Patent Description:
Various manufacturing and other processes involve measuring and collecting optical radiation data, in particular spectral emission characteristics, of a source of optical radiation. The manufacturing or other process may be a process for which optical radiation is used as part of performing the process or in which optical radiation is generated by the process. In some instances, such as imaging applications, it may be desirable to measure and determine the spectral emission characteristics of the ambient light.

While various techniques are available, some known techniques provide only global or averaged measurements for a region of the process. For example, an array of photodiodes can be provided to measure incident light of various wavelengths. The response of the photodiodes, however, generally depends on the intensity of the incident radiation as well as on the wavelength of the radiation. As a result, it may not be possible to assign a particular photocurrent value to a unique wavelength. For example, if ambient light is being detected, it may not be possible to correlate a particular value of photocurrent with a specific wavelength of specific part of the spectrum.

Further, some light sources have multiple emission peaks. For example, sodium vapor lamps generate two emission peaks near <NUM>. Those peaks, however, are outside typical red (R), blue (B) and green (G) filters. Thus, a sensor configured only with these filters will be unable to detect the sodium-vapor lines.

Particular examples of prior art devices are described in the documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The present disclosure describes optical radiation sensors and detection techniques that facilitate assigning a specific wavelength to a measured photocurrent. The techniques can be used to determine the spectral emission characteristics of a radiation source.

In the invention, a method of determining spectral emission characteristics of incident radiation is provided as defined in claim <NUM>.

In some cases, the method can include comparing a ratio of photocurrents to values stored in a look-up table, and assigning a wavelength associated with a closest matched value in the look-up table to the incident radiation. The method may include controlling a component of a host device based on an identification of the wavelength of the incident radiation.

In the invention, a system for determining spectral emission characteristics of incident radiation is provided as defined in claim <NUM>.

In a further aspect, a system for determining spectral emission characteristics of incident light includes an array of light sensitive elements composed at least in part of stacked first and second photosensitive regions whose optical responsivity characteristics differ from one another. Optical filters are disposed over the array of light sensitive elements, wherein the optical filters are configured to allow only respective narrow parts of the optical spectrum to pass to different ones of the light sensitive elements such that different ones of the light sensitive elements or sub-groups of the light sensitive elements are operable to sense light in a part of the optical spectrum that differs from other ones of the light sensitive elements or sub-groups of the light sensitive elements. Processing circuitry coupled to the light sensitive elements and configured to receive respective photocurrents from the first and second photosensitive regions for each light sensitive element, to calculate respective ratios of the photocurrents from the first and second photosensitive regions for at least some of the light sensitive elements, and to assign respective wavelengths to the incident light based on the calculated ratios.

In some implementations of the system, the optical filters form a continuous or semi-continuous spectrum of optical filters. The optical filters, in some instances, collectively allow substantially the entire visible portion of the optical spectrum to be sensed by the array of light sensitive elements at a resolution in a range of <NUM> - <NUM>. The array of light sensitive elements can be, for example, a CMOS sensor.

The present disclosure can be used for a wide range of applications that involve measuring the spectral emission characteristics of optical radiation.

Other aspects, features and advantages will be readily apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the claim.

As illustrated in <FIG>, optical radiation <NUM> is incident on light detectors <NUM>, each of which has multiple spectral sensitivity. In particular, each light detector <NUM> is implemented as stacked semiconductor (e.g., silicon) photodiodes 22A, 22B. The stacked photodiode structure has multiple (e.g., two) junctions whose optical responsivities (i.e., spectral characteristics) differ from one another. In this example, it is assumed that the incident light <NUM> is substantially monochromatic (e.g., having a single wavelength or a very narrow spectrum about a center peak wavelength). As shown in <FIG>, a wide field-of-view (FOV) or other optical system <NUM> including one or more beam shaping elements such as lenses can focus the incident radiation <NUM> onto the light detectors <NUM>. An optical filter <NUM> is provided over each light detector <NUM>. Some optical filters <NUM> may be clear so as to allow only visible light to pass through for detection by the light detectors <NUM>. Outputs 28A, 28B from the light detectors <NUM> can be provided to processing circuitry configured to process the photocurrents and assign a corresponding wavelength to the incident light <NUM> based on the photocurrents.

