Axetris EMIRS200 Electrically Modulated Infrared Source with Reflective Housing

Overview

The Axetris EMIRS200 is a high-performance, electrically modulated thermal infrared source engineered for precision gas sensing applications requiring stable, broadband mid-infrared emission (2–14 µm). Unlike conventional incandescent or laser-based IR sources, the EMIRS200 leverages a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) architecture: a thin-film resistive heater is fabricated directly onto a silicon substrate and coated with a spectrally optimized dielectric layer to emulate near-ideal blackbody radiation characteristics. This design eliminates mechanical moving parts—such as rotating choppers—enabling true solid-state amplitude modulation via direct AC current drive at frequencies up to several hundred hertz. The integrated reflective housing enhances forward-directed radiant flux, improving optical coupling efficiency into NDIR, PAS, or ATR-FTIR detection paths. Its compact TO-39 metal-can package ensures robust thermal management, hermetic sealing, and compatibility with automated SMT assembly processes in OEM sensor modules.

Key Features

• True blackbody-like spectral emission profile across 2–14 µm, enabling broad-spectrum absorption analysis of multiple gases simultaneously
• Direct electrical modulation without mechanical choppers—reducing system complexity, vibration sensitivity, and long-term drift
• High modulation depth (>90% typical) and fast thermal response time (<10 ms rise/fall), supporting lock-in detection schemes with improved signal-to-noise ratio
• Low power consumption (typically <150 mW at operating temperature), suitable for battery-powered and low-power IoT gas sensors
• Extended operational lifetime (>50,000 hours MTTF under continuous operation at rated conditions)
• MEMS-based construction qualified to IEC 6721-3-7 Class 7M3 for mechanical shock and vibration resistance (excluding variants with CaF₂ or BaF₂ windows)
• Hermetically sealed TO-39 package with optional IR-transmissive windows: sapphire (UV–MWIR), CaF₂ (deep UV–MWIR), BaF₂ (extended UV–LWIR), or Ge (MWIR–LWIR)

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The EMIRS200 is designed for integration into analytical platforms compliant with international standards for environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and medical diagnostics. It supports measurement principles aligned with ASTM D6348 (gas analysis by NDIR), ISO 8573-5 (compressed air purity), and EN 13725 (odor concentration measurement). For medical devices, its stability and repeatability meet requirements referenced in ISO 13485 and FDA 21 CFR Part 820. When deployed in analyzers subject to GLP/GMP environments, the source’s deterministic modulation behavior facilitates full audit trail capability in conjunction with compliant data acquisition firmware. Note: Units equipped with CaF₂ or BaF₂ windows are excluded from IEC 6721-3-7 Class 7M3 qualification due to material brittleness under mechanical stress.

Software & Data Management

While the EMIRS200 itself is a passive emitter requiring external driver circuitry, Axetris provides reference design documentation—including schematic files, thermal modeling data, and modulation timing guidelines—for seamless integration with industry-standard analog front-ends and microcontroller units (e.g., ARM Cortex-M4/M7). Driver ICs supporting precise current-controlled square-wave or sinusoidal excitation (e.g., TI DRV5932, Analog Devices ADN8834) are recommended to maintain linearity and minimize harmonic distortion. For traceable calibration workflows, the source’s spectral radiance can be characterized using NIST-traceable FTIR spectroradiometers; Axetris supplies factory-measured relative spectral power distribution (RSPD) curves for each production lot. Firmware-level synchronization between modulation timing and detector sampling enables phase-sensitive detection essential for PAS and dual-beam NDIR architectures.

Applications

• Environmental & Industrial Gas Monitoring: Real-time detection of CO, CO₂, CH₄, NOₓ, SO₂, NH₃, SF₆, VOCs, refrigerants (R134a, R410A), and humidity in stack emissions, landfill gas, and semiconductor fab ambient monitoring
• Medical Diagnostics: Capnography (end-tidal CO₂), anesthetic agent monitoring (sevoflurane, isoflurane), breath alcohol testing (ethanol), and pulmonary function analyzers
• Automotive Systems: On-board OBD-II compliant exhaust gas analysis, ignition interlock devices (IID), and cabin air quality control (CO₂-driven demand-controlled ventilation)
• HVAC & Building Automation: Energy-efficient ventilation rate optimization, refrigerant leak detection in chillers and heat pumps
• Security & Safety: Portable combustible gas detectors, confined space entry monitors, and incubator atmosphere control systems

FAQ

What is the typical operating temperature range of the EMIRS200 emitter element?
The microhotplate reaches steady-state temperatures between 700 K and 950 K depending on drive current and thermal interface conditions.
Can the EMIRS200 be used with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometers?
Yes—it serves as a stable, modulated broadband source for benchtop or portable ATR-FTIR systems where mechanical chopper elimination improves reliability.
Is optical window selection critical for spectral performance?
Yes—window material defines the usable transmission band: sapphire (0.15–5.5 µm), CaF₂ (0.13–9 µm), BaF₂ (0.15–12 µm), and Ge (2–16 µm); selection must align with target gas absorption bands.
Does Axetris provide calibration certificates with spectral radiance data?
Factory RSPD curves are provided per batch; NIST-traceable absolute calibration is available upon request for high-accuracy metrology applications.
How does the reflective housing affect beam divergence and collimation?
The parabolic reflective surface reduces full-angle divergence to ~±30° FWHM, facilitating efficient coupling into multi-pass gas cells or single-element pyroelectric detectors without additional optics.