Biomimicry Innovation Inspired by Nature

Example: Pyrophilous Jewel Beetle as Model for a Micro-technological Infrared Sensor

Subject: Technology Management Submited to: Mr. Snehal Shah Prepared By: Viraj Trivedi CEPT MTM_ AM3411

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Example: Pyrophilous Jewel Beetle as Model for a Micro-technological Infrared Sensor A number of insects represent perfect remote-tracking systems for forest fires. The most wellknown insect associated with fires is the species of Buprestid, the jewel beetle Melanophila. Melanophila beetles use a small infrared (IR) sensory receptor, located next to their mesothoracic legs, to detect forest fires. They are composed of 50-100 individual sensilla (each approx. 15 microns in diameter) and located at the bottom of a 100 m deep cavity. The sensilla are packed together tightly. Consequently, the beetle has a highly-miniaturized IR sensor array. The IR receptors of the beetle are in fact mechanoreceptors that convert infrared radiation into a mechanical stimulus, resulting in a deformation of the sensory cell membrane.

Figure 1: Cross-section of the technological design of the IR sensor (not to scale).

Figure 2: Layout of an IR sensor. The diagram shows the layout of the capacitor membranes, chambers and pressure balance capillaries.

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Figure 2 shows the arrangement of the sensors ("chips") on a 4'' wafer and a magnified section of a sensor layout. The length of the pressure balance capillary and the diameter of the capacitor membrane were diversified to obtain the optimum parameters for the sensor. In our layout, there are 408 sensors on a 4'' wafer. The sensor chip is currently 2 x 5 mm 2 in size; it is, however, relatively simple to produce considerably smaller ones in the silicon technology.

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