The present invention relates to thermal detectors and the application of such to devices and methods of detecting the infrared images using thermal detectors. For example, by using optical measuring systems in combination with at least one light source to measure changes position of a movable anchored surface coupled to an absorption surface such that the movable anchored surface changes position due to absorption of infrared radiation by the absorption surface. In another example, by combining a detector pixel (infrared radiation sensitive) with an optical measuring device such as an interferometer.