Spectrometer including a plurality of spectrally diverse filters each outputting multiple discrete wavelength peaks, and associated methods
AssigneeTessera North America, Inc.
InventorsRobert D. Te Kolste, Alan D. Kathman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spectrometer for use with a desired wavelength range includes an array of filters. Each filter outputs at least two non-contiguous wavelength peaks within the desired wavelength range. The array of filters is spectrally diverse over the desired wavelength range, and each filter in the array of filters outputs a spectrum of a first resolution. An array of detectors has a detector for receiving an output of a corresponding filter. A processor receives signals from each detector, and outputs a reconstructed spectrum having a second resolution, the second resolution being higher than any of the first resolution of each filter.
Claims27
An apparatus for use with a desired wavelength range, comprising:
- first and second filters, each filter outputting at least two discrete wavelength peaks within the desired wavelength range, the first and second filters being spectrally diverse over the desired wavelength range, wherein each filter outputting a spectrum of a first resolution;
- first and second photosensing regions, each photosensing region receiving an output of a corresponding filter;
- and
- a processor receiving signals from each photosensing region, the processor outputting a reconstructed spectrum having a second resolution, the second resolution being higher than any of the first resolutions of the first and second filter.
A method of making an apparatus for determining a wavelength of an input light signal within a desired wavelength range, comprising:
- forming first and second filters, each filter outputting at least two discrete wavelength peaks within the desired wavelength range, the first and second filters being spectrally diverse over the desired wavelength range, wherein each filter outputs a spectrum of a first resolution and is varied across the first and second filters;
- providing first and second photosensing regions, each photosensing region receiving an output of a corresponding filter;
- and
- providing a processor to receive signals output by the first and second photosensing regions and to reconstruct a spectrum of the input light signal at a second resolution, the second resolution being higher than the first resolution.
A method for determining a wavelength of an input light signal within a desired wavelength range, comprising:
- generating first and second filter outputs, each filter output having at least two discrete wavelength peaks within the desired wavelength range, the first and second filter outputs being spectrally diverse over the desired wavelength range, wherein each filter output has a first resolution and is varied across the first and second filter outputs;
- and
- determining the wavelength of the input light signal in accordance with the first and second filter outputs, the wavelength being determined with a second resolution, the second resolution being higher than the first resolution.
An article of manufacture having a machine-accessible medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method for determining a wavelength of an input light signal within a desired wavelength range, the method comprising:
- generating first and second filter outputs, each filter output having at least two discrete wavelength peaks within the desired wavelength range, the first and second filter outputs being spectrally diverse over the desired wavelength range, wherein each filter output has a first resolution and is varied across the first and second filter outputs;
- and
- determining the wavelength of the input light signal in accordance with the first and second filter outputs, the wavelength being determined with a second resolution, the second resolution being higher than the first resolution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.