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:
Mar. 05, 2013
Filed:
Jan. 11, 2011
Ann Gabrys, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Peter J. Hopper, San Jose, CA (US);
William French, San Jose, CA (US);
Kyuwoon Hwang, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Ann Gabrys, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Peter J. Hopper, San Jose, CA (US);
William French, San Jose, CA (US);
Kyuwoon Hwang, Palo Alto, CA (US);
National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A photodetector detects the absence or presence of light by detecting a change in the inductance of a coil. The magnetic field generated when a current flows through the coil passes through an electron-hole generation region. Charged particles in the electron-hole generation region come under the influence of the magnetic field, and generate eddy currents whose magnitudes depend on whether light is absent or present. The eddy currents generate a magnetic field that opposes the magnetic field generated by current flowing through the coil.