Infrared detectors based on the infrared receptors of pyrophilous beetles

Bousack, Herbert; Soltner, H.; Offenhäusser, Andreas; Kahl, Thilo; Schmitz, Helmut

doi:10.1109/icsens.2011.6126972

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

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“…The importance of a high thermal expansion coefficient of the fluids has already been shown in previous publications (Bousack et al, 2011;Kahl et al, 2012). While water with a thermal expansion coefficient of 20 • 10 2 5 K 2 1 caused very poor membrane deflections, ethanol þ ink with a thermal expansion coefficient of , 110 • 10 2 5 K 2 1 , turned out to be the best fluid tested yet.…”

Section: Proof Of Principles By Macroscopic Demonstratorsmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…For thermodynamically reasons water as filling of the cavity seems disadvantageous because of the high product of heat capacity and density as well as the low thermal expansion coefficient. Here, gas or some hydrocarbons, for example methanol, are much more effective (Bousack et al, 2011). Gas seems to be a very good solution compared with liquids.…”

Section: Deflection Y Max [Nm]mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Infrared receptors of pyrophilous jewel beetles as model for new infrared sensors

et al. 2014

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Purpose -Early detection of forest fires offers the chance to put the fire out before it gets out of control. The purpose of this paper is to look into nature and to learn how certain insects detect remote forest fires. A small group of highly specialized insects that have been called pyrophilous is attracted by forest fires and approaches fires sometimes from distances of many kilometers. As a unique feature some of these insects are equipped with infrared (IR) receptors, which in case of two species of jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) are used for fire detection. Design/methodology/approach -The paper has investigated the IR receptors of the pyrophilous beetles with various morphological techniques including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, neuroanatomy and the paper also investigated the thermo-/mechanical properties of the IR receptors by nanoindentation. Data were used for subsequent modeling of a biomimetic technical sensor. Finally, a macroscopic prototype was built and tested. Findings -This biological principle was transferred into a new kind of uncooled technical IR receptor. A simple model for this biological IR sensor is a modified Golay sensor in which the gas has been replaced by a liquid. Here, the absorbed IR radiation results in a pressure increase of the liquid and the deflection of a thin membrane. For the evaluation of this model, analytical formulas are presented, which permits the calculation of the pressure increase in the cavity, the deformation of the membrane and the time constant of an artificial leak to compensate ambient temperature changes. Some organic liquids with high thermal expansion coefficients may improve the deflection of the membrane compared to water. Originality/value -Results so far obtained suggest that it seems promising to take the photomechanic IR receptors of pyrophilous jewel beetles as models for the building of new uncooled IR sensors. The beetle receptors have been shaped by evolution since thousands of years and, therefore, can be considered as highly optimized sources of inspiration for new technical sensors suitable for remote fire detection. Definitions cuticle¼ exoskeleton of arthropods; consists of chitin fibres embedded in a protein matrix. Different layers can be distinguished: epi-, exo-, meso-and endocuticle (from outside to inside) dendrite/ dendritic region ¼ stimulus-receiving (signal-input) region of a neuron. endemic ¼ native and/or restricted to a certain area. haemolymph ¼ equivalent to blood in most invertebrates. lateral ¼ situated on the side. mitochondria ¼ "the cells power stations", in which biochemical processes of respiration and energy production occur. proprioceptor ¼ sensory receptor, receiving stimuli from within the body.sternite ¼ ventral abdominal segment. tonic response ¼ of a sensory neuron is proportional to the amplitude of a stimulus; phasic response is proportional to the change (1. derivation) of the stimulus amplitude; phasic-tonic response shows both components. ventral ¼ relating to the u...

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Section: Proof Of Principles By Macroscopic Demonstratorsmentioning

confidence: 66%

Section: Deflection Y Max [Nm]mentioning

confidence: 99%