US 2006/0186503 A1 · Edge viewing photodetector

Abstract

An edge viewing semiconductor photodetector may be provided. Light may be transmitted through an optical fiber conduit comprising a core region surrounded by a cladding region. The light may be received at the edge viewing semiconductor photodetector having an active area. The active area may be substantially contained within a first plane. The edge viewing semiconductor photodetector may further have conducting contact pads connected to the active area. The contact pads may be substantially contained within plural planes. The first plane may have its normal direction substantially inclined with respect to a normal direction of the plural planes. The first plane may further have its normal direction substantially inclined with respect to a direction of the received light incident to the active area. Next, a signal may be received from the pads. The signal may correspond to the transmitted light.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for providing light detection, the system comprising:

a contiguous semiconductor volume;
a plurality of surface area segments on the contiguous semiconductor volume, at least one of the plurality of surface area segments being an optically active surface area segment comprising at least one optically active area and at least one of the plurality of surface area segments being adjacent to the at least one of the plurality of optically active surface area segments;
at least one intersection angle between the at least one of the plurality of optically active surface area segments and the at least one of the plurality of adjacent surface area segments respectively, none of the at least one intersection angle being substantially equal to one of the following:
0 degrees, 90 degrees, and 180 degrees;
and
at least one electrically conductive line being connected to at least one optically active area on at least one of the plurality of optically active surface area segments and extending to the at least one of the plurality of surface area segments being adjacent to the at least one of the plurality of optically active surface area segments.

3 more elements

A method for measuring light comprising:

transmitting light through an optical fiber conduit comprising a core region surrounded by a cladding region;
receiving the light at a semiconductor photodetector having an active area, the active area being substantially contained within a first plane, the semiconductor photodetector further having conducting contact pads connected to the active area, the contact pads being substantially contained within plural planes, the first plane having its normal direction substantially inclined with respect to a normal direction of the plural planes, the first plane further having its normal direction substantially inclined with respect to a direction of the received light incident to the active area;
and
receiving a signal from the pads, the signal corresponding to the received light.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Edge viewing photodetector

Life of this patent

Edge viewing photodetector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20