ams’ Technology Concepts on Monolithically Integrated Photosensors

Abstract

ams AG is a global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced sensor solutions, which are at the heart of the products and technologies that define our world today -from smartphones and mobile devices to smart homes and buildings, industrial automation, medical technology and connected vehicles. To build global leadership in optical sensing, ams is driving integration of sensor technologies into monolithically integrated solutions. This paper will provide an overview of ams' integrated photosensor concepts including 3D integration, spectral sensing and radiation hard concepts. PoS(ICHEP2018)462Monolithic Integrated Photosensors I. Jonak-Auer et al.2 1. Introduction ams AG designs and manufactures high-performance sensor solutions for applications requiring the highest level of miniaturization, integration, accuracy, sensitivity and lower power. Our comprehensive solutions take sensing to the next level by providing a seamless interface between humans and technology. Products include sensor solutions, sensor ICs, interfaces and related software for mobile, consumer, communications, industrial, medical, and automotive markets. For ams AG innovation in sensor-and integration technology as well as in microelectronics is mandatory for building high performance integrated systems. With the ongoing miniaturization of CMOS technologies the need for integrated optical sensors on smaller scale CMOS nodes arises. In the following paragraphs recent ams AG developments in optical sensor technologies including integration concepts of different optoelectronic modules, filter and antireflective coatings (ARCs) as well as 3D integration using Through Silicon Vias (TSVs) are reported.

In‐Plane Sensing Opportunities in MicroLED Displays

“…This has led to rather complex optical stacks on top of ambient light sensors, which could be simplified when using a distributed spectral sensing strategy with multiple channels of different spectral responsivity sensing over the array of display pixels. 18 Another extension of ambient light-sensing functionality is adding directionality to the sensing elements (for example, by using two offset apertures) by harnessing an array of these elements that have sensitivity to different directions. This enables gesture-detection capabilities.…”

“…Ambient light sensors used for display management 18 have evolved to fully functional spectrometers. The requirements for detecting the type of light source illuminating the display have been increasing because of the adoption of new sources, such as fluorescent “energy‐saving lamps” and LED‐based light sources.…”

“…This has led to rather complex optical stacks on top of ambient light sensors, which could be simplified when using a distributed spectral sensing strategy with multiple channels of different spectral responsivity sensing over the array of display pixels 18 …”

Complete Issue

“…Ambient light sensors used for display management 18 have evolved to fully functional spectrometers. The requirements for detecting the type of light source illuminating the display have been increasing because of the adoption of new sources, such as fluorescent "energy-saving lamps" and LED-based light sources.…”

“…This has led to rather complex optical stacks on top of ambient light sensors, which could be simplified when using a distributed spectral sensing strategy with multiple channels of different spectral responsivity sensing over the array of display pixels. 18 Another extension of ambient light-sensing functionality is adding directionality to the sensing elements (for example, by using two offset apertures) by harnessing an array of these elements that have sensitivity to different directions. This enables gesture-detection capabilities.…”