Temperature Imaging Was Enabled by 64 Pixel Mems Thermopile Array

Grid-Eye is an 8x8 MEMS thermopile array from Panasonic.

"Unlike conventional single thermopile or pyroelectric sensors that only measure temperature at a certain point-of-contact, Grid-EYE enables contactless temperature detection over an area," said distributor Avnet Abacus, which is stocking it in Europe. "It is able to measure actual temperature and temperature gradients, providing thermal images and identifying the direction of movement of people or objects."

Sensing is across -20 to 100°C, over a viewing angle of 60° provided by a silicon lens.

Data is available through an I²C interface at 1 or 10frame/s.

The surface mount package is 11.6x4.3x8.0mm, and runs from 3.3V or 5.0V.

Applications are expected in consumer goods, industrial automation, security systems, digital signage, movement sensing, and healthcare.