<FIG> illustrates an example of two curves A1, A2, each of which represents the optical responsivity of one of the photodiodes 22A, 22B versus wavelength. In the illustrated example, curve A1 represents the optical responsivity of a particular junction 22A in one of the light detectors <NUM>, and curve A2 represents the optical responsivity of the other junction 22B in the same light detector <NUM>. Optical responsivity (also referred to as photoresponsivity) generally is a function of the wavelength of the incident light. As is apparent from the illustrated example, the two curves A1 and A2 differ from one another. Thus, assuming the wavelength of the incident light is about <NUM>, the responsivity for junction 22A (using curve A1) will be detected as IA1,<NUM>, whereas the responsivity for junction 22B (using curve A2) will be detected as IA2,<NUM>.

The processing circuitry is operable to calculate the ratio of the photocurrents (i.e., optical responsivities) IA1,<NUM>/ IA2,<NUM> (<NUM> in <FIG>). Assuming that the incident light is substantially monochromatic, the ratio of the photocurrents will be substantially the same for a given wavelength of incident light, regardless of the intensity of the incident light. Thus, the ratio of the photocurrents can be compared, for example, to ratio values in a look-up table stored in memory associated with the processing circuitry (<NUM>) and, based on the comparison, the processing circuitry can assign a wavelength to the incident light (<NUM>). In particular, the processing circuitry assigns the wavelength that is associated with the closest match to the calculated ratio. The values stored in the look-up table may be determined experimentally. In some cases, instead of comparing the calculated ratio to values in a look-up table, the processing circuitry can determine the corresponding wavelength of the incident light using a predetermined equation.

An advantage of using the ratio of the detected photocurrents to assign a wavelength to the incident light can be appreciated from the example of <FIG>, which shows the same two responsivity curves A1, A2 as <FIG>. As indicated by the values IA2,<NUM> and IA2,<NUM> in <FIG>, the first junction 22A of one of the light detectors <NUM> generates the same photocurrent at two different wavelengths (i.e.,<NUM> and <NUM>). The second junction 22B, however, generates a different photocurrent for incident light at those same wavelengths. Thus, for incident light having a wavelength of <NUM>, the second junction 22B generates a photocurrent IA1,<NUM>, whereas for incident light having a wavelength of <NUM>, the second junction 22B generates a smaller photocurrent IA1,<NUM>. Here too, the processing circuitry can calculate the ratio of the actual photocurrents and, based on the ratio, can assign a wavelength to the incident light. As in the example of <FIG>, it is assumed in the example of <FIG> that the incident light is substantially monochromatic.

In some implementations, even if the incident light is non-monochromatic and consists of multiple narrow bands in different parts of the spectrum, it is possible to determine the wavelengths of the incident light with reasonable accuracy by providing narrow band pass filters. <FIG> illustrates an example in which it is assumed that the incident light <NUM> consists of discrete wavelengths in three different narrow bands 20A, 20B, 20C (e.g., red, green and blue). Each of the light detectors <NUM> can be similar to those described with respect to <FIG>. In addition, some of the light detectors <NUM> have a respective optical filter 26A - 26C that allows light of only a single part of the spectrum to pass through to the underlying stacked photodiodes 22A, 22B. For example, as shown in <FIG>, one of the light detectors <NUM> has a filter 26A that allows only red light in the visible part of the spectrum to pass, another light detector <NUM> has a filter 26B that allows only green light to pass, and a third light detector <NUM> has a filter 26C that allows only blue light in the visible part of the spectrum to pass.

