TWO DIMENSIONAL CONTACT IMAGE SENSOR WITH BACKLIGHTING

• US 20090032688A1
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Lapstun, Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/178,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20090032688A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/227.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1318 using electro-optical elements or layers, e.g. electroluminescent sensing
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14623 Optical shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14678 Contact-type imagers

Abstract

A two-dimensional image sensor is disclosed. The image sensor includes an array of photodetectors formed within a silicon substrate. The array of photodetectors is arranged to detect reflections of light from a surface. Channels are etched through the silicon substrate, allowing light to pass from a light source through the substrate to the surface.

Claims

1. An image sensor comprising:

a silicon substrate;

an array of photodetectors formed within said silicon substrate; and

channels etched through said silicon substrate for allowing light to pass through said substrate to a surface,

wherein said array of photodetectors is arranged to detect reflections of light from said surface.

2. The image sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a spacer for spacing said array of photodetectors from said surface.

3. The image sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a diffuser on a first side of said array of photodetectors, wherein a light source is associated with said diffuser to light said diffuser internally, and light leaking from said diffuser passes through said substrate to said surface.

4. The image sensor according to claim 1 wherein said channels have reflective side walls.

5. The image sensor according to claim 1 further comprising an aperture and lens associated with each photodetector for controlling a field of view of each photodetector.

6. The image sensor according to claim 2 wherein said spacer is an at least partially opaque planar layer between said array of photodetectors and said surface, said at least partially opaque planar layer having first pathways corresponding to said channels for allowing light that passed through said channels to pass to said surface, and second pathways corresponding to said photodetectors for allowing light to pass from said surface to said photodetectors.

7. The image sensor according to claim 3 further comprising a reflective layer associated with said diffuser for directing light towards said array of photodetectors.

8. An image sensor comprising:

an array of photodetectors; and

a light source arranged on a first side of said array of photodetectors for emitting light through said array of photodetectors and at least onto a surface on a second side of said array of photodetectors,

wherein said array of photodetectors is arranged to detect reflections of light from said surface.

9. The image sensor according to claim 8 further comprising a spacer arranged on the second side of said array of photodetectors for spacing said array of photodetectors from said surface.

10. The image sensor according to claim 8 further comprising a diffuser on said first side of said array of photodetectors, wherein said light source is associated with said diffuser to light said diffuser internally, and light leaking from said diffuser passes through said array of photodetectors.

11. The image sensor according to claim 10 further comprising opaque covers for preventing light emitted from said diffuser from illuminating said array of photodetectors.

12. The image sensor according to claim 11 wherein said array of photodetectors is manufactured from a silicon wafer and a bulk of said silicon wafer forms said opaque covers.

13. The image sensor according to claim 8 wherein said array of photodetectors is manufactured from a silicon wafer and a bulk of said silicon wafer comprises etched channels allowing light to pass from said first side of said array of photodetectors.

14. The image sensor according to claim 13 wherein said channels have reflective side walls.

15. The image sensor according to claim 8 further comprising an aperture and lens associated with each photodetector for controlling a field of view of each photodetector.

16. The image sensor according to claim 13 further comprising a spacer arranged on the second side of said array of photodetector for spacing said array of photodetectors from said surface, said spacer being an at least partially opaque planar layer having first pathways corresponding to said channels for allowing light to pass from said first side to said surface, and second pathways corresponding to said photodetectors for allowing light to pass from said surface to said photodetectors.

17. The image sensor according to claim 10 further comprising a reflective layer associated with said diffuser for directing light towards said array of photodetectors.

18. The image sensor according to claim 8 further comprising:

a second array of photodetectors arranged in association with said array of photodetectors, said second array of photodetectors sensing scattered photons; and

means for altering signals from said array of photodetectors based upon signals from said second array of photodetectors.