Frequency selective infrared sensors
AssigneeSandia Corporation
InventorsPaul Davids, David W. Peters
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A frequency selective infrared (IR) photodetector having a predetermined frequency band. The exemplary frequency selective photodetector includes: a dielectric IR absorber having a first surface and a second surface substantially parallel to the first surface; an electrode electrically coupled to the first surface of the dielectric IR absorber; and a frequency selective surface plasmonic (FSSP) structure formed on the second surface of the dielectric IR absorber. The FSSP structure is designed to selectively transmit radiation in the predetermined frequency band that is incident on the FSSP structure substantially independent of the angle of incidence of the incident radiation on the FSSP structure.
Claims15
A frequency selective infrared (IR) rectenna having a predetermined frequency band, the frequency selective IR rectenna comprising:
- a frequency selective surface plasmonic (FSSP) structure designed to selectively convert radiation in the predetermined frequency band that is incident on the FSSP structure into surface plasmon waves (SPWs) substantially independent of the angle of incidence of the incident radiation on the FSSP structure, the FSSP structure having:
- a first surface;
- a second surface substantially parallel to the first surface;
- and
- a design SPW resonance for SPWs propagating on the second surface of the FSSP structure approximately equal to a highest frequency of the predetermined frequency band;
- an electrically insulating thin film layer coupled to the second surface of the FSSP structure;
- an electrically insulating via layer coupled to the electrically insulating thin film layer opposite from the FSSP structure, the electrically insulating via layer including a plurality of vias running approximately perpendicular to the second surface of the FSSP structure, each via positioned to correspond to a peak of a SPW standing wave pattern formed by SPWs at the design SPW resonance propagating on the second surface of the FSSP structure;
- a plurality of via conductors, one via conductor formed in each of the plurality of vias in the electrically insulating via layer;
- and
- an electrode electrically coupled to the plurality of via conductors.
A frequency selective infrared focal plane array (IRFPA) having a predetermined frequency band, the frequency selective IRFPA comprising:
- a dielectric IR absorber having a first surface and a second surface substantially parallel to the first surface;
- a frequency selective surface plasmonic (FSSP) structure formed on the first surface of the dielectric IR absorber, the FSSP structure designed to selectively transmit radiation in the predetermined frequency band that is incident on the FSSP structure substantially independent of the angle of incidence of the incident radiation on the FSSP structure;
- a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the second surface of the dielectric IR absorber, the plurality of electrodes arranged in an N×M array;
- and
- an image decoding processor coupled to the plurality of electrodes to generate image data from electrical signals transmitted by the plurality of electrodes.
A frequency selective infrared focal plane array (IRFPA) having a predetermined frequency band, the frequency selective IRFPA comprising:
- a frequency selective surface plasmonic (FSSP) structure designed to selectively convert radiation in the predetermined frequency band that is incident on the FSSP structure into surface plasmon waves (SPWs) substantially independent of the angle of incidence of the incident radiation on the FSSP structure, the FSSP structure having:
- a first surface;
- and
- a second surface substantially parallel to the first surface;
- an electrically insulating thin film layer coupled to the second surface of the FSSP structure;
- an electrically insulating via layer coupled to the electrically insulating thin film layer opposite from the FSSP structure, the electrically insulating via layer including a plurality of vias running approximately perpendicular to the second surface of the FSSP structure, each via positioned to correspond to a peak of a SPW standing wave pattern formed by SPWs propagating on the second surface of the FSSP structure;
- a plurality of via conductors, one via conductor formed in each of the plurality of vias in the electrically insulating via layer;
- a plurality of electrodes, each of the plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to an N×M pixel array of the plurality of via conductors, where N and M are positive integers;
- and
- an image decoding processor coupled to the plurality of electrodes to generate image data from electrical signals transmitted by the plurality of electrodes.
A frequency selective infrared (IR) waveguide sensor having a predetermined frequency band, the frequency selective IR waveguide sensor comprising:
- a waveguide core;
- a cladding layer coupled to the waveguide core, the cladding layer having an outer surface;
- a frequency selective surface plasmonic (FSSP) structure:
- having:
- a first surface having a transfer portion coupled to the outer surface of the cladding layer;
- and
- a second surface substantially parallel to the first surface;
- and
- designed to selectively couple radiation in the predetermined frequency band from an evanescent mode of the waveguide core into a design surface plasmonic wave (SPW) resonance for SPWs propagating on a coupling surface of the FSSP structure, the coupling surface being one of the first surface or the second surface;
- a dielectric thin film layer having:
- a third surface coupled to the coupling surface of the FSSP structure;
- and
- a fourth surface substantially parallel to the third surface;
- and
- an electrode electrically coupled to the fourth surface of the dielectric thin film layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.