Some light sources are monochromatic. For example, a sodium vapor lamp may emit light only at <NUM>. If the emitted wavelength (or narrow band of wavelengths) is outside the ranges of wavelengths passed by the filters 26A - 26C, then the emitted light will not be detected by any of the light detectors <NUM> having those filters. To address such situations, an additional light detector <NUM> can be provided, for example, with a clear filter 26D that allows visible light of all colors to pass. Assuming that the incident (visible) light is monochromatic, the processing circuitry can determine the wavelength of the light in the manner described above by using the ratio of the photocurrent outputs from the light detector having the clear filter.

In the foregoing example, it is assumed that the clear filter allows only visible light to pass. In other cases, the clear filter may also allow light in other parts of the spectrum (e.g., IR, near-IR or UV) to pass.

Each light detector <NUM> thus can detect only light within a specified narrow band (see <FIG>, <FIG> in which the dashed lines indicate, respectively, the blue, green and red parts of the visible spectrum that can be detected by the individual detectors <NUM>. Thus, <FIG> indicates the blue part of visible spectrum detectable by the detector <NUM> having the blue band pass filter 26C, <FIG> indicates the green part of visible spectrum detectable by the detector <NUM> having the green band pass filter 26B, and <FIG> indicates the red part of visible spectrum detectable by the detector <NUM> having the red band pass filter 26A. Each pair of photocurrent outputs 28A, 28B from a given one of the detectors <NUM> can be used by the processing circuitry to determine a ratio and to assign a wavelength to the incident light within that part of the spectrum, as described above in connection with <FIG>.

In some instances, instead of assigning a calculated photocurrent ratio to a particular wavelength, the processing circuitry may simply determine whether the calculated wavelength is within a specified tolerance of a predetermined ratio. If the calculated ratio is outside the specified tolerance, the processing circuitry can cause an alarm or message to be generated to indicate that the incident light differs from the expected wavelength.

Although the filters in the particular example of <FIG> are designed to pass red, green and blue light, respectively, in other cases, filters designed to pass different parts of the spectrum may be provided (e.g., infra-red or ultra-violet). Further, a different number of light detectors, each corresponding to a respective wavelength band, may be provided. In general, as long as each wavelength (or narrow band) in the incident light falls within one of the defined regions of the optical spectrum, the processing circuitry can determine the wavelengths of the incident light.

Thus, the number of photodiodes <NUM> and associated filters <NUM> for different spectral regions can be increased so that even greater numbers of wavelengths can be identified from a multi-band light source. <FIG> illustrates an example that includes seven light detectors <NUM>. Six of the light detectors <NUM> have a respective optical filter (26A, 26B, 26C, 26E, 26F, <NUM>) that allows a different respective spectral region to pass. Thus, the individual wavelengths of incident light including up to six discrete wavelengths or narrow wavelength bands 20A - 20F can be identified as long as each wavelength or narrow band falls within a different one of the non-overlapping wavelength regions encompassed by a respective one of the light detectors <NUM> as defined by the color filters. As described above, each light detector <NUM> includes a stacked photodiode structure having junctions whose optical responsivities differ from one another. The processing circuitry calculates the ratio of the photocurrent outputs 28A, 28B from each particular light detector <NUM> and, using the ratios, identifies the wavelengths of the incident light. In some cases, another one of the light detectors <NUM> includes a clear filter 26D that allows visible light of all colors to pass. The foregoing arrangement can be expanded to identify the wavelengths of other multi-band light sources by increasing the number of light detectors <NUM> and providing each light detector with an optical filter that allows only a different wavelength or narrow wavelength band to pass.

In some instances, even if some (or all) of the wavelength bands of the incident light are somewhat wide (i.e., covering more than a single wavelength), the ratio of the optical responses from a particular photodiode can be used to identify the approximate value of the wavelength(s) in a corresponding band. Thus, although in some cases it may not be possible to identify the precise wavelengths of broadband incident light, the processing circuitry can use the ratios of the photocurrent outputs 28A, 28B from each particular light detector to identify the approximate position within each color-filter range so as to determine the approximate wavelengths of the incident light.

