US4131793A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lateral photodetectors
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1976-08-10
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Granted: 1978-12-26
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Expires: 1996-08-10
Abstract
Abstract A lateral photodetector having a segmented annular ring formed on the out surface. The segments are electrically interconnected to provide four interleaved output electrodes.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald G. Stoutmeyer
- 👤 William O. Alltop
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:58
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/95; H10F77/953; H10F77/957; H10F77/20; H10F77/206
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A lateral photodetector comprising: semi-conductor means having first and second opposite surfaces; said first surface oriented to receive radiation impinging as a point source on said first surface; means attached to said first surface for predeterminately biasing said first surface into an operative condition; means adjacent to said first surface and responsive to said radiation impinging on said first surface in said operative condition to release hole-electron pairs; means on said second surface responsive to said released hole-electron pairs to generate currents on said second surface; said current generating means including an annular boundary ring, said annular boundary ring being segmented with the number of segments being defined by the equation; N T = 4 (2I-1), where N T = total number of segments, I = any integer greater than one (1); and a plurality of collector electrodes placed adjacent to one another around said segmented annular boundary ring on said second surface with said segments of said annular boundary ring alternately connected to said adjacent collectors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A lateral photodetector comprising: semi-conductor means having first and second opposite surfaces; said first surface oriented to receive radiation impinging as a point source on said first surface; means attached to said first surface for predeterminately biasing said first surface into an operative condition; means adjacent to said first surface and responsive to said radiation impinging on said first surface in said operative condition to release hole-electron pairs; means on said second surface responsive to said released hole-electron pairs to generate currents on said second surface; said current generating means including an annular boundary ring, said annular boundary ring being segmented with the number of segments being defined by the equation; N T = 4 (2I-1), where N T = total number of segments, I = any integer greater than one (1); and a plurality of collector electrodes placed adjacent to one another around said segmented annular boundary ring on said second surface with said segments of said annular boundary ring alternately connected to said adjacent collectors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said semi-conductor means comprises a layer of p-type material and a layer of n-type material joined together to form a p-n junction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the segments of said annular boundary ring are of varying size, each said segment size predetermined by the location of each said segment with respect to the collector electrode to which said segment is electrically connected and the number of segments desired.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the segments of said annular boundary ring are of equal size.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the segments of said annular boundary ring are of varying size, each said segment size predetermined by the location of each said segment with respect to the collector electrode to which said segment is electrically connected and the number of segments desired.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the segments of said annular boundary ring are of equal size.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said semi-conductor means comprises a Schottky barrier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the segments of said annular boundary ring are of varying size, each said segment size predetermined by the location of each said segment with respect to the collector electrode to which said segment is electrically connected and the number of segments desired.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the segments of said annular boundary ring are of equal size.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a lateral photodetector having a front surface capable of receiving a point source of radiation as an input and an opposite rear surface capable of outputting a plurality of electrical currents representative of the point said radiation is inputted into said front surface, the method of improving the correspondence of said currents to the input point of said radiation comprising the steps of: providing an annular boundary ring on said photodetector rear surface; segmenting said annular boundary ring into a plurality of segments defined by the equation; N T = 4 (2I-1), where N T = the number of segments, I = any integer greater than one (1); enclosing said segmented annular boundary ring with a plurality of collector electrodes placed adjacent to one another; and electrically connecting alternate segments to said adjacent collector electrodes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a lateral photodetector having a front surface capable of receiving a point source of radiation as an input and an opposite rear surface capable of outputting a plurality of electrical currents representative of the point said radiation is inputted into said front surface, the method of improving the correspondence of said currents to the input point of said radiation comprising the steps of: providing an annular boundary ring on said photodetector rear surface; segmenting said annular boundary ring into a plurality of segments defined by the equation; N T = 4 (2I-1), where N T = the number of segments, I = any integer greater than one (1); enclosing said segmented annular boundary ring with a plurality of collector electrodes placed adjacent to one another; and electrically connecting alternate segments to said adjacent collector electrodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10 and further including segmenting said annular boundary ring into segments of equal size.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 10 and further including segmenting said annular boundary ring into segments of varying size, each said segment size predetermined by the location of each said segment with respect to the collector electrode to which said segment is electrically connected and the number of segments desired.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-12-25 | 1982-06-26 | 1982-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-12-25 | 1986-06-26 | 1986-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-12-25 | 1990-06-26 | 1990-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |