Far infrared photoconductor array
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting far infrared radiation comprising:
- a detecting layer, formed on a first substrate, for receiving far infrared radiation and converting the radiation into a first electrical signal;
a readout layer, formed on a second substrate, for receiving the first electrical signal, converting the first electrical signal to a second electrical signal suitable for processing by a micro-processing device, and generating background radiation capable of detrimentally affecting an efficiency of the detecting layer; and
a blocking layer, formed by a third substrate situated in between the first substrate and the second substrate, for transmitting the first electrical signal from the detecting layer to the readout layer, providing a heat sink for both the detecting layer and the readout layer, and blocking the background radiation of the readout layer from reaching the detecting layer, and wherein the third substrate is constructed from a material that is opaque to far infrared radiation.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Fabrication of far infrared photoconductor arrays, especially for low background astronomy, is particularly challenging due to arrays'"'"' relatively large pixel size, susceptibility to stray radiation, and the requirement for low bias levels. A hybrid-far infrared photoconductor array as presented, provides a system and method for the development of large-format far IR arrays. The hybrid-far infrared array is provided with a blocking layer, situated in between a detecting layer and a readout layer, which allows detection of far infrared signals without complications based on readout glow. In particular, the readout glow, detector heating, and thermal mismatch between the readout and the detecting layer are addressed by careful selection of the materials for the blocking layer. The blocking layer is provided with an array of conductive vias passing through the bulk of the blocking layer in order to efficiently transmit electrical signals between the detecting layer and the readout layer.
26 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for detecting far infrared radiation comprising:
-
a detecting layer, formed on a first substrate, for receiving far infrared radiation and converting the radiation into a first electrical signal; a readout layer, formed on a second substrate, for receiving the first electrical signal, converting the first electrical signal to a second electrical signal suitable for processing by a micro-processing device, and generating background radiation capable of detrimentally affecting an efficiency of the detecting layer; and a blocking layer, formed by a third substrate situated in between the first substrate and the second substrate, for transmitting the first electrical signal from the detecting layer to the readout layer, providing a heat sink for both the detecting layer and the readout layer, and blocking the background radiation of the readout layer from reaching the detecting layer, and wherein the third substrate is constructed from a material that is opaque to far infrared radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 25)
-
-
10. An apparatus for detecting far infrared radiation comprising:
-
a receiving means, formed on a first substrate, for receiving a far infrared signal, the receiving means capable of converting the far infrared signal into a first electrical signal; a reading means, formed on a second substrate, for reading the first electrical signal, the reading means capable of converting the first electrical signal into a second electrical signal suitable for electronics processing; and a transmitting means, formed by a third substrate, for transmitting the first electrical signal to the reading means, the transmitting means capable of shielding the detecting means from receiving background radiation emitted from the reading means, and wherein the third substrate is constructed from a material that is opaque to far infrared radiation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method for manufacturing a sensor for sensing far infrared radiation, the method comprising the steps of:
-
establishing a support substrate, with a top and a bottom surface, for transmitting electrical signals and blocking background radiation, and wherein the support substrate is constructed from a material that is opaque to far infrared radiation; depositing a second substrate on the top surface of the support substrate for receiving far infrared radiation and converting the received far infrared radiation into a first electrical signal; and depositing a third substrate on the bottom surface of the support substrate for receiving the first electrical signal and converting the first electrical signal to a second electrical signal suitable for processing by a micro-processing device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
26. An apparatus for detecting far infrared radiation comprising:
-
a detecting layer, formed on a first substrate, for receiving far infrared radiation and converting the radiation into a first electrical signal; a readout layer, formed on a second substrate, for receiving the first electrical signal, converting the first electrical signal to a second electrical signal suitable for processing by a micro-processing device, and generating background radiation capable of detrimentally affecting an efficiency of the detecting layer; and a blocking layer, formed by a third substrate situated in between the first substrate and the second substrate, for transmitting the first electrical signal from the detecting layer to the readout layer, providing a heat sink for both the detecting layer and the readout layer, and blocking the background radiation of the readout layer from reaching the detecting layer, and wherein the third substrate comprises one or more embedded blocking pads positioned to cut off a linear path for the background radiation of the readout layer to reach the detecting layer.
-
-
27. An apparatus for detecting far infrared radiation comprising:
-
a receiving means, formed on a first substrate, for receiving a far infrared signal, the receiving means capable of converting the far infrared signal into a first electrical signal; a reading means, formed on a second substrate, for reading the first electrical signal, the reading means capable of converting the first electrical signal into a second electrical signal suitable for electronics processing; and a transmitting means, formed by a third substrate, for transmitting the first electrical signal to the reading means, the transmitting means capable of cutting off a linear path for background radiation emitted from the reading means to reach the receiving means.
-
-
28. A method for manufacturing a sensor for sensing far infrared radiation, the method comprising the steps of:
-
establishing a support substrate, with a top and a bottom surface, for transmitting electrical signals and blocking background radiation; depositing a second substrate on the top surface of the support substrate for receiving far infrared radiation and converting the received far infrared radiation into a first electrical signal; and depositing a third substrate on the bottom surface of the support substrate for receiving the first electrical signal and converting the first electrical signal to a second electrical signal suitable for processing by a micro-processing device, and wherein the support substrate comprises one or more embedded blocking pads positioned to cut off a linear path for background radiation emitted from the third substrate to reach the second substrate.
-
Specification