Patent ID: 8084739

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels each configured to detect radiation incident thereon, the plurality of pixels comprising: a first pixel configured to detect a first range of wavelengths in the short wavelength infrared (SWIR) spectrum and produce a first photoresponse indicative of a quantity of radiation in the first range incident thereon; and a second pixel configured to detect a second range of wavelengths in the SWIR spectrum and produce a second photoresponse indicative of a quantity of radiation in the second range incident thereon, the second range differing from the first range; and readout circuitry configured to read out the first and second photoresponses, wherein the first pixel comprises a first photodetector and the second pixel comprises a second photodetector, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a silicon substrate in or on which the plurality of pixels and the readout circuitry are formed, wherein the first photodetector and the second photodetector are monolithically integrated with the silicon substrate, wherein each of the first and second photodetectors is capable of detecting a third range of wavelengths in the SWIR spectrum, the third range of wavelengths comprising the first range and the second range, wherein the first photodetector comprises germanium and the second photodetector comprises germanium, wherein the first pixel comprises a first filter configured to pass the first range of wavelengths, and wherein the second pixel comprises a second filter configured to pass the second range of wavelengths, wherein the first filter is an absorption filter configured to absorb at least some radiation in the third range that is not in the first range, and wherein the second filter is an absorption filter configured to absorb at least some radiation in the third range that is not in the second range, and wherein the first filter comprises a silicon alloy.