Light Detector Optics for Higher Photon Detection With Stray Light Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current light detectors face challenges in enhancing detection efficiency, particularly in concentrating incident light effectively onto the semiconductor region to improve photon detection efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a light concentrator separated from the element region by a light-shielding part with an opening, allowing concentrated light to pass through and increase the optical path length within the element region, combined with a structure part of different refractive index to enhance light incidence and reflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a light concentrator is placed close to the element region to concentrate incident light, then light concentration efficiency improves, but light shielding and stray light control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The light-shielding part is divided into a first light-shielding part and a second light-shielding part positioned at different heights. The first light-shielding part is located between the light concentrator and element region, while the second light-shielding part is positioned deeper to block stray light from different directions, creating a segmented shielding structure that addresses both light concentration and stray light control
Solution Approach 2:
The light-shielding structure extends in the depth direction (z-axis) with different parts positioned at different heights. This three-dimensional arrangement allows the light-shielding part to block stray light from multiple angles while maintaining effective light concentration onto the element region
2Productivity
If the optical path length within the element region is increased to improve detection efficiency, then photon detection efficiency improves, but device structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light concentrator features a curved lower surface that focuses incident light onto the element region. This curvature design naturally extends the optical path length within the element region without requiring complex additional optical components, thereby improving photon detection efficiency while maintaining relatively simple device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The light-shielding part with its opening structure serves as an intermediary that guides and concentrates light through the opening onto the element region. This intermediary structure effectively increases the optical path length and light concentration without significantly complicating the overall device structure
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 configuration significantly increases the detection efficiency by concentrating and diffusing incident light, leading to improved quantum and photon detection efficiency, and wider light detection area.
Implementation Method 1
The light concentrator 40 is configured to concentrate light incident on the light concentrator 40
Implementation Method 2
The structure part has a different refractive index from the element region
Implementation Method 3
The structure part is arranged with the element region in a direction crossing the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A light detector according to one embodiment, includes an element region, a light concentrator, a structure part and a light-shielding part. The element region includes a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, and a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type. The light concentrator is separated from the element region in a first direction. The light concentrator is configured to concentrate light incident on the light concentrator. The structure part is arranged with the element region in a direction crossing the first direction. The structure part has a different refractive index from the element region. The light-shielding part is located between the element region and the light concentrator. The light-shielding part includes an opening. At least a portion of the light incident on the light concentrator is able to be incident on the element region by passing through the opening.