A Setup for Measuring the Centering Error of a Dual-Element Pyroelectric Infrared Sensor Module.

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Sensor Technology
• Infrared Detection

Background:

• Accurate alignment of pyroelectric infrared (PIR) sensors is crucial for optimal performance.
• Existing methods for measuring sensor centering error may lack precision or require complex setups.
• Pyroelectric infrared sensors are widely used in motion detection and thermal imaging applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an experimental setup for accurately measuring the horizontal centering error of a pre-built PIR sensor module.
• To define and quantify the horizontal centering error based on optical and mechanical axes.
• To establish a precise measurement resolution for PIR sensor alignment.

Main Methods:

• Developed an experimental setup involving a modulated infrared radiating source and a dual-element PIR sensor module.
• Positioned the PIR sensor module facing the source and rotated it across a range of horizontal angles.
• Analyzed the sensor's output response at different angles to determine the optical axis position.
• Calculated the horizontal centering error as the difference between the mechanical and optical axes.

Main Results:

• Successfully measured the horizontal centering error of a pre-built PIR sensor module.
• Achieved a measurement resolution of 0.02 degrees with the specific experimental equipment.
• The method provides a quantitative assessment of PIR sensor alignment accuracy.

Conclusions:

• The presented experimental setup offers a reliable and precise method for determining PIR sensor horizontal centering error.
• This technique is valuable for quality control and performance optimization of PIR sensor modules.
• The achieved resolution of 0.02 degrees enables fine-tuning of sensor alignment in optical systems.