Superlattice quantum well infrared detector
First Claim
1. An infrared (IR) sensor comprising:
- a thermopile including;
a substrate;
an absorber being positioned above the substrate and forming a gap thereof, the absorber being arranged to receive IR from a scene and to generate an electrical output indicative of a temperature of the scene, the absorber being formed of a superlattice quantum well structure including a plurality of alternating first and second layers such that the absorber is thermally isolated from the substrate;
a first encapsulating layer;
a second encapsulating layer, the plurality of alternating first and second layers being positioned between the first encapsulating layer and the second encapsulating layer to support the absorber over the gap; and
a first arm positioned on a first side of the absorber and a second arm positioned on a second side of the absorber, wherein the first arm is formed of a first superlattice quantum well structure and the second arm is formed of a second superlattice quantum well structure such that the absorber is thermally isolated by the first arm and the second arm.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In at least one embodiment, an infrared (IR) sensor comprising a thermopile is provided. The thermopile comprises a substrate and an absorber. The absorber is positioned above the substrate and a gap is formed between the absorber and the substrate. The absorber receives IR from a scene and generates an electrical output indicative of a temperature of the scene. The absorber is formed of a super lattice quantum well structure such that the absorber is thermally isolated from the substrate. In another embodiment, a method for forming an infrared (IR) detector is provided. The method comprises forming a substrate and forming an absorber with a plurality of alternating first and second layers with a super lattice quantum well structure. The method further comprises positioning the absorber about the substrate such that a gap is formed to cause the absorber to be suspended about the substrate.
25 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An infrared (IR) sensor comprising:
a thermopile including; a substrate; an absorber being positioned above the substrate and forming a gap thereof, the absorber being arranged to receive IR from a scene and to generate an electrical output indicative of a temperature of the scene, the absorber being formed of a superlattice quantum well structure including a plurality of alternating first and second layers such that the absorber is thermally isolated from the substrate; a first encapsulating layer; a second encapsulating layer, the plurality of alternating first and second layers being positioned between the first encapsulating layer and the second encapsulating layer to support the absorber over the gap; and a first arm positioned on a first side of the absorber and a second arm positioned on a second side of the absorber, wherein the first arm is formed of a first superlattice quantum well structure and the second arm is formed of a second superlattice quantum well structure such that the absorber is thermally isolated by the first arm and the second arm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A sensing apparatus comprising:
a thermopile including; a substrate; an absorber positioned about the substrate, the absorber for receiving thermal energy from an external source; a first arm positioned on a first side of the absorber and being formed of a first superlattice quantum well structure including a first plurality of alternating layers to thermally isolate the first arm; and a second arm positioned on a second side of the absorber and being formed of a second superlattice quantum well structure including a second plurality of alternating layers to thermally isolate the second arm. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A sensing apparatus comprising:
a thermopile for providing an electrical signal indicative of thermal energy, the thermopile including; a substrate; an absorber positioned about the substrate, the absorber for receiving thermal energy from an external source to provide the electrical signal; and a first arm positioned on a first side of the absorber and being formed of a first superlattice quantum well structure including a first plurality of alternating layers that is arranged to extend in a first plane and to enable flow of the electrical signal along the first plane. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A sensing apparatus comprising:
a thermopile to provide an electrical signal indicative of thermal energy, the thermopile including; a substrate; an absorber positioned about the substrate, the absorber to receive thermal energy from a source to provide the electrical signal, the absorber being formed of a superlattice quantum well structure including a first plurality of alternating layers that is arranged to extend in a first plane and to enable flow of the electrical signal along the first plane; and a first arm positioned on a first side of the absorber and being formed of a first superlattice quantum well structure including a first plurality of alternating layers that is arranged to extend in the first plane and to enable flow of the electrical signal along the first plane. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method for forming a sensing apparatus, the method comprising:
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forming a substrate; forming an absorber, the absorber for receiving thermal energy from an external source; forming a first arm on a first side of the absorber with a first quantum well structure including a plurality of first plurality of alternating layers; and forming a second arm on a second side of the absorber with a second quantum well structure including a second plurality of alternating layers. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification