Stacked Photodiode Sensor for 3D Beam Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensor components can only detect the one-dimensional or two-dimensional position of an incident energy beam, lacking the capability to provide continuous three-dimensional position information, which limits their accuracy and applicability in applications such as optical measuring devices and vibration monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A sensor component with stacked photodiode layers in a three-dimensional coordinate system, where at least one layer is transparent, allowing for the determination of x, y, and z coordinates of an incident energy beam by measuring partial currents at multiple contacts, enabling three-dimensional direction detection and increased accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional sensor components with single photodiode layers are used, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision is limited to one-dimensional or two-dimensional position detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by stacking multiple photodiode layers in the z-direction to enable three-dimensional position detection. Each layer detects the beam position at its specific z-coordinate, and by combining measurements from multiple layers, the system determines the complete three-dimensional position (x, y, z) of the incident energy beam, transitioning from two-dimensional detection to three-dimensional detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the detection function across multiple photodiode layers, where each layer is responsible for detecting the energy beam at its specific z-position. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each layer and enables the determination of z-coordinate information that would be impossible with a single layer, while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular architecture.
2Measurement precision
If transparent photodiode layers are used to enable three-dimensional detection, then the measurement precision improves, but the loss of energy increases as the beam passes through multiple layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making only the necessary photodiode layers transparent rather than all layers. The first photodiode layer is designed to be transparent to allow the energy beam to reach subsequent layers for z-coordinate determination, while maintaining detection capability. This selective transparency minimizes energy loss while achieving the required three-dimensional detection precision.
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
Enables precise three-dimensional detection of energy beams, enhancing the accuracy of measurements in optical and vibration monitoring applications, and allowing for the use in triangulation-based devices and other technical areas.
Implementation Method 1
the bundle of energy rays to be detected strikes one of the two photodiode layers and generates a photocurrent there by means of a photoelectric effect
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor component for detecting an incident energy beam bundle, wherein the sensor component has stacked layers, wherein the layers comprise: a first photodiode layer, wherein at least four measurement contacts are arranged on electrode layers of the first photodiode layer, on which a partial current of a photocurrent dependent on the incident energy beam bundle can be tapped, such that an x-coordinate and a y-coordinate in the three-dimensional coordinate system of the incident energy beam bundle can be determined in the photoactive layers of the first photodiode layer; and a second photodiode layer set on the first photodiode layer, wherein at least four measurement contacts are arranged on electrode layers of the second photodiode layer, on which a partial current of a photocurrent dependent on the incident energy beam bundle can be tapped, such that an x-coordinate and a y-coordinate in the three-dimensional coordinate system of the incident energy beam bundle can be determined in the photoactive layers of the second photodiode layer; wherein at least one of the photodiode layers is transparent.