Optical device

• US 6,839,135 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2001
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Hamm, Thomas, Mueller, Beno
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Seung H
• Application Number:
  US09/832,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20010030746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 356/328, 356/305, 356/326, 250/208.1
• US Class Current: 356/328
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/20 Rowland circle spectrometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/28 Investigating the spectrum using colour filters G01J3/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2803 using photoelectric array detector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/167 comprising optoelectronic devices, e.g. LED, photodiodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/09701 Low temperature co-fired ceramic [LTCC]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02325 the optical elements not being integrated nor being directly associated with the device

Abstract

An optical device includes an imaging device for imaging an incident beam onto a focal surface, and a support element which includes at least one side having a shape corresponding to the focal surface, where the side is located on the focal surface. The invention also includes a sensor array in close contact with the side of the support element having the shape of the focal surface.

Claims

1. An optical device comprising:

an imaging device for imaging an incident beam onto a focal surface;

a support element having a surface with a shape corresponding to said focal surface, said surface of said support element being located on said focal surface; and

a flexible sensor array in close contact with said surface of said support element and having a surface with a shape corresponding to said focal surface.

2. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said flexible sensor array comprises a photosensitive element mounted on a flexible structure.

3. The optical device of claim 2, wherein said flexible structure conforms to said shape of said surface of said support element.

4. The optical device of claim 2, wherein said flexible structure is bonded to said surface of said support element.

5. The optical device of claim 2, wherein said flexible structure has a thickness in a range from 1 micrometer to 0.1 millimeters.

6. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said sensor array comprises a photodiode line.

7. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said imaging device comprises a grating.

8. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said focal surface is defined by a Rowland Circle.

9. An optical device comprising:

an imaging device for imaging an incident beam on a focal surface; and

a flexible sensor array formed to a shape of said focal surface by fixing at least a portion of said flexible sensor array.

10. The optical device of claim 9, wherein said at least a portion of said flexible sensor array comprises at least two ends of said flexible sensor array.

11. The optical device of claim 9, wherein said at least a portion of said flexible sensor array comprises at least two points located on a surface of said flexible sensor array.

12. The optical device of claim 9, wherein said at least a portion of said flexible sensor array comprises at least two points located on an edge of said flexible sensor array.

13. The optical device of claim 9, wherein said at least a portion of said flexible sensor array comprises at least two points located on different edges of said flexible sensor array.

14. The optical device of claim 9, further comprising a support element wherein said at least a portion of said flexible sensor array is fixed to said support element and said support element forms said flexible sensor array to said shape of said focal surface.

15. The optical device of claim 9, wherein said flexible sensor array comprises a photosensitive element mounted on a flexible structure.

16. The optical device of claim 15, wherein said flexible structure has a thickness in a range from 1 micrometer to 0.1 millimeters.

17. The optical device of claim 9, wherein said flexible sensor array comprises a photodiode line.

18. The optical device of claim 9, wherein said imaging device comprises a grating.

19. The optical device of claim 9, wherein said focal surface is defined by a Rowland Circle.

20. An optical device comprising:

an imaging device for imaging an incident beam onto a focal surface;

a support element having a surface conforming to and being located on said focal surface; and

a flexible sensor array affixed to said surface of said support element and having a surface with a shape corresponding to said focal surface.

21. An optical device comprising:

an imaging device for imaging an incident beam onto a curved focal surface;

a support element having a surface conforming to and being located on said curved focal surface; and

a flexible semiconductor array of photosensitive elements affixed to said surface of said support element and having a surface that conforms to said curved focal surface.