Semitransparent optical detector including a polycrystalline layer and method of making

A semitransparent optical detector comprising:

• a thin film PIN diode which both detects and is semitransparent to light having a wavelength λ;
• a first conductor at least partly covering and contacting a first surface of the PIN diode, the first conductor being semitransparent to light having the wavelength λ;
• a second conductor at least partly covering and contacting a second surface of the PIN diode, the second surface being opposite the first surface and also being semitransparent to light having the wavelength λ;
• and
• a passivation layer coveting and enclosing all edges of the PIN diode, defining an aperture exposing at least a portion of the first surface of the PIN diode, and exposing a part of the second semitransparent conductor for contact thereto.

A semitransparent optical detector comprising:

• a thin film PIN diode;
• a first transparent conductor at least partly covering and contacting a first surface of the PIN diode;
• a second transparent conductor at least partly covering and contacting a second surface of the PIN diode;
• a passivation layer covering and enclosing all edges of the PIN diode, defining an aperture on one surface thereof, and exposing a part of the second transparent conductor for contact thereto, wherein the first transparent conductor extends partly over the passivation layer;
• and
• a patterned metal layer over the passivation layer, including a first conductor contacting the first transparent conductor without entering the aperture and a second conductor contacting the second transparent conductor.

A small aperture semitransparent optical detector comprising:

• a first conductive layer;
• a PIN diode which is semitransparent to and detects light of wavelength λ;
• a passivation layer covering and enclosing all edges of the PIN diode and defining an aperture exposing an upper surface of the PIN diode, wherein the first conductive layer extends partially under the PIN diode and electrically contacts a bottom surface of the PIN diode leaving unobstructed a portion of the bottom surface directly opposite the aperture so that light can pass through the aperture into the diode and out of the bottom surface without being obstructed by the first conductive layer;
• and
• a second conductive layer contacting the surface of the PIN diode through the aperture.