In the foregoing implementations, the light detectors <NUM> are discrete devices each of which has multiple spectral sensitivity (e.g., a stacked photodiode structure having multiple junctions whose optical responsivity curves differ from one another). <FIG> illustrates another implementation that can be particularly useful for determining the wavelengths of multi-band or full-spectrum incident light <NUM>. In this implementation, instead of multiple discrete devices for the light detectors <NUM>, an array <NUM> of light sensitive elements (e.g., a CMOS sensor) can be provided. The pixel array <NUM> includes multiple (e.g., two) vertically stacked photodiodes organized in a two-dimensional grid and having junctions 122A, 122B whose optical responsivity curves differ from one another. A continuous or semi-continuous spectrum of optical filters <NUM> can be provided over the pixel array <NUM>. Each filter 126A can be configured to allow only a narrow part of the optical spectrum to pass. The number of filters 126A can be made sufficiently large such that, collectively, the filters allow a wide range of narrow wavelength bands to pass to the underlying pixels. The filters 126A are arranged, however, such that each pixel (or sub-group of pixels) receives light within only a narrow wavelength band. In a particular implementation, the CMOS sensor pixel array may have dimensions of <NUM>×<NUM> pixels and can cover substantially the entire visible spectral range from <NUM> - <NUM> with resolution in the range of <NUM> - <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a system for detecting incident light and determining the wavelength(s) of the incident light can include processing circuitry <NUM>. The processing circuitry <NUM> is operable to read signals from the light detectors <NUM> (or <NUM>) and to process the signals so as to identify one or more wavelengths in the incident light in accordance with the techniques described above. The processing circuitry <NUM> can be implemented, for example, as one or more integrated circuits in one or more semiconductor chips with appropriate digital logic and/or other hardware components (e.g., read-out registers; amplifiers; analog-to-digital converters; clock drivers; timing logic; signal processing circuitry; and/or microprocessor). The processing circuitry <NUM> is, thus, configured to implement the various functions associated with such circuitry.

The foregoing techniques may be applicable in a wide range of applications, including semiconductor processing where monitoring of spectral emission characteristics of the ambient environment may be required or tuning of a radiation source may be needed. The techniques also may be useful in spectrometry application. Further, the techniques also can be advantageous in imaging applications, where it may be desirable to measure and determine the spectral emission characteristics of the ambient light.

The optics assembly and light detectors <NUM> (or <NUM>) can be incorporated into a compact module having a relatively small footprint. The module, in turn, can be integrated into a host device (e.g., a smart phone or other handheld computing device) that includes, for example, a camera. The photocurrent outputs from the light detectors <NUM> (or <NUM>) can be provided to processing circuitry <NUM> residing in the host device. Further, in some cases, an output from the processing circuitry <NUM> can be provided to other components <NUM> of the host device (e.g., a camera or a display screen) to indicate ambient light information. The camera may use such information, for example, to adjust the camera aperture or to adjust the brightness of the display screen.

Claim 1:
A method of determining spectral emission characteristics of incident radiation (<NUM>), the method comprising:
sensing at least some of the incident radiation using a plurality (<NUM>) of light detectors (<NUM>) each having respective first and second photosensitive regions that are arranged as stacked photodiodes and whose optical responsivity characteristics differ from one another, wherein each light detector is configured to sense a different respective part of the optical spectrum, wherein incident radiation sensed by each particular light detector passes through a respective optical filter (<NUM>, <NUM>) before being sensed by the particular light detector, wherein each optical filter passes a respective band of wavelengths that differs from at least some of the other optical filters;
identifying wavelengths of the incident radiation, wherein each wavelength is identified based on a ratio of a photocurrent from a first one of the first photosensitive regions and a photocurrent from the second photosensitive region in the same light detector as the first region;
determining whether at least one wavelength of the identified wavelengths is within a specified tolerance of a predetermined wavelength; and
causing an alarm or message to be generated if the at least one wavelength is not within the specified tolerance of the predetermined wavelength.