MEMS based space safety infrared sensor apparatus and method

A space safety apparatus monitoring a volume of space encompassing a field of view (FOV), said space safety apparatus comprising:

• a focusing element for focusing an infra-red (IR) energy beam collected from within the volume of space;
• a filter element for filtering the infra-red (IR) energy collected from within the volume of space;
• a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) having mirror elements in a mirror array for reflecting the IR energy beam;
• an IR energy detector for detecting the IR energy reflected by said MEMS array and converting the IR energy to an output signal;
• an amplifier for amplifying the output signal;
• an analog to digital converter for converting the output signal from analog to digital;
• a processor for processing the output signal;
• a memory storage for storing the output signal;
• a controller for adjusting an angle of at least one mirror element of said MEMS mirror array;
• and
• an alarm for annunciating detection of an intrusion resulting from a change in amplitude of the output signal corresponding to a change in amplitude of the IR energy beam.

A space safety apparatus monitoring a volume of space encompassing a field of view (FOV), said space safety apparatus for detecting an intrusion within the volume of space, said space safety apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of focusing elements for focusing an infra-red (IR) energy beam collected from within the volume of space;
• a filter element for filtering the IR energy beam collected from within the volume of space;
• a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) mirror array for reflecting the IR energy beam;
• an IR signal detector for detecting the IR energy beam reflected by said MEMS array and converting the IR beam to an electrical signal;
• an amplifier for amplifying the output signal;
• an analog to digital converter for converting the output signal from analog to digital;
• a processor for processing the output signal;
• a memory storage for storing the output signal;
• a controller for adjusting said MEMS array by switching from one to another of said plurality of focusing elements;
• and
• an alarm for annunciating detection of an intrusion resulting from a change in amplitude of the electrical signal corresponding to a change in amplitude of the IR energy beam.