Patent ID: 6875975

Claim:
A multi-wavelength pixel-registered photo detector array comprising a multiplicity of detector layers of semiconductor material interspersed between contact layers of semiconductor material so as to have a transparent face and a backside, each said detector layer having a different light absorption versus wavelength response curve, each said detector layer being not more than about one micron in thickness, one said contact layer of each said pixel being a final contact layer proximate said backside, the outer side of said final contact layer being etched in relief with a refractive lightwave pattern, said refractive lightwave pattern configured for reflecting light entering said pixel normal to said transparent face at substantially right angles so as to be dispersed edgewise into said detector layers, said final contact layer and edges of said detector layers of each said pixel being reflectively coated for containing light within said pixel, said semiconductor materials being quantum-well inter-sub band materials.