IP Library Granted Patent US 8,759,777
Granted Patent B2
US 8,759,777 · App. 13/342,696 · Granted Jun 24, 2014

Infrared light detecting apparatus and detecting method thereof

Inventors: Koon-Wing Tsang (Fremont, CA); Cheng-Chieh Huang (Taipei, TW); Sheng-Wen Huang (Taipei, TW); Jinn-Ann Kuo (Taipei, TW)
Assignee: Capella Microsystems (Taiwan), Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,759,777
App. No.
13/342,696
Granted
Jun 24, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An infrared light detecting device and the infrared detecting method thereof. The device comprises a shield, a first photo detector and a second photo detector. The shield for blocking light is located above the first photo detector and the second photo detector. An opening is disposed on the shield above the first photo detector. In addition, there is a gap arranged between the first photo detector and the second photo detector. The first photo detector can detect the light passing through the opening to generate a photo sensing signal and couple an infrared light signal in the photo sensing signal to the second photo detector in order to output the infrared light signal.

Claims (24)

1. An infrared light detecting apparatus, comprising:

a shield for blocking light;

at least one first photo detector located below the shield, and an opening being disposed on the shield at a position corresponding to the at least one first photo detector; and

at least one second photo detector located below the shield;

wherein the at least one first photo detector collects the light passing through the opening to generate a photo sensing signal, and the at least one second photo detector senses only a portion of the photo sensing signal, which is coupled to the at least one second photo detector from the at least one first photo detector, in order to output the portion of the photo sensing signal, wherein the wavelength of the portion of the photo sensing signal is longer than that of the other portion of the photo sensing signal.

2. The infrared light detecting apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a gap arranged between the at least one first photo detector and the at least one second photo detector, wherein the coupling visible and infrared wavelengths of the partially coupled photo sensing signal to the at least one first photo detector is varied according to a distance of the gap.

3. The infrared light detecting apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein the opening is smaller than an area of the at least one first photo detector.

4. The infrared light detecting apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein a shape of the opening is a cross, a circle, a triangle, a rectangle or a polygon.

5. The infrared light detecting apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein the at least one first photo detector and the at least one second photo detector are on a same plane.

6. The infrared light detecting apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein the at least one first photo detector is located above or on the at least one second photo detector.

7. The infrared light detecting apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein a material of the shield comprises aluminum, copper, polysilicon or a black polymer dielectric layer.

8. The infrared light detecting apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein the first photo detector and the second photo detector are photo diodes.

9. An infrared detecting method, comprising the following steps of:

utilizing at least one first photo detector to collect the light passing through an opening of a shield above the at least one first photo detector to generate a photo sensing signal;

utilizing at least one second photo detector to sense only a portion of the photo sensing signal, which is coupled to the at least one second photo detector from the at least one first photo detector, wherein the wavelength of the portion of the photo sensing signal is longer than that of the other portion of the photo sensing signal, and

outputting the portion of the photo sensing signal through the at least one second photo detector.

10. The infrared detecting method as recited in claim 9 , further comprising steps of:

regulating a distance of a gap arranged between the at least one first photo detector and the at least one second photo detector to change the coupling visible and infrared wavelengths of the partially coupled photo sensing signal from the at least one first photo detector.

11. The infrared detecting method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the opening is smaller than an area of the at least one first photo detector.

12. The infrared detecting method as recited in claim 11 , wherein a shape of the opening is a cross, a circle, a triangle, a rectangle or a polygon.

13. The infrared detecting method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the at least one first photo detector and the at least one second photo detector are on a same plane.

14. The infrared detecting method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the at least one first photo detector is located above or on the at least one second photo detector.

15. The infrared detecting method as recited in claim 12 , wherein a material of the shield comprises aluminum, copper, polysilicon or a black polymer dielectric layer.

16. The infrared detecting method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first photo detector and the second photo detector are photo diodes.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2015
From: CAPELLA MICROSYSTEMS (TAIWAN), INC.
To: VISHAY CAPELLA MICROSYSTEMS (TAIWAN) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 037287/0866 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2012
From: TSANG, KOON-WING; HUANG, CHENG-CHIEH; HUANG, SHENG-WEN; KUO, JINN-ANN
To: CAPELLA MICROSYSTEMS (TAIWAN), INC.
Reel/Frame 027471/0377 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130168552A1 · Jul 4, 2013