# US 10,502,679 B2 · Detector for spectrometry system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,679 B2 - Document ID: US10502679B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/727,291 - Filed: 2017-10-06 - Published: 2018-02-01 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-07 - Assignees: Verifood, Ltd. - Applicants: Verifood, Ltd. - Inventors: Ori Aphek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502679B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/255: {Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems} - G01J 3/0272: {Handheld} - G01J 3/0289: {Field-of-view determination; Aiming or pointing of a spectrometer; Adjusting alignment; Encoding angular position; Size of measurement area; Position tracking} - G01J 3/26: using multiple reflection, e.g. Fabry-Perot interferometer, variable interference filters - G01J 3/2803: {using photoelectric array detector} - G01J 3/36: Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors - H10F 39/802: {Geometry or disposition of elements in pixels, e.g. address-lines or gate electrodes} - G01N 2201/0221: Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION ## Abstract A compact spectrometer system comprising an improved detector is provided herein. The spectrometer system herein disclosed can comprises a filter, a Fourier transform optical element, and a detector. The detector can comprise a custom detector having a shape that corresponds to the pattern of light incident on the detector. The custom detector may comprise a plurality of separate detection areas, each area configured to detect a portion of the light pattern incident on the detector. The custom detector may comprise a material capable of detecting wavelengths in the short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) range. The custom detector may be configured to require a relatively low number of electrical connections such that it may be implemented using standard, low-cost electronic packaging techniques. An improved, custom detector as described herein can provide the functionality of a two-dimensional pixel array detector while being relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A detector to measure spectra of a sample, comprising: a plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements; and circuitry coupled to the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements to measure an amount of light incident on each of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements, each arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements comprising a radial thickness, wherein a first radial thickness of a first arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate sensor elements is larger than a second radial thickness of a second arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate sensor elements, wherein the first arcuate sensor element is closer to a common center of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements than is the second arcuate sensor element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The detector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements comprises a plurality of concentric photo sensor elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The detector of claim 2, wherein each arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements comprises a circumferential shape profile corresponding to a center of curvature concentric with other arcuate photo sensor elements of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The detector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements comprises a plurality of ring segments. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The detector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements comprises a plurality of annular elements extending around a central photo sensor element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The detector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements comprises a plurality of annular elements, each annular element of the plurality of annular elements extending at least partially around a central circular photo sensor element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The detector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements comprises a plurality of annular elements, each annular element of the plurality of annular elements comprising a radial thickness, wherein the radial thickness of the plurality of annular elements decreases progressively for said each annular element away from a common center of the plurality of annular photo sensor elements. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The detector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements is collectively configured to sense light having a wavelength within a short-wavelength infrared range. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The detector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements is collectively configured to sense light having a wavelength greater than about 1 μm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The detector of claim 1, wherein each arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements is configured to be measured separately using a separate electrical connection. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The detector of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of anode bonds coupling each arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements with the circuitry, and a single common cathode bond coupling the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements with the circuitry. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The detector of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cathode bonds coupling each arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements with the circuitry, and a single common anode bond coupling the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements with the circuitry. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The detector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements define a clearing, and wherein the detector further comprises electrical wires to couple the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements to the circuitry, the electrical wires coupled to the plurality of the arcuate photo sensor elements at the clearing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The detector of claim 1, wherein each arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements comprises a plurality of segments, each segment of the plurality of segments configured to be measured separately using a separate electrical connection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The detector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements comprises one or more of silicon PIN, lattice matched indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs), strained InGaAs, mercury cadmium telluride (MCT), superlattice, lead(II) sulfide (PbS), geranium (Ge), indium antimonide (InSb), lead(II) selenide (PbSe), photovoltaic MCT (PV MCT), indium arsenide (InAs), or other infrared semiconductors. ### Claim 16 A spectrometer, comprising: optics configured to receive input light and generate output light having an arcuate optical pattern; and a detector configured to receive the output light having the arcuate optical pattern, the detector comprising a plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements, each arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements comprising a radial thickness, wherein a first radial thickness of a first arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate sensor elements is larger than a second radial thickness of a second arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate sensor elements, wherein the first arcuate sensor element is closer to a common center of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements than is the second arcuate sensor element. ### Claim 17 A method of measuring spectra of input light, the method comprising: providing a spectrometer comprising optics and a detector, the detector comprising a plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements shaped to correspond to an arcuate optical pattern of the input light transmitted through the optics; measuring an amount of light incident on each of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements; and determining the spectra of the input light based on measurement data generated by the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements, each arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements comprising a radial thickness, wherein a first radial thickness of a first arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate sensor elements is larger than a second radial thickness of a second arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate sensor elements, wherein the first arcuate sensor element is closer to a common center of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements than is the second arcuate sensor element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements comprises a plurality of segments, and wherein the measuring comprises measuring an amount of light incident on each segment of the plurality of segments using a separate electrical connection, and summing measurements from the plurality of segments. ### Claim 19 A method of manufacturing a detector, the method comprising patterning a plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements using photolithography, each arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements comprising a radial thickness, wherein a first radial thickness of a first arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate sensor elements is larger than a second radial thickness of a second arcuate photo sensor element of the plurality of arcuate sensor elements, wherein the first arcuate sensor element is closer to a common center of the plurality of arcuate photo sensor elements than is the second arcuate sensor element.