Correction for non-radiation heat-flows in infrared temperature sensor

A method of operating a thermal sensor to determine a quantity of radiative energy received by the thermal sensor, the method comprising:

• detecting, using a first array of thermocouples, a first thermal differential between a first thermal detection region and a first thermal reference region of a substrate of the thermal sensor, wherein:
• the first thermal detection region comprises a first signal junction block;
• the first thermal reference region comprises a first reference junction block;
• and
• the first array of thermocouples is configured to probe a temperature of the first signal junction block relative to the first reference junction block, such that an electrical signal detected from the first array of thermocouples is indicative of the first thermal differential between the first signal junction block and the first reference junction block;
• and
• determining the quantity of radiative energy received based on the first thermal differential between the thermal detection region and the thermal reference region.

A thermal sensor system, comprising:

• a thermal sensor comprising:
• a thermal detection region of a sensor substrate;
• a thermal reference region of the sensor substrate;
• and
• an array of thermocouples configured to detect a thermal differential between the thermal detection region and the thermal reference region;
• and
• a housing configured to support the thermal sensor within the housing and beneath a windowed aperture of the housing, wherein the windowed aperture is configured such that radiative energy may transmit through the windowed aperture and be received by the thermal sensor.