Use of a photovoltaic element as sensor for checking the functioning of transmitters in the infrared range

1. A method for testing the functionality of emitters in the infrared range, said method comprising:

providing a photovoltaic element ( 1 ) as sensor for testing the functionality of emitters in the infrared range,

connecting to said photovoltaic element a device for detecting the output of said photovoltaic element,

irradiating at least a part of the surface area of said sensor with infrared radiation from an infrared radiation emitter,

determining the functionality of said emitter as a function of the signal detected by said detectors,

wherein the sensor is used for checking the functionality of an infrared headlight of a motor vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic element ( 1 ) is associated with a filter, which is transmissive for infrared radiation and is at least partially non-transmissive for visible light.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic element ( 1 ) includes multiple cells separated spatially from each other, of which the signals can be separately evaluated.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein multiple signals are separately evaluated to allow determination of spatial infrared radiation distribution.

5. A method for testing the functionality of emitters in the infrared range, said method comprising:

providing a photovoltaic element ( 1 ) as sensor for testing the functionality of emitters in the infrared range,

connecting to said photovoltaic element a device for detecting the output of said photovoltaic element,

irradiating at least a part of the surface area of said sensor with infrared radiation from an infrared radiation emitter,

determining the functionality of said emitter as a function of the signal detected by said detector,

wherein a shield ( 4 ) is used to evaluate only a partial area of the transmitter.