The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 16, 2008
Filed:
Jun. 19, 2006
Jamie Lyn Shaffer, Bothell, WA (US);
Jamie Lyn Shaffer, Bothell, WA (US);
Mitutoyo Corporation, Kawasaki-shi, JP;
Abstract
A detector configuration determines the direction of illumination incident on a photosensitive device. Multiple mask layers include holes which form an interlayer optical path through which radiation reaches a photodetector. The interlayer optical path provides a selected nominal maximum signal angle and the detector senses when radiation is received at or near that angle. In one embodiment, three holes in three metallization layers provide an arbitrarily narrow interlayer optical path with improved angular detection relative to that provided by two holes. An illumination direction-sensing array may use multiple instances of the detector configuration. The detector configuration may provide enhanced utility and economy by being adapted to use only those fabrication steps used for fabricating other primary circuits on an IC.