Axetris EMIRS200 Series Customizable Infrared Thermal Source

Overview

The Axetris EMIRS200 Series is a high-performance, MEMS-based thermal infrared source engineered for precision gas sensing and spectroscopic applications requiring stable, broadband mid-infrared emission. Unlike conventional filament-based or ceramic IR emitters, the EMIRS200 leverages a monolithic silicon microheater structure fabricated using semiconductor-grade processes. A thin-film dielectric emissive layer is deposited directly onto a suspended, thermally isolated resistor element patterned on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate—enabling near-blackbody radiation characteristics across the 2–14 µm spectral band with emissivity >0.95. Its integrated design eliminates mechanical choppers by supporting direct electrical modulation up to several hundred hertz, ensuring phase-coherent, low-noise signal generation essential for NDIR, PAS, and ATR-FTIR configurations. The device operates at low steady-state power (<150 mW typical), minimizing thermal drift and enabling integration into battery-powered, portable, or embedded analyzers without active cooling.

Key Features

• MEMS-integrated thermal emitter with silicon microheater and optimized dielectric emissive coating
• True blackbody-like spectral output (2–14 µm), validated per ASTM E1933-19 for spectral radiance calibration
• Chopper-free amplitude modulation via pulsed DC drive—supports synchronous detection without moving parts
• Hermetic TO-39 metal-can packaging with customizable optical windows (sapphire standard; optional CaF₂, BaF₂, Ge)
• Qualified to IEC 60747-17 (MEMS reliability) and IEC 60068-2 environmental stress standards
• Rated lifetime exceeding 50,000 hours under continuous operation at nominal bias conditions (IEC 60749-21 accelerated life testing)
• Low thermal mass enables rapid thermal response (<100 ms rise time to 90% of peak radiance)
• High spatial uniformity and beam collimation compatibility for fiber-coupled or free-space optical paths

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The EMIRS200 is compatible with standard TO-39 socketing and PCB-mounting workflows, supporting reflow soldering per J-STD-020D. It meets RoHS 2015/863/EU and REACH SVHC requirements. For regulated instrumentation, the device supports traceable calibration against NIST-traceable blackbody references and is routinely deployed in analyzers compliant with ISO 8573-7 (compressed air purity), EN 15267-3 (emission monitoring systems), and USP (analytical instrument qualification). While the base device complies with IEC 60747-17 Class 7M3 (mechanical shock/vibration), CaF₂ and BaF₂ window variants are excluded from this rating due to material brittleness under dynamic loading—designers must perform application-specific mechanical validation per IEC 60068-2-64 when selecting these optics.

Software & Data Management

As a passive optical component, the EMIRS200 requires no embedded firmware or digital interface. However, its modulation behavior is fully characterized in Axetris’ Application Note AN-EMIRS-002, which provides drive circuit recommendations, thermal transient models, and noise floor specifications for integration into closed-loop control architectures. Users implementing FDA-regulated gas analyzers may leverage the device’s deterministic thermal response to satisfy 21 CFR Part 11 audit trail requirements through external DAQ systems logging drive voltage, current, and detector output synchronously. Calibration certificates (including spectral radiance maps at 300 K, 400 K, and 500 K blackbody temperatures) are available upon request and conform to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited laboratory practices.

Applications

• Non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) gas sensors for CO, CO₂, CH₄, VOCs, NOₓ, NH₃, SO₂, SF₆, refrigerants, and ethanol
• Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) modules in handheld breath analyzers and industrial leak detectors
• Attenuated total reflectance (ATR) accessories for FTIR-based liquid and surface analysis
• Medical devices: capnographs, anesthetic gas monitors, pulmonary function testers, and ICU ventilator gas analyzers
• Automotive systems: onboard diagnostics (OBD-II) exhaust gas sensors, ignition interlock devices (IID), and cabin air quality controllers
• HVAC-R: demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) CO₂ sensors and refrigerant leak detection networks
• Industrial safety: fixed and portable combustible gas detectors, fermentation process monitoring, and incubator atmosphere control

FAQ

What is the maximum recommended drive voltage for the EMIRS200 series?
Axetris specifies a maximum continuous DC voltage of 5.0 V (±5%) for standard operation; pulsed overvoltage up to 6.0 V is permissible for ≤10 µs duration with duty cycle <0.1%.
Can the EMIRS200 be operated in vacuum environments?
Yes—the TO-39 package is hermetically sealed and qualified for operation in vacuum down to 10⁻⁴ mbar; however, convective cooling is eliminated, requiring derating of input power by ~30% to maintain junction temperature <150°C.
Is spectral calibration data provided with each unit?
No—spectral radiance data is supplied per batch (NIST-traceable reference measurements at three temperature points); unit-level calibration is available as an optional service (Axetris Calibration Certificate Option C-EMIRS-SPEC).
How does window material selection affect spectral transmission?
Sapphire transmits 2–5.5 µm; CaF₂ extends to 8 µm; BaF₂ to 11 µm; Ge supports full 2–14 µm range but introduces strong absorption below 2 µm and requires anti-reflection coating for optimal throughput.
Does Axetris offer evaluation boards or driver reference designs?
Yes—Axetris provides the EMIRS-EVAL-1 evaluation kit, including constant-current driver, temperature monitoring IC, and LabVIEW-compatible DAQ interface with preloaded modulation waveforms (square, sine, PWM).