摘要:
A method of providing a dielectric material (18) having regions (18′, 18″) with a varying thickness in an IC manufacturing process is disclosed. The method comprises forming a plurality of patterns in respective regions (20′, 20″) of the dielectric material (18), each pattern increasing the susceptibility of the dielectric material (18) to a dielectric material removal step by a predefined amount and exposing the dielectric material (18) to the dielectric material removal step. In an embodiment, the IC comprises a plurality of pixilated elements (12) and a plurality of light interference elements (24), each comprising a first mirror element (16) and a second mirror element (22), a region of the dielectric material (18) separating the first mirror element (16) and the second element (22), and each being arranged over one of said pixilated elements (12), the method further comprising forming the respective first mirror elements (16) in a dielectric layer (14) over a substrate (10) comprising the plurality of pixilated elements; depositing the dielectric material over the dielectric layer; and forming the respective second mirror elements such that each second mirror element is separated from a respective first mirror element by a region of the exposed dielectric material. Hence, an IC having a layer of a dielectric material (18) comprising regions of different thicknesses can be obtained requiring only a few process steps.
摘要:
A method is disclosed of controlling a LED, comprising driving the LED with a DC current for a first time, interrupting the DC current for a second time such that the first time and the second time sum to a period, determining at least one characteristic of the LED while the DC current is interrupted, and controlling the DC current during a subsequent period in dependence on the at least one characteristic. The invention thus benefits from the simplicity of DC operation. By operating at the LED in a DC mode, rather than say in a PWM mode, the requirement to be able to adjust the duty cycle is avoided. By including interruptions to the DC current, it is possible to utilize the LED itself to act as a sensor in order to determine a characteristic of the LED. The need for additional sensors is thereby avoided.
摘要:
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of an integrated circuit (IC) comprising a substrate (10) comprising a pixelated element (12) and a light path (38) to the pixelated element (12). The IC comprises a first dielectric layer (14) covering the substrate (10) but not the pixilated element (12), a first metal layer (16) covering a part of the first dielectric layer (14), a second dielectric layer (18) covering a further part of first dielectric layer (14), a second metal layer (20) covering a part of the second dielectric layer (18) and extending over the pixelated element (12) and a part of the first metal layer (16), the first metal layer (16) and the second metal layer (20) forming an air-filled light path (38) to the pixelated element (12). The air-filled light path (38) is formed by creation of holes in the first dielectric layer (14) and the second dielectric layer (18), filling the holes with sacrificial materials, and removal of the sacrificial materials after deposition and patterning of the second metal layer (20). This yields an IC having a low-loss light path to the pixelated element (12). The light path may act as a color filter, e.g. a Fabry-Perot color filter.
摘要:
A method of providing a dielectric material (18) having regions (18′, 18″) with a varying thickness in an IC manufacturing process is disclosed. The method comprises forming a plurality of patterns in respective regions (20′, 20″) of the dielectric material (18), each pattern increasing the susceptibility of the dielectric material (18) to a dielectric material removal step by a predefined amount and exposing the dielectric material (18) to the dielectric material removal step. In an embodiment, the IC comprises a plurality of pixilated elements (12) and a plurality of light interference elements (24), each comprising a first mirror element (16) and a second mirror element (22), a region of the dielectric material (18) separating the first mirror element (16) and the second element (22), and each being arranged over one of said pixilated elements (12), the method further comprising forming the respective first mirror elements (16) in a dielectric layer (14) over a substrate (10) comprising the plurality of pixilated elements; depositing the dielectric material over the dielectric layer; and forming the respective second mirror elements such that each second mirror element is separated from a respective first mirror element by a region of the exposed dielectric material. Hence, an IC having a layer of a dielectric material (18) comprising regions of different thicknesses can be obtained requiring only a few process steps.
摘要:
A method of estimating the junction temperature of a light emitting diode comprises driving a forward bias current through the diode, the current comprising a square wave which toggles between high and low current values (Ihigh, llow), the high current value (lhigh) comprising an LED operation current, and the low current value (IIOW) comprising a non-zero measurement current. The forward bias voltage drop (Vf) is sampled and the forward bias voltage drop (Vflow) is determined at the measurement current (IIOW)—The temperature is derived from the determined forward bias voltage drop.
摘要:
A method of estimating the junction temperature of a light emitting diode comprises driving a forward bias current through the diode, the current comprising a square wave which toggles between high and low current values (Ihigh, llow), the high current value (lhigh) comprising an LED operation current, and the low current value (ILOW) comprising a non-zero measurement current. The forward bias voltage drop (Vf) is sampled and the forward bias voltage drop (Vflow) is determined at the measurement current (ILOW)—The temperature is derived from the determined forward bias voltage drop.
摘要:
Apparatus for regulating the temperature of a light emitting diode (LED). The apparatus includes a heat sink, an LED mount, and an LED mounted on the LED mount. The LED mount is configured to change shape in response to a change in temperature. The change in shape alters the position of the LED relative to the heat sink, for adjusting heat transfer between the LED and the heat sink. The LED mount may include a laminated portion such as a bi-metallic strip.
摘要:
A method is disclosed of controlling a LED, comprising driving the LED with a DC current for a first time, interrupting the DC current for a second time such that the first time and the second time sum to a period, determining at least one characteristic of the LED whilst the DC current is interrupted, and controlling the DC current during a subsequent period in dependence on the at least one characteristic. The invention thus benefits from the simplicity of DC operation. By operating at the LED in a DC mode, rather than say in a PWM mode, the requirement to be able to adjust the duty cycle is avoided. By including interruptions to the DC current, it is possible to utilise the LED itself to act as a sensor in order to determine a characteristic of the LED. The need for additional sensors is thereby avoided.
摘要:
A light sensor device comprises a substrate (10) having a well (12) defined in one surface. At least one light sensor (14) is formed at the base of the well (12), and an optical light guide (18) in the form of a transparent tunnel (18) within an opaque body (20) extends from a top surface of the device down a sloped side wall of the well (12) to the location of the light sensor (14).
摘要:
A method of determining the dominant output wavelength of an LED, includes determining an electrical characteristic of the LED which is dependent on the voltage-capacitance characteristics, and analyzing the characteristic to determine the dominant output wavelength.