Patent ID: 6133570
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: B82Y,H01L

Abstract:
A photovoltaic diffractive resonant optical cavity detector cell for detecting incident infrared radiation in a selected bandwidth range defined by a first wavelength and a second, longer wavelength, comprising:a plurality of parallel, periodically spaced, elongate, photovoltaic segments having a periodic spacing which is approximately equal to or less than said first wavelength of said infrared radiation, each said segment including a first portion having a first conductivity type and a second portion having a second conductivity type, each said segment having a p-n junction between said first and said second portions and said p-n junction extending substantially along the length of the segment,a first electrical conductor interconnecting said first portions of said segments and a second electrical conductor interconnecting said second portions of said segments,a planar reflector for reflecting said infrared radiation, said reflector being parallel with and offset from said photovoltaic segments, wherein the distance from said planar reflector to an upper surface of said segments is approximately an odd multiple of a quarter of the effective wavelength of said incident infrared radiation, andwherein said detector cell produces a detection signal between said first and second electrical conductors in response to reception of said incident infrared radiation.