PURPOSE: To enable the measurement of an infrared irradiated area without using a condenser such as an optical cone by eliminating non-uniformity of plane sensitivity, by forming an infrared absorbing layer on the juction part of two kinds of metal layers through an electrical/thermal insulating layer and a thermally good conductive layer.

CONSTITUTION: An electrical/thermal insulating layer (e.g., a polystyrene film) 39, a thermally good conductive layer (e.g., a gold vapor deposition film ) 40 and an infrared absorbing layer (e.g., a blackened film comprising a mixture of a carbon fine power and a binder) 33 are laminated onto the temp.-sensitive junction part 36 comprising two kinds of metal (Bi and Sb) thin layers 31, 32 formed on a substrate thin film 34 and a signal outtake electrode (e.g., a gold vapor deposition film) 38 is provided. A support stand 35 comprises a copper block. This thermocouple type infrared detection element absorbs incident infrared rays by the blackened film 33 thereof with good efficiency and the infrared irradiated part rises in its temp. by the absorption of light. Subsequently, infrared absorption heat is diffused through the layer 40 to the lateral direction by heat conduction and uniformized to raise the temp. of the temp.-sensitive junction part 36.