Tuning D* with modified thermal detectors
First Claim
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1. A method for adjusting the spectral detectivity of a detector, comprising:
- providing a detector having a broadband sensitive portion;
coating the broadband sensitive portion with a first material to reduce the interaction of the detector with light; and
coating the first material with a second material having spectral absorption characteristics, wherein the broadband sensitive portion is coupled to receive an energy from the second material.
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Abstract
Disclosed is apparatus and methodology for producing thermal detectors with spectral responsivities that mimic the absorptions of chemical analytes, and whose detector characteristics approach those of conventional broad-band thermal detectors. In an exemplary arrangement, the methodology provides for modification of a known Si-based thermal detector by adding a near-infrared dye absorbing film above a reflector deposited directly on the thermal detector element. The method is general to all types of thermal detectors that can be divided into separate absorber and thermal sensor components.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for adjusting the spectral detectivity of a detector, comprising:
- providing a detector having a broadband sensitive portion;
coating the broadband sensitive portion with a first material to reduce the interaction of the detector with light; and
coating the first material with a second material having spectral absorption characteristics, wherein the broadband sensitive portion is coupled to receive an energy from the second material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- providing a detector having a broadband sensitive portion;
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16. A detector, comprising:
- a broadband sensitive detector material;
a layer of light reflecting material disposed on at least a portion of the broadband sensitive detector material to reduce the interaction of the detector with light; and
a layer of spectral absorption material disposed on said light reflecting material, wherein the broadband sensitive detector material is coupled to receive an energy from the spectral absorption material. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- a broadband sensitive detector material;
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24. A detector having spectral responsivity similar to chemical analytes, comprising:
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a detector including a broadband sensitive portion; a layer of a first material disposed on the detector to reduce the interaction of the broadband sensitive portion with light; and an absorbing layer of a second material disposed on the layer of a first material;
whereinincoming light impinges first on the absorbing layer of a second material and the broadband sensitive portion is coupled to receive an energy from the second material. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for using an optical detector comprising:
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modulating light at a frequency; and directing the modulated light to the optical detector, wherein the optical detector comprises; a detector including a broadband sensitive portion; a layer of a first material formed on the broadband sensitive portion to reduce the interaction of the detector with light; and an absorbing layer of a second material formed on the layer of a first material;
whereinthe modulated light impinges first on the absorbing layer of the second material and the broadband sensitive portion is coupled to receive an energy from the second material. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for adjusting the spectral detectivity of a detector, comprising:
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coating a broadband sensitive portion of the detector with a first material to reduce the response of the detector to light; coating the first material with a second material that has spectral absorption characteristics; and adding a polymer to the second material, whereby the spectral absorbance of the second material combined with the spectral absorbance of the polymer determines the sensitivity of the detector; and
whereby the broadband sensitive portion is coupled to receive an energy from the second material.
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Specification