Light sensor with intensity and direction detection

A light sensing system, comprising:

• a light sensor to detect incident light, the light sensor comprising:
• a dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer is substantially transparent to the incident light;
• a plurality of photo detectors coupled relative to the dielectric layer, the photo detectors configured to detect the incident light through the dielectric layer;
• and
• a plurality of stacks of opaque slats embedded within the dielectric layer approximately parallel to an interface between the dielectric layer and the photo detectors, the plurality of stacks of opaque slats configured to define tapered light apertures between adjacent stacks of opaque slats;
• and
• a light signal processor coupled to the light sensor, the light signal processor configured to receive a photo detector signal from at least one of the plurality of photo detectors and to compute an intensity of the incident light based on the photo detector signal associated with the incident light detected by the corresponding photo detector;
• wherein the said apertures are tapered monotonically and along a direction perpendicular to the light sensitive surface.

A method of making a light sensor, the method comprising:

• forming a plurality of segmented photo detectors on a substrate;
• forming a dielectric layer to interface with the plurality of segmented photo detectors;
• and
• embedding a plurality of stacks of opaque slats within the dielectric layer to define corresponding tapered light apertures between adjacent pairs of stacks of opaque slats;
• wherein the said apertures are tapered monotonically and along a direction perpendicular to the light sensitive surface.