Patent ID: 9022649
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: G01K

Abstract:
1. A temperature sensor, comprising: a photon source; a fluorescent element communicating with the photon source and comprising a first fluorophore and a second fluorophore, wherein the first fluorophore is substantially temperature insensitive and the second fluorophore is temperature sensitive, and the first fluorophore and the second fluorophore are configured for emitting respective optical signal outputs in response to receiving an incident optical signal input from the photon source; a photodetector communicating with the fluorescent element and comprising a first photosensor and a second photosensor disposed in a vertically integrated arrangement, the first photosensor exhibiting a first spectral responsivity and the second photosensor exhibiting a second spectral responsivity, wherein the photodetector is configured to receive a single incident optical input from the fluorescent element comprising the respective optical signal outputs and, in response, produce a first photodetector signal output and a second photodetector signal output; and signal processing circuitry configured for correlating the first photodetector signal output and the second photodetector signal output with the temperature of the fluorescent element, wherein the first photodetector signal output and the second photodetector signal output are dependent on a ratio of two intensities of respective photons emitted by the first fluorophore and the second fluorophore.