UV Sensor Floating Gate Segmentation for Sensitivity and Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current UV radiation sensors lack high sensitivity and are often costly and energy-intensive, necessitating a solution that enhances sensitivity while reducing manufacturing costs and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The UV radiation sensor design features a floating gate with a thick dielectric layer and a 'grilled' shape, along with sequences of photodiodes, and uses independently biased tunneling and control gates to achieve high sensitivity and low energy consumption, eliminating the need for high-voltage CMOS components and reducing production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional UV radiation sensors are used, then manufacturing cost and power consumption are reduced, but sensitivity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The floating gate is divided into multiple segments with different dielectric layer thicknesses, creating multiple sensing regions that can be independently optimized for sensitivity while maintaining low power consumption through selective activation
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the floating gate have different dielectric layer thicknesses (thick dielectric layer in certain portions, thin dielectric layer in other portions), allowing local optimization of sensitivity in specific regions while maintaining overall low power consumption
2Measurement precision
If conventional UV radiation sensors are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but sensitivity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dielectric layer thickness parameter in specific portions of the floating gate to enhance sensitivity, while using standard CMOS manufacturing processes to keep manufacturing costs low
Solution Approach 2:
The floating gate structure combines different dielectric materials with different thicknesses to create a composite structure that achieves high sensitivity while remaining compatible with standard CMOS manufacturing processes
3Measurement precision
If high-voltage CMOS components are used, then sensing capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the high-voltage requirement from the overall device by using independently biased tunneling and control gates that operate at lower voltages, eliminating the need for high-voltage CMOS components while maintaining sensing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces independently biased tunneling and control gates as intermediary elements that mediate between the UV radiation detection and the readout circuit, allowing the main sensing structure to operate at low voltages without requiring high-voltage CMOS components
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 sensor achieves high sensitivity to UV radiation with low power consumption and manufacturing costs, facilitating precise charge injection and reducing complexity, making it suitable for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
sequences of photodiodes
Implementation Method 2
thick dielectric layer below a certain portion of the floating gate
Data Source
AI summary
A UV radiation sensor that includes an area that is filled with a dielectric material, the area comprises a first portion of a first thickness and a second trench portion with dielectric of a second thickness, wherein the first thickness is smaller than the second thickness; a floating gate that comprises a first floating gate portion that is positioned above the first area portion and a second floating gate portion that is positioned above the trench portion, wherein the second floating gate portion comprises multiple segments, wherein there are one or more gaps between two or more of the multiple segments; a charging element for charging the floating gate; and a readout element for reading the floating gate.