Interband cascade detectors
US7282777B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 2005 |
| Grant date | Oct 16, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 15, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S977/82
- WIPO fieldMicro-structural and nano-technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A device for detecting radiation, typically in the infrared. Photons are absorbed in an active region of a semiconductor device such that the absorption induces an interband electronic transition and generates photo-excited charge carriers. The charge carriers are coupled into a carrier transport region having multiple quantum wells and characterized by intersubband relaxation that provides rapid charge carrier collection. The photo-excited carriers are collected from the carrier transport region at a conducting contact region. Another carrier transport region characterized by interband tunneling for multiple stages draws charge carriers from another conducting contact and replenishes the charge carriers to the active region for photo-excitation. A photocurrent is generated between the conducting contacts through the active region of the device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.