Patent ID: 7928386

Claim:
An optical detector configured to detect at least one photon, comprising: a dielectric substrate and, on the substrate, at least one bolometric detection component configured to generate an electrical signal from energy of received photon(s); at least one coupling component formed on the substrate, which is distinct from the bolometric detection component and comprises a metal component which is a coupling and guiding component, configured to generate a surface plasmon by interaction with the photon(s) and to guide the surface plasmon right up to the bolometric detection component, which then absorbs energy of the surface plasmon, wherein a thickness of the coupling component is greater than a thickness of the bolometric detection component, a width of the coupling component is greater than a width of the bolometric detection component, and the coupling component has an end adjacent to the bolometric detection component that tapers in a thickness direction and a width direction so that the wider and thicker coupling component is coupled to the bolometric detection component; and a dielectric waveguide disposed on the metal component or formed between the metal component and the substrate, and said dielectric waveguide having a refractive index larger than that of the substrate.