Ultraviolet sensor and a method for sensing ultraviolet radiation
AssigneeTower Semiconductors Ltd.
InventorsYakov ROIZIN, Pikhay Evgeny
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ultraviolet sensor that may include a group of serially connected photovoltaic diodes of alternating polarities; a selective blocking portion that is configured to prevent ultraviolet radiation from reaching photovoltaic diodes that belong to the group and are of a first polarity, while allowing the ultraviolet radiation to reach photovoltaic diodes that belong to the group and are of a second polarity; and an interface for providing an output signal of the group, the output signal is indicative of ultraviolet radiation sensed by the photovoltaic diodes that belong to the group and are of the second polarity.
Claims22
An ultraviolet (UV) sensor, comprising:
- a group of serially connected photovoltaic diodes of alternating polarities;
- a selective blocking portion that is configured to prevent UV radiation from reaching photovoltaic diodes that belong to the group and are of a first polarity, while allowing the UV radiation to reach photovoltaic diodes that belong to the group and are of a second polarity;
- and
- an interface for providing an output signal of the group, the output signal is indicative of UV radiation sensed by the photovoltaic diodes that belong to the group and are of the second polarity.
A method for sensing ultraviolet (UV) radiation, comprising:
- exposing a UV sensor to a combination of UV radiation and non-UV radiation;
- wherein the UV sensor comprises a group of serially connected photovoltaic diodes of alternating polarities;
- preventing, by a selective blocking portion of the UV sensor, the UV radiation from reaching photovoltaic diodes that belong to the group and are of a first polarity, while allowing the UV radiation to reach photovoltaic diodes that belong to the group and are of a second polarity;
- and
- providing, by an interface of the UV sensor, an output signal of the group, the output signal is indicative of UV radiation sensed by the photovoltaic diodes that belong to the group and are of the second polarity.
A method for manufacturing an ultraviolet (UV) sensor, the method comprises:
- manufacturing a group of serially connected photovoltaic diodes of alternating polarities;
- manufacturing a selective blocking portion that is configured to prevent UV radiation from reaching photovoltaic diodes that belong to the group and are of a first polarity, while allowing the UV radiation to reach photovoltaic diodes that belong to the group and are of a second polarity;
- and
- manufacturing an interface for providing an output signal of the group, the output signal is indicative of UV radiation sensed by the photovoltaic diodes that belong to the group and are of the second polarity.
An ultraviolet (UV) sensor, comprising:
- a first sequence of serially coupled photovoltaic diodes of a same polarity;
- a second sequence of serially coupled photovoltaic diodes of the same polarity;
- a selective blocking portion that is configured to prevent UV radiation from reaching photovoltaic diodes of the first sequence, while allowing the UV radiation to reach photovoltaic diodes of the second sequence;
- and
- a processing circuit that is configured to process a first output signal outputted from the first sequence, and a second output signal outputted from the second sequence, to provide an indication about UV radiation that was sensed by the second sequence.
A method for sensing ultraviolet (UV) radiation, comprising:
- exposing a UV sensor to a combination of UV radiation and non-UV radiation;
- wherein the UV sensor comprises a first sequence of serially coupled photovoltaic diodes of a same polarity, and a second sequence of serially coupled photovoltaic diodes of the same polarity;
- preventing, by a selective blocking portion of the UV sensor, UV radiation from reaching photovoltaic diodes of the first sequence, while allowing the UV radiation to reach photovoltaic diodes of the second sequence;
- and
- processing, by a processing circuit of the UV sensor, a first output signal outputted from the first sequence, and a second output signal outputted from the second sequence, to provide an indication about the UV radiation that was sensed by the second sequence.
A method for manufacturing an ultraviolet (UV) sensor, the method comprising:
- manufacturing (a) a first sequence of serially coupled photovoltaic diodes of a same polarity, and (b) a second sequence of serially coupled photovoltaic diodes of the same polarity;
- manufacturing a selective blocking portion that is configured to prevent UV radiation from reaching photovoltaic diodes of the first sequence, while allowing the UV radiation to reach photovoltaic diodes of the second sequence;
- and
- manufacturing a processing circuit that is configured to process a first output signal outputted from the first sequence, and a second output signal outputted from the second sequence, to provide an indication about UV radiation that was sensed by the second sequence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.