Light emitting and image sensing device and apparatus

• US 7,521,719 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2007
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Plutomnia Security Limited
• Original Assignee: Paul Steven Schranz
• Inventors: Schranz, Paul Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Mandala, Victor A
• Application Number:
  US11/775,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20080012029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 257/80, 257/225, 257/E33.076
• US Class Current: 257/80
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14621 Colour filter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14627 Microlenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14645 Colour imagers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14647 Multicolour imagers having a stacked pixel-element structure, e.g. npn, npnpn or MQW elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14678 Contact-type imagers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/15 including semiconductor components having potential barriers, specially adapted for light emission

Abstract

a photosensor structure; and

switching means coupled between the photosensor structure and one of the plurality of signal lines, the switching means responsive to select signals on one or more of the plurality of select lines for conveying a photosensor signal between the photosensor structure and the one of the plurality of signal lines.

Claims

1. A light emitting and image sensing apparatus comprising:

a light emitting and image sensing device including;

a photosensor means for sensing an image of the scene, the photosensor means being on a first semiconductor substrate and being responsive to incident light from the scene;

a photoemitter means for illuminating the scene with light, the photoemitter means being on a second semiconductor substrate, the second semiconductor substrate being connected with the first semiconductor substrate; and

a photoemitter control means for controlling an emission of light from the photoemitter means, the photoemitter control means being on the first semiconductor substrate;

a third substrate connected with the light emitting and image sensing device;

a means for focusing the light from the scene onto the photosensor means;

wherein the means for focusing is connected with the light emitting and image sensing device.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a means for directing the light from the photoemitter means to the scene, the means for directing being connected with the light emitting and image sensing device.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for focusing light from the scene is connected with the means for directing light to the scene.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, where the means for focusing includes a lens.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for directing includes a lens.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for directing light is located near one end of the light emitting and image sensing device, and the means for focusing is located near an end opposite the one end of the light emitting and image sensing device.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for directing light is located near and around the periphery of the light emitting and image sensing device, and the means for focusing is located near the center of the light emitting and image sensing device.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for focusing the light from the scene onto the photosensor means further functions to direct light from the photoemitter means to the scene.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further including a first light channel from the photoemitter means of the light emitting and image sensing device to the means for directing, and a second light channel from the means for focusing to the photosensor means of the light emitting and image sensing device.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further including a first light channel from the photoemitter means of the light emitting and image sensing device to the means for directing, and a second light channel from the means for focusing to the photosensor means of the light emitting and image sensing device.

11. A light emitting and image sensing apparatus comprising:

a light emitting and image sensing device including;

a photosensor means for sensing an image of the scene being on a first semiconductor substrate and being responsive to incident light from the scene, the photosensor means including;

a plurality of select lines;

a plurality of signal lines; and

a plurality of pixel elements, each pixel element including;

a photosensor structure; and

switching means for conveying a photosensor signal between the photosensor structure and one of the plurality of signal lines, the switching means being coupled between the photosensor structure and the one of the plurality of signal lines, the switching means being responsive to select signals on one or more of the plurality of select lines for conveying the photosensor signal;

a photoemitter means for illuminating the scene with light, the photoemitter means being on a second semiconductor substrate, said photoemitter means including a resonator, the second semiconductor substrate being connected with the first semiconductor substrate;

a third substrate connected with the light emitting and image sensing device; and

a means for focusing the incident light from the scene onto the photosensor means;

wherein the means for focusing is connected with the light emitting and image sensing device.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a means for directing the light from the photoemitter means to the scene, the means for directing being connected with the light emitting and image sensing device.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means for focusing light from the scene is connected with the means for directing light to the scene.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, where the means for focusing includes a lens.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means for directing includes a lens.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means for directing light is located near one end of the light emitting and image sensing device, and the means for focusing is located near an end opposite the one end of the light emitting and image sensing device.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means for directing light is located near and around the periphery of the light emitting and image sensing device, and the means for focusing is located near the center of the light emitting and image sensing device.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for focusing the light from the scene onto the photosensor means further acts to direct light from the photoemitter means to the scene.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further including a first light channel from the photoemitter means of the light emitting and image sensing device to the means for directing, and a second light channel from the means for focusing to the photosensor means of the light emitting and image sensing device.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further including a first light channel from the photoemitter means of the light emitting and image sensing device to the means for directing, and a second light channel from the means for focusing to the photosensor means of the light emitting and image sensing device.