| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080197270 | CONFIGURABLE PHOTO DETECTOR CIRCUIT - A configurable photo detector circuit includes a photo detector array having a plurality of photo detectors. A switching matrix includes a first plurality of inputs coupled to outputs of the plurality of photo detector, a second plurality of inputs, and a plurality of matrix outputs. A controller is coupled to the second plurality of inputs of the switching matrix for configuring the switching matrix. The controller is operable to receive programmed commands for configuring the switching matrix. An output block having a plurality of inputs is coupled to receive the plurality of matrix outputs and a plurality of outputs, wherein electrical signals from the plurality of photo detectors are directed to respective ones of the plurality of outputs based on the switching matrix. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080205820 | DYNAMICALLY CONFIGURABLE MULTIPLE WAVELENGTH PHOTODETECTOR ARRAY FOR OPTICAL STORAGE APPLICATIONS - A dynamically configurable multiple wavelength adapted photodetector (PD) integrated circuit includes a PD array having a center bank of electrically isolated PD sections, and a first and a second side channel bank of electrically isolated PD sections on opposing sides of the center PD bank for receiving light and outputting electrical signals. A dynamically configurable switching matrix having a first plurality of inputs is coupled to outputs of the PD sections and a second plurality of inputs is provided for receiving control signals which select from a plurality of different switch configurations. The switch configurations set which of the PD sections are coupled to particular ones of a plurality of matrix outputs provided by the switching matrix. A structure providing switching matrix configuration information is coupled to the second plurality of inputs of the switching matrix to selects specific ones from the plurality of different switch configurations. An output block comprising a plurality of amplifiers is coupled to the plurality of matrix outputs for providing a plurality of amplified outputs, wherein dynamically adjustable combinations of electrical signals from the PD sections are directed to the plurality of amplifiers based on the switch configuration. The configuration selected effectively centers a location of an incident side beam at a center of the side channel PD banks independent of a wavelength (and resulting position) of the beam. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20090174021 | PHOTODIODE FOR MULTIPLE WAVELENGTH OPERATION - A photodiode includes a substrate having a first semiconductor type surface region on at least a portion thereof, and a second semiconductor type surface layer formed in a portion of the surface region. A multi-layer anti-reflective coating (ARC) is on the second semiconductor type surface layer, wherein the multi-layer ARC comprises at least two different dielectric layers. A layer resistant to oxide etch is above a peripheral portion the multi-layer ARC. Further layers are above the layer resistant to oxide etch, and thereby above the peripheral portion the multi-layer ARC. A window extends down to the multi-layer ARC. A photodiode region is formed by a pn-junction of the first semiconductor type surface region and the second semiconductor type surface layer. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090179583 | DIGITALLY SYNCHRONIZED INTEGRATOR FOR NOISE REJECTION IN SYSTEM USING PWM DIMMING SIGNALS TO CONTROL BRIGHTNESS OF COLD CATHODE FLUORESCENT LAMP FOR BACKLIGHTING LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY - An apparatus and method for controlling the operation of a utility device, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp that is powered in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, includes an analog sensor which monitors the utility device to derive an output signal representative of the PWM signal. An integrating analog-to-digital converter (ADC), which is coupled to the sensor and has its operation synchronized with an integral multiple of the period of the PWM signal, produces an output representative of an average of the output of the utility device. | 07-16-2009 |
| 20100074070 | CONFIGURABLE PHOTO DETECTOR CIRCUIT - A configurable photo detector circuit comprises a photo detector array including a plurality of photo detectors coupled to a plurality of amplifiers. A method for programming a detection pattern of the configurable photo detector circuit comprises selecting a first detection pattern for the photo detector array, generating first signals to create the first selected detection pattern, and applying the first generated signals to the photo detector circuit to implement the first selected detection pattern. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100177625 | DYNAMICALLY CONFIGURABLE MULTIPLE WAVELENGTH PHOTODETECTOR ARRAY FOR OPTICAL STORAGE APPLICATIONS - A photodetector integrated circuit (PDIC) capable of being used with at least two different types of optical discs includes a photodetector (PD) array and a switch matrix. The PD array includes a center channel PD and a side channel PD electrically isolated from the center channel PD. The switch matrix, which includes a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, can be selectively configured in a plurality of different switch configurations. The side channel PD includes a plurality of electrically isolated PD sections. Each electrically isolated PD section of the side channel PD is adapted to detect light and provide an electrical output signal, indicative of the light detected by the PD section, to a different one of the inputs of the switch matrix. The switch matrix is adapted to combine the electrical output signals provided by the electrically isolated PD sections of the side channel PD in a plurality of different manners, in dependence on which of the plurality of different switch configurations is selected. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100252871 | LIGHT SENSORS WITH INFRARED SUPPRESSION - Embodiments of the present invention are directed to light sensors, that primarily respond to visible light while suppressing infrared light. Such sensors are especially useful as ambient light sensors because such sensors can be used to provide a spectral response similar to that of a human eye. Embodiments of the present invention are also directed to methods of providing such light sensors, and methods for using such light sensors. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20110068255 | PHOTODETECTORS USEFUL AS AMBIENT LIGHT SENSORS - A photodetector includes one or more first photodiode regions that are covered by an optical filter configured to reject infrared (IR) light and that produce a first current (I | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110068426 | PHOTODIODES AND METHODS FOR FABRICATING PHOTODIODES - A photodiode includes an opening over an active photodiode region so that a top passivation layer and interlayer dielectric layers (ILDs) do not affect the spectral response of the photodiode. A dielectric reflective optical coating filter, which includes a plurality of dielectric layers, fills at least a portion of the opening and thereby covers the active photodiode region, to shape a spectral response of the photodiode. Alternatively, the dielectric reflective optical coating filter is formed prior to the opening, and the opening is formed by removing a top passivation coating and ILDs to expose the dielectric reflective optical coating filter. | 03-24-2011 |
