Photodetector array on curved substrate

• US 8,742,325 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2013
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waymo LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Droz, Pierre-Yves, Pennecot, Gaetan, Prachar, Timothy John
• Primary Examiner(s): Sohn, Seung C
• Application Number:
  US13/955,583
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214.1, 250/214.R, 250/216, 250/208.1, 250/239
• US Class Current: 250/239
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0411 using focussing or collimating elements, i.e. lenses or mirrors; Aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0448 Adjustable, e.g. focussing
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/02 Systems using the reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves G01S17/66 takes precedence

Abstract

In some applications, it may be desirable to position multiple photodetectors at precise locations on a curved focal surface defined by an optical system. To achieve this positioning, the photodetectors may be mounted at desired locations on a flexible substrate that is in a flat configuration. The flexible substrate with mounted photodetectors can then be shaped to substantially conform to the shape of the curved focal surface. This shaping can be accomplished by clamping the flexible substrate between at least two clamping pieces. The curved flexible substrate clamped between the at least two clamping pieces can be positioned relative to the optical system such that the photodetectors are positioned at desired three-dimensional locations on the curved focal surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an optical system, wherein the optical system defines a focal surface having a curved shape;

a flexible substrate;

a plurality of photodetectors mounted on the flexible substrate; and

a clamp comprising at least a first clamping piece and a second clamping piece, wherein the first clamping piece has a convex surface that corresponds to the curved shape of the focal surface, wherein the second clamping piece has a concave surface that corresponds to the curved shape of the curved focal surface, and wherein the clamp is configured to hold the flexible substrate between the first and second clamping pieces such that the flexible substrate substantially conforms to the curved shape of the focal surface and each of the photodetectors in the plurality of photodetectors is at a respective location on the focal surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate comprises a flexible printed circuit board (PCB).

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each photodetector in the plurality of photodetectors is electrically connected to at least one respective conductive trace in the flexible PCB.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate comprises a plurality of alignment holes, and wherein the clamp comprises a plurality of dowel pins extending through the plurality of alignment holes so as to position the flexible substrate relative to the clamp.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of dowels extend through corresponding holes in at least one of the first clamping piece or the second clamping piece.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each photodetector in the plurality of photodetectors comprises a respective avalanche photodiode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the photodetectors in the plurality of photodetectors are arranged in a plurality of rows.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical system comprises a lens.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the lens has an aspheric surface and a toroidal surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the photodetectors in the plurality of photodetectors are arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein the toroidal surface has a first curvature in a direction parallel to the rows and a second curvature in a direction perpendicular to the rows.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the photodetectors in the plurality of photodetectors are arranged in a plurality of rows on the flexible substrate.

11. A method, comprising:

mounting a plurality of photodetectors on a flexible substrate in a flat configuration, such that each photodetector has a respective two-dimensional location on the flexible substrate;

curving the flexible substrate with the plurality of photodetectors mounted thereon such that the curved flexible substrate substantially conforms to a curved shape of a focal surface defined by an optical system; and

positioning the curved flexible substrate relative to the optical system such that each photodetector in the plurality of photodetectors is at a respective three-dimensional location on the focal surface.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein curving the flexible substrate comprises curving the flexible substrate in a direction parallel to the rows.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein curving the flexible substrate comprises curving the flexible substrate in a direction perpendicular to the rows.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein curving the flexible substrate comprises clamping the flexible substrate between at least a first clamping piece and a second clamping piece, wherein the first clamping piece has a convex surface that corresponds to the curved shape of the focal surface, and wherein the second clamping piece has a concave surface that corresponds to the curved shape of the curved focal surface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the flexible substrate has a plurality of alignment holes, wherein at least one of the clamping pieces has a plurality of corresponding holes, and wherein the flexible substrate is positioned relative to the clamping pieces by inserting a plurality of dowel pins through the plurality of alignment holes and corresponding holes.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the flexible substrate comprises a flexible printed circuit board (PCB).

18. The method of claim 16, wherein mounting the plurality of photodetectors on the flexible substrate comprises electrically connecting each photodetector in the plurality of photodetectors to at least one respective conductive trace in the flexible PCB.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the optical system comprises a lens.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the lens has an aspheric surface and a toroidal surface.