Back to results
US 2006/0076646 A1Published application
Apparatus and method for visible imaging using Darlington phototransistors
AssigneesKhoa V. Dang, Conrad W. Terrill
InventorsKhoa Dang, Conrad Terrill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is a modified darlington phototransistor wherein a phototransistor is coupled to a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT). This design provides a high sensitivity and a fast response and effectively increases the gain of the photocurrent. This circuit is particularly will suited for the readily available CMOS and Bipolar Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (BiCMOS) processes prevalent today.
Claims20
A photodetector comprising:
- a phototransistor having an emitter and a base;
- and
- a bipolar transistor having a second emitter and a second base;
- wherein the emitter of the phototransistor is connected to the second base of the bipolar transistor;
- and
- wherein an emitter current of the phototransistor becomes a base current of the bipolar transistor.
3 more elements
A method of fabricating a photodetector comprising the steps of:
- providing a phototransistor having an emitter and a base;
- and
- providing a bipolar transistor having a second emitter and a second base;
- and
- connecting the emitter of the phototransistor to the second base of the bipolar transistor;
- wherein an emitter current of the phototransistor becomes a base current of the bipolar transistor.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.