Patent ID: 6180990
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: B82Y,G01J,H01L

Abstract:
A hyperspectral quantum well infrared radiation photodetector, comprising:an array of detectors, said array having an x-dimension (rows) and a y-dimension (columns), wherein the detectors in each said row have a common wavelength band of infrared radiation response and said detectors in each said column have multiple wavelength bands of infrared radiation response,each said detector comprising a plurality of elongate, multiple quantum well infrared radiation absorbing elements, each element having a width dimension and adjacent ones of said elements are separated by a pitch dimension, and each of said elements having first and second opposite longitudinal surfaces,each of said columns having detectors therein with different width dimensions and detectors therein with different pitch dimensions, whereby the detectors in each of said columns have multiple wavelength bands of infrared radiation response, and said detectors in each of said rows have common width and pitch dimensions, whereby the detectors in each said row have a common wavelength band of infrared radiation response,said multiple quantum well infrared elements comprising a diffraction grating for said infrared radiation,a first contact for each said detector, said first contact having a plurality of planar electrically interconnected strips respectively in contact with and extending along said first surfaces of said multiple quantum well elements,a second contact for each said detector, said second contact electrically connected to said second surfaces of said multiple quantum well elements,said first contact and said second contact of each said detector positioned on opposite sides of said multiple quantum well elements to provide current flow through said elements in a direction substantially transverse to the axis of each of said elements, anda planar reflector for said infrared radiation, said reflector positioned on an opposite side of said second contact from said multiple quantum well elements.