 300° C. at least equal to 40% of the native value of the temperature coefficient of resistivity of said material at room temperature. The invention also relates to a bolometric device and its production process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use, as a thin sensitive-material film for bolometric detection, of at least one material based on an alloy comprising at least one chalcogenide, said chalcogen element being chosen from sulfur, selenium, telluride and their mixtures, characterized in that said material furthermore contains a sufficient amount of carbon and/or boron to confer upon the material a temperature coefficient of resistivity value at 300° C. at least equal to 40% of the native value of the temperature coefficient of resistivity of said material at room temperature. The invention also relates to a bolometric device and its production process.

Abstract: A bolometric detector includes a substrate; bolometric detection microbridges suspended above the substrate and thermally insulated from the substrate; bolometric compensation microbridges suspended above the substrate and thermalized to the substrate; and a read circuit formed in the substrate to apply a biasing to the detection microbridges and to the compensation microbridges and to form differences between signals generated by detection microbridges and signals generated by compensation microbridges under the effect of the applied biasing. Each detection microbridge and each compensation microbridge includes electrically-conductive anchoring nails connected to the read circuit, a membrane attached to the anchoring nails above the substrate, and a thermometric element arranged in the membrane. The detector further includes thermal short-circuit elements between the membrane of each compensation microbridge and the substrate.

Abstract: This bolometric array detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation in a predetermined range of infrared or terahertz wavelengths comprises a substrate and an array of bolometric micro-plates for detecting said radiation that are suspended above the substrate by support arms. It comprises a metallic membrane located above and around each micro-plate and in which openings are formed; said openings in metallic membrane are periodically located in it along at least one predetermined axis with a period equal to or less than ? n , where ? is a wavelength in the wavelength range that is to be detected and n is the average refraction index of the medium that separates the micro-plate from metallic membrane.

Abstract: An infrared detection device including an infrared heat detector and a connection pad each spaced apart from an etching stop layer by a non-zero distance substantially equal relatively to each other, wherein first and second electrically conducting vias are respectively electrically connected to first and second portions of a metal line of a penultimate level of electrical interconnections, and wherein an empty space formed in a first inter-metal dielectric layer surrounds the first electrically conducting via and extends under the infrared heat detector.

Abstract: The electromagnetic radiation detection device includes, on a same substrate: at least one active detector of the electromagnetic radiation provided with a first element sensitive to said radiation, at least one reference detector including a second element sensitive to said electromagnetic radiation, and a lid provided with first reflective means reflecting the incident electromagnetic radiation, said lid covering without contact the second sensitive element and defining with the substrate a cavity having the reference detector housed therein. The lid is designed to improve the sensitivity of the detection device.

Abstract: A bolometric array detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation in a predetermined range of infrared wavelengths includes a substrate; an array of bolometric micro-plates for detecting the radiation suspended above the substrate by support arms; and metallic reflectors formed on the substrate underneath the micro-plates to reflect that portion of the radiation which has passed through said micro-plates without being absorbed by the latter. For each micro-plate, a corresponding reflector includes a first part located underneath the micro-plate which extends as a second part not positioned underneath the micro-plate. At least the second part has surface texturing in a repeating pattern for coupling a portion of incident radiation on the second part to a guided wave that propagates towards the first part of the reflector positioned underneath micro-plate.

Abstract: The electromagnetic radiation detection device includes, on a same substrate: at least one active detector of the electromagnetic radiation provided with a first element sensitive to said radiation, at least one reference detector including a second element sensitive to said electromagnetic radiation, and a lid provided with first reflective means reflecting the incident electromagnetic radiation, said lid covering without contact the second sensitive element and defining with the substrate a cavity having the reference detector housed therein. The lid is designed to improve the sensitivity of the detection device.

Abstract: This bolometric array detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation in a predetermined range of infrared or terahertz wavelengths comprises a substrate and an array of bolometric micro-plates for detecting said radiation that are suspended above the substrate by support arms. It comprises a metallic membrane located above and around each micro-plate and in which openings are formed; said openings in metallic membrane are periodically located in it along at least one predetermined axis with a period equal to or less than ? n , where ? is a wavelength in the wavelength range that is to be detected and n is the average refraction index of the medium that separates the micro-plate from metallic membrane.

Abstract: An airtight assembly of two components including a first component with a support having at its surface: at least one spacer composed of a ductile material, arranged at the periphery of the component, and at least one bead composed of a ductile material; a second component with a support having at its surface: at least one insert inserted over the whole or part of its surface in the spacer on the first component, and at least one bead insert inserted over all or part of the surface thereof in the bead on the first component, defining an airtight central cavity.

Abstract: A bolometric array detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation in a predetermined range of infrared wavelengths includes a substrate; an array of bolometric micro-plates for detecting the radiation suspended above the substrate by support arms; and metallic reflectors formed on the substrate underneath the micro-plates to reflect that portion of the radiation which has passed through said micro-plates without being absorbed by the latter. For each micro-plate, a corresponding reflector includes a first part located underneath the micro-plate which extends as a second part not positioned underneath the micro-plate. At least the second part has surface texturing in a repeating pattern for coupling a portion of incident radiation on the second part to a guided wave that propagates towards the first part of the reflector positioned underneath micro-plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use as a sensitive material in a thin layer for bolometric detection of infrared radiation, of a material having a spinel ferrite structure of chemical composition, ignoring doping agents if any are present, satisfying empirical formula I: Fe3-(x+y)MxAyO4+?. The invention also provides a bolometric device for detecting infrared radiation or for infrared imaging, and including at least one sensor provided with a sensitive element in the form of a thin layer as defined above.