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US4933542A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

High speed photodetector having dual transmission line geometry

Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
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Filing: 1988-10-31
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Granted: 1990-06-12
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Expires: 2008-10-31
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Abstract

Abstract A vacuum photodetector has been fabricated in a coplanar microstrip transmission line geometry to achieve high quantum efficiency and picosecond response time. The coplanar microstrip transmission lines, photocathode and anode, are mounted on an insulating substrate such as sapphire and are electrically biased with respect to each other. Photodetection occurs by classical photoelectric emission as a result of impinging photon energies exceeding the work function of the photocathode.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jeffrey Bokor
  • 👤 Anthony M. Johnson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 08:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J11/00; G01J1/00; G01J1/42; H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/78; H10; H10F; H10F30/00; H10F30/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 77 words
Photodetector for generating an electrical waveform in response to illumination by an optical signal, said photodetector including, a substrate comprising substantially insulating material, first and second conductive transmission lines mounted in substantially parallel, spaced-apart relationship on said substrate, means for contacting an electrical potential between said first and second conductive transmission lines, said first conductive transmission line responsive to illumination in a predetermined target region by said optical signal for generating said electrical waveform by photoelectric emission.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 77 words
Photodetector for generating an electrical waveform in response to illumination by an optical signal, said photodetector including, a substrate comprising substantially insulating material, first and second conductive transmission lines mounted in substantially parallel, spaced-apart relationship on said substrate, means for contacting an electrical potential between said first and second conductive transmission lines, said first conductive transmission line responsive to illumination in a predetermined target region by said optical signal for generating said electrical waveform by photoelectric emission.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
The photodetector defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second conductive transmission lines are substantially coplanar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 39 words
The photodetector defined in claim 2 wherein a said first and second conductive transmission lines comprise an electrically conductive material and said first conductive transmission line includes an layer at least at said predetermined target region comprising photocathode material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
The photodetector defined in claim 3 wherein said substrate includes a first layer comprising sapphire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 69 words
The photodetector defined in claim 1 wherein, at least in the vicinity of said predetermined target region, both said first conductive transmission line includes first and second sections being electrically isolated from each other and each of said first and second sections having one end formed as a plurality of spaced apart, interdigitated electrode fingers, alternate ones of said plurality of interdigitated electrode fingers extending from said first section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
The photodetector defined in claim 5 wherein said first and second conductive transmission lines are substantially coplanar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 39 words
The photodetector defined in claim 6 wherein a said first and second conductive transmission lines comprise an electrically conductive material and said first conductive transmission line includes an layer at least at said predetermined target region comprising photocathode material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
The photodetector defined in claim 7 wherein said substrate includes a first layer comprising sapphire.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 22 words
The photodetector defined in claim 8 wherein adjacent ones of said interdigitated electrode fingers are equally spaced apart, one from the other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 36 words
The photodetector defined in claim 8 wherein adjacent ones of said interdigitated electrode fingers are equally spaced apart, one from the other, by a distance equal to the width of one of said interdigitated electrode fingers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
The photodetector defined in claim 9 wherein said photodetector further includes container means for enclosing at least said first and second conductive transmission lines in an evacuated atmosphere.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
The photodetector defined in claim 11 wherein said evacuated atmosphere is maintained at a pressure less than or equal to 2×10 -6 torr.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 28 words
The photodetector defined in claim 10 wherein said photodetector further includes container means for enclosing at least said first and second conductive transmission lines in an evacuated atmosphere.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 23 words
The photodetector defined in claim 13 wherein said evacuated atmosphere is maintained at a pressure less than or equal to 2×10 -6 torr.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 28 words
The photodetector defined in claim 4 wherein said photodetector further includes container means for enclosing at least said first and second conductive transmission lines in an evacuated atmosphere.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 23 words
The photodetector defined in claim 15 wherein said evacuated atmosphere is maintained at a pressure less than or equal to 2×10 -6 torr.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3947681A Cited
US3917943A Cited
US4127784A Cited
US4326126A Cited
US4376285A Cited
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US4703996A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-06-11 1993-12-11 1994-06-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-06-11 1997-12-11 1998-06-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-06-11 2001-12-11 2002-06-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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