Lensless Optical Angle Measurement Using Continuous Epitaxial Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional optical position sensitive detectors require lenses, which occupy space, increase costs, and reduce light collection efficiency due to trenches used in lens-less solutions, making them less effective for size reduction and manufacturing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The use of a continuous epitaxial layer with electrodes positioned at varying depths and locations to collect electron-hole pairs generated by incident light, eliminating the need for lenses and trenches, thereby improving light detection efficiency and angular resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If lenses are used to focus light on the detector, then angular location measurement is achieved, but device height increases due to the required separation between lens and detector
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the lens component entirely from the optical detection system. Instead of using a lens to focus light, the invention employs a lens-less detector where light incident at different angles directly strikes different regions of the detector surface, enabling angular measurement without requiring the focal length separation that would increase device height.
2Measurement precision
If lenses are used in detectors, then light focusing capability is provided, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the lens component from the detector assembly, thereby removing the associated manufacturing costs. The lens-less design uses a straightforward detector surface that directly measures light incidence angles without requiring precision optical components, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs.
3Measurement precision
If trenches are used to isolate photodetectors in lens-less solutions, then angular measurement is enabled, but light collection efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a continuous epitaxial layer without trenches to maintain uninterrupted light collection across the detector surface. This continuous structure ensures that light incident at various angles can be collected efficiently without being blocked or scattered by trench structures, preserving light collection efficiency while still enabling angular measurement through the spatial distribution of detected light.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables smaller, cost-effective optical detectors with enhanced light detection capabilities and improved angular resolution without the need for lenses or trenches, facilitating easier manufacturing and reduced size constraints.
Implementation Method 1
Two or more electrodes may be arranged at different positions in the epitaxial layer from the aperture so that the electron-hole pairs generated in the epitaxial layer from the incident light passing through the aperture and reaching the epitaxial layer
Data Source
AI summary
An optical detector may include an epitaxial layer having a continuous surface provided on a surface of a substrate. Two or more electrodes may be arranged at different positions in the epitaxial layer so that the electron-hole pairs generated in the epitaxial layer from incident light passing through the aperture and reaching the epitaxial layer have a varying probability of being collected by each of the electrodes as the angle of the incident light changes. The electrodes may be arranged at different depths in the epitaxial layer. The epitaxial layer may be continuous and have a continuous aperture-facing surface between each of the electrodes associated with a particular aperture to ensure that more light passing through the aperture is absorbable in the epitaxial layer and subsequently detectable by the electrodes. This may result in improved light detection capabilities.