Chip-size wavelength detector
AssigneePalo Alto Research Center Incorporated
InventorsPeter Kiesel, Oliver Schmidt, Oliver Wolst
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A chip-size wavelength detector includes a film with laterally varying transmission properties and a position-sensitive detector. The film transmits a different wavelength as a function of lateral position across the film. The position of a spot of light transmitted through the film will shift, depending on the wavelength of the light. The shift is measured by the position-sensitive detector.
Claims24
An apparatus for measuring a wavelength of light from a light source, comprising:
- a position-sensitive detector;
- and
- at least one film with a laterally varying transmission property, which transmits the light to the position-sensitive detector.
A method for measuring a wavelength of light from a light source, comprising:
- measuring a calibration curve for a film with laterally varying transmission properties, transmitting the light to a position-sensitive detector, the calibration curve relating a wavelength of light to a position of a light spot on the position-sensitive detector, transmitted through the laterally varying coating;
- measuring a position of a light spot on a position-sensitive detector;
- and
- determining the wavelength of the light in the light spot based on the calibration curve.
A method for measuring a wavelength shift of light from a light source, comprising:
- measuring a position of a first spot of light having a first wavelength on the position-sensitive detector;
- and
- measuring a position of a second spot of light having a second wavelength on the position-sensitive detector;
- and
- determining the distance between the first light spot and the second light spot;
- determining a wavelength shift between the first wavelength and the second wavelength, based on the determined distance.
An apparatus for measuring a wavelength of a light source, comprising:
- a chip-size wavelength detector including a laterally varying transmissive film and a position-sensitive detector;
- a memory for storing a calibration curve for the chip-size wavelength detector;
- a CPU which measures a position of a light spot transmitted through the laterally varying transmissive film and incident on the position-sensitive detector, and determines a wavelength based on the measured position using the stored calibration curve.
A method for manufacturing a chip-size wavelength detector, comprising:
- orienting a position-sensitive detector at a position offset from the symmetric, shortest distance to a source;
- depositing material from the source to form a film adjacent the position-sensitive detector, in a manner which causes the transmission properties of the film to be laterally varying.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.