Abstract:
A device and techniques for fabricating the device are described for forming a wafer-level thermal sensor package using microelectromechanical system (MEMS) processes. In one or more implementations, a wafer level thermal sensor package includes a thermopile stack, which includes a substrate, a dielectric membrane, a first thermoelectric layer, a first interlayer dielectric, a second thermoelectric layer, a second interlayer dielectric, a metal connection assembly, a passivation layer, where the passivation layer includes at least one of a trench or a hole, and where the substrate includes a cavity adjacent to the at least one trench or hole, and a bond pad disposed on the passivation layer and electrically coupled to the metal connection assembly; and a cap wafer assembly coupled to the thermopile stack, the cap wafer assembly including a wafer having a cavity formed on a side of the wafer configured to be adjacent to the thermopile stack.
Abstract:
Techniques are described to form an absorption stack proximate to a thermopile sensor. In one or more implementations, a thermopile sensor is formed proximate to a semiconductor wafer. An absorption stack is formed proximate to the semiconductor wafer and includes a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer may be a material having absorption and/or reflective characteristics. The second layer may be a material having wave phase shift characteristic characteristics. The third layer may be a material having a reflective characteristic.
Abstract:
A time of flight sensor includes a time of flight (TOF) processor having a digital TOF port, a digital input port, and a digital output port, the TOF processor comprising a phase detector including cyclically rotating demultiplexer (DEMUX), a first summer coupled to a first DEMUX output, a second summer coupled to a second DEMUX output, a third summer coupled to a third DEMUX output, a fourth summer coupled to a fourth DEMUX output, and a phase estimator coupled to outputs of the first summer, the second summer, the third summer and the fourth summer and having a phase estimate output; a driver having a digital driver port coupled to the digital TOF port and a driver output port; and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having an output port coupled to the digital input port of the digital TOF processor.
Abstract:
A gas concentration sensor is includes an integrated die-form electromagnetic radiation source and an integrated die-form infrared detector. In one or more implementations, the gas concentration sensor includes a package substrate defining at least one aperture, a gas permeable mesh coupled to the package substrate and covering at least a portion of the at least one aperture, a die-form electromagnetic radiation source positioned in an interior region of the package substrate, a die-form detector positioned in the interior region of the package substrate, and control circuitry operably coupled to the die-form detector and configured to detect and calibrate one or more signal outputs from the die-form detector to determine a gas concentration within the interior region of the package substrate. The gas concentration sensor can be configured for specific detection of various gases through control of the spectral wavelengths emitted by the electromagnetic radiation source(s) and/or detected by the detector(s).
Abstract:
A system includes a temperature sensor and a distance sensor. The distance sensor provides an indication of distance between the temperature sensor and an object to be measured. By determining the distance between the temperature sensor and the object, the system determines whether the object is sufficiently close to the temperature sensor to make an accurate temperature measurement, such as by determining whether the object completely fills the field of view of the sensor. In an implementation, the distance sensor includes a light source and a photodetector configured to detect light having wavelengths that correspond to those generated by the light source.
Abstract:
A sensor device, a sensor package, and method for fabricating a sensor device are described that include an integrated light blocker disposed on the thermopile device and a lens configured to direct light to the thermopile device. In an implementation, the thermopile device includes a substrate; a thermopile membrane disposed on the substrate, the thermopile membrane including at least one passivation layer; a thermopile disposed within the thermopile membrane, the thermopile including at least one thermocouple; and a light blocking layer disposed proximate to the thermopile membrane, the light blocking layer including an aperture disposed proximate to the thermopile.
Abstract:
A sensor package having a thermopile sensor and a reference thermopile sensor disposed therein. In one or more implementations, the sensor package includes a substrate, a thermopile sensor disposed over the substrate, a reference thermopile sensor disposed over the substrate, and a lid assembly disposed over the thermopile sensor and the reference thermopile sensor. The lid assembly includes a transparent structure that passes electromagnetic radiation occurring in a limited spectrum of wavelengths and an electromagnetic blocker disposed over the lid assembly. The electromagnetic blocker defines an aperture over the thermopile sensor such that at least a portion of the electromagnetic blocker is positioned over the reference thermopile sensor. The electromagnetic blocker is configured to at least substantially block the electromagnetic radiation occurring in a limited spectrum of wavelengths from reaching the reference thermopile sensor.
Abstract:
A nondispersive infrared (NDIR) micro-optics sensor package is described that includes one or more light sources, a photodetector, and control circuitry coupled to the one or more light sources to non-invasively measure blood alcohol concentration, such as without utilizing ex vivo bodily fluids for the measurements. Additionally, a mobile phone device configured to measure blood alcohol concentration is described that includes a mobile phone system and an NDIR micro-optics sensor package as disclosed above. Further, a process for measuring alcohol content within a subject is described.
Abstract:
A time of flight sensor includes a time of flight (TOF) processor having a digital TOF port, a digital input port, and a digital output port, the TOF processor comprising a phase detector including cyclically rotating demultiplexer (DEMUX), a first summer coupled to a first DEMUX output, a second summer coupled to a second DEMUX output, a third summer coupled to a third DEMUX output, a fourth summer coupled to a fourth DEMUX output, and a phase estimator coupled to outputs of the first summer, the second summer, the third summer and the fourth summer and having a phase estimate output; a driver having a digital driver port coupled to the digital TOF port and a driver output port; and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having an output port coupled to the digital input port of the digital TOF processor.
Abstract:
The present disclosure is directed to a sensor package having a thermopile sensor and a reference (or dark channel) thermopile sensor disposed therein for temperature measurements. In one or more implementations, the sensor package includes a substrate, a thermopile sensor disposed over the substrate, a reference thermopile sensor disposed over the substrate, a reference temperature sensor disposed over the substrate surface, a lid assembly disposed over the thermopile sensor and the reference thermopile sensor, and a thermo-optical shield. The thermo-optical shield defines an aperture over the thermopile sensor such that at least a portion of the thermo-optical shield is positioned over the reference thermopile sensor to provide optical and thermal shielding for portions of the sensor package.