Pyramidal Vector Light Sensor for Directional Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light sensors can only provide information about the intensity of incident light, lacking the ability to determine the direction of the light beam, which is necessary for various applications such as room occupancy monitoring and gesture tracking.
Innovation Solution
A vector light sensor (VLS) with a three-dimensional structure, fabricated using microfabrication techniques, featuring multiple sensing surfaces that allow for the calculation of light direction and intensity, enabling the estimation of light source range through triangulation and providing spatial information about light sources in the field of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a planar light sensor structure is used, then the device complexity is low and manufacturing is easy, but the sensor cannot provide direction information of incident light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar sensor structure to a three-dimensional pyramidal structure. The pyramid geometry provides multiple sensing surfaces oriented in different spatial directions, enabling the sensor to detect light intensity from multiple angles simultaneously. This dimensional change allows extraction of directional information through triangulation while maintaining a compact integrated circuit form factor.
2Loss of information
If multiple discrete sensors are used to determine light direction, then the direction information can be obtained, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple light sensing functions into a single pyramidal structure fabricated using standard integrated circuit techniques. Instead of assembling multiple discrete sensors, the pyramid geometry is created as a monolithic structure where four light-sensitive areas are formed on the four triangular faces. This merging approach enables directional sensing while maintaining compatibility with conventional semiconductor manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The pyramidal structure is segmented into four distinct light-sensitive areas, each located on a different triangular face of the pyramid. Each segment independently measures light intensity from its specific orientation. By comparing the signals from these segmented sensing areas, the system can calculate the direction of incident light through triangulation while using standard IC fabrication methods.
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
The VLS effectively provides both intensity and direction information of incident light, enhancing applications by enabling accurate detection of light sources and their location in three-dimensional space, improving upon traditional planar sensors by offering real-time location information.
Implementation Method 1
the light-sensitive area is made from a semiconducting material of proper band-gap whose conductance changes in relation to the light intensity
Implementation Method 2
the light sensing area is made of a semiconducting material with suitable alternating doping so that a light-sensitive diode or transistor is formed
Data Source
AI summary
A vector light sensor (VLS) includes a substrate and a sensor structure. The substrate includes a major surface. The sensor structure includes a pyramid structure, light-sensitive areas, and electrical contacts. The pyramid structure forms at least a portion of a body of the sensor structure and has predefined angles between the major surface of the substrate and a plurality of sidewalls of the pyramid. The light-sensitive areas are formed on two or more of the plurality of sidewalls of the pyramid structure. The electrical contacts are electrically coupled to the light-sensitive areas. Information about the information about intensity and direction of an incident light beam can be extracted by comparing signals from two or more of the light-sensitive areas.