Patent ID: 8395142
Filing Date: 2013-03-12
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. An infrared light detector, comprising: a first electronic region configured to be capable of being maintained in an electrically isolated status in a first electronic layer which is a two-dimensional electronic layer; a light coupling mechanism configured to excite an electron by generating an oscillating electric field component perpendicular to the first electronic region according to an incident infrared light, and allowing the electron to transit between sub-bands in a quantum well formed in the first electronic region; a conduction channel in a second electronic layer which is a two-dimensional electronic layer disposed parallel to the first electronic layer via an intermediate insulation layer, whose electric conductivity varies as a result of the electron excited by the light coupling mechanism flowing out of the first electronic region; a status controlling mechanism configured to perform switching between a disconnected status in which the first electronic region is electrically disconnected from an outer electron system and a connected status in which the first electronic region is electrically connected to the outer electron system; and which detects the incident infrared light by detecting a variation of the electric conductivity with respect to a specific direction of the conduction channel, wherein the first electronic region which is a single first electronic region, is divided into a plurality of first electronic regions which are electrically independent from each other and are arranged in the specific direction opposed to the conduction channel, wherein the outer electron system is configured to satisfy a predetermined condition for each of the plurality of first electronic regions, and wherein the predetermined condition is a condition that an electron energy level of the excited sub-bands of each of the plurality of first electronic regions in the connected status becomes higher with respect to a Fermi level of each of second electronic regions opposed to each of the plurality of first electronic regions in the conduction channel to a degree which enables the electron transitioned to the excited sub-bands of each of the plurality of first electronic regions in the disconnected status to flow out to each of the second electronic regions.