IP Library Granted Patent US 12687669
Granted Patent B1
US 12687669 · App. 18/526,493 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Plasmonic structured color filters for hyperspectral detection

Inventors: Branimir Blagojevic (Greenbelt, MD); Manuel A. Quijada (Greenbelt, MD); David Carnahan (Waltham, MA); Krzysztof Kempa (Chestnut Hill, MA)
Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
G02B5/208G02B5/008G02B5/201
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12687669
App. No.
18/526,493
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are directed to a filter that includes a substrate, a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate in a pattern, leaving exposed portions of the substrate. A metallic layer is deposited over the dielectric layer and exposed portions of the substrate forming metallic structures over the exposed portions of the substrate and complementary metal patterns on the dielectric layer. A face of the filter is configured in a complimentary square checkerboard pattern, alternating between the metallic structures over the exposed portions of the substrate and complementary metal patterns on the dielectric layer. The filter is configured to operate when wavelengths of light impinge upon the checkerboard face of the filter and excite the metallic structures that are patterned atop the dielectric layer.

Claims (16)

1 . A plasmonic filter comprising:

a substrate;

a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate as a continuous layer;

a metallic layer deposited over the dielectric layer in a checkerboard pattern forming a top array of metallic structures and in a complementary checkerboard pattern forming a bottom array of complementary metallic structures,

wherein the dielectric layer vertically separates the top array of metallic structures from the bottom array of complementary metallic structures.

2 . The plasmonic filter according to claim 1 , wherein the filter is configured to operate when wavelengths of light impinge upon the checkerboard pattern face of the filter and excite the top array of metallic structures.

3 . The plasmonic filter according to claim 2 , wherein horizontal transmission of light between the top array of metallic structures is reduced by plasmons generated by the excitation of the top array.

4 . The plasmonic filter according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a transparent substrate.

5 . The plasmonic filter according to claim 1 , wherein the plasmonic filter is directly deposited upon a hyperspectral detector.

6 . A method of forming a plasmonic filter, the method comprising:

depositing a substrate;

depositing a dielectric layer on the substrate in a continuous layer;

depositing a metallic layer over the dielectric layer in a checkerboard pattern forming a top array of metallic structures and in a complementary checkerboard pattern forming a bottom array of complementary metallic structures,

wherein the dielectric layer vertically separates the top array of metallic structures from the bottom array of complementary metallic structures.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the filter is configured to operate when wavelengths of light impinge upon the checkerboard pattern face of the filter and excite the top array of metallic structures.

8 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the substrate is a transparent substrate.