Light sensor modules and spectrometers including an optical grating structure
AssigneeHeptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
InventorsPeter Roentgen, Markus Rossi
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Abstract
An optoelectronic module includes a light guide arranged to receive light, such as ambient light or light reflected by an object. The light guide has a diffractive grating that includes multiple sections, each of which is tuned to a respective wavelength or narrow band of wavelengths. The module further includes multiple photosensitive elements, each of which is arranged to receive light diffracted by a respective one of the sections of the diffractive grating. The module can be integrated, for example, as part of a spectrometer or other apparatus for optically determining characteristics of an object.
Claims27
An optoelectronic module comprising:
- a light guide arranged to receive light from outside the module, the light guide having a diffractive grating that includes a plurality of sections each of which is tuned to a respective wavelength or narrow band of wavelengths;
- and
- a plurality of photosensitive elements each of which is arranged to receive light diffracted by a respective one of the sections of the diffractive grating.
A method of analyzing composition of light, the method comprising:
- receiving the light in an optoelectronic module;
- separating the received light into its spectral components and directing the separated spectral components along a light guide;
- and
- using a diffractive grating formed in the light guide to diffract each of a plurality of wavelengths or narrow bands of wavelengths from among the spectral components to respective photosensitive elements, each of which is associated, respectively, with a particular one of the wavelengths or narrow bands of wavelength.
An apparatus for optically determining characteristics of an object, the apparatus comprising:
- an emitter operable to generate light at one or more particular wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths;
- and
- a module to detect light reflected by an object, wherein the module comprises:
- a light guide arranged to receive at least some of the light reflected by the object, the light guide having a diffractive grating that includes a plurality of sections each of which is tuned to a respective wavelength or narrow band of wavelengths;
- and
- a plurality of photosensitive elements each of which is arranged to receive light diffracted by a respective one of the sections of the diffractive grating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.