US3076949A - Photoconductive cell - Google Patents
Photoconductive cell Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3076949A US3076949A US774197A US77419758A US3076949A US 3076949 A US3076949 A US 3076949A US 774197 A US774197 A US 774197A US 77419758 A US77419758 A US 77419758A US 3076949 A US3076949 A US 3076949A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- photoconductive
- plates
- coatings
- cell
- window
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims description 34
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims description 23
- 239000011810 insulating material Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000012777 electrically insulating material Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 9
- PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N gold Chemical compound [Au] PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000010931 gold Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052737 gold Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000004568 cement Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010453 quartz Substances 0.000 description 1
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N silicon dioxide Inorganic materials O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
- H01L31/08—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof in which radiation controls flow of current through the device, e.g. photoresistors
Definitions
- photoconductive cells are used in searching and tracking a source of radiation. For instance, some anti-aircraft missiles search for and track enemy bombers, the engines of which are excellent sources of infrared radiation. Usually a photoconductive cell having a large area is used to do the searching and, once the source of radiation is located, a photoconductive cell of much smaller area is used to do the tracking. In the past this could be achieved by using two individual photoconductive cells with a beam-splitter arrangement or by using two or more separate cells with two or more separate amplifiers.
- This combination photoconductive cell can be readily used with a single amplifier by alternatively using one of the photoconductive areas as a load resistor when the signal is on the other photoconductive area.
- the photoconductive cell in accordance with this invention comprises two plates on which photoconductive material is deposited.
- the first plate has a photoconductive coating deposited thereon, leaving a central window with no photoconductive coating.
- the second plate has a photoconductive coating which covers an area corresponding to that of the window. The two plates are assembled together so that the photoconductive coatings are face to face, and the photoconductive coatings are separated by a thin layer of insulating material which is sandwiched between the two plates.
- FIGURE 1 is a bottom view of the first plate showing the photoconductive coating thereon;
- FIGURE 2 is a top view of the second plate showing the photoconductive coating thereon;
- FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines AA of FIGURES 1 and 2 of the assembled photoconductive cell in accordance with this invention.
- FIGURE 4 is an electrical diagram showing how the photoconductive cell of this invention may be connected to an amplifier.
- FIGURE 1 there is shown a first plate of electrically insulating material 11 on which there is applied a photoconductive coating 13.
- the photoconductive coating 13 is provided with two electrodes 15 and 17 which may be thin layers of gold deposited on top of the photoconductive coating 13.
- the photoconductive coating 13 is provided with a centrally disposed window 19 on which there is no photoconductive coating.
- Adjacent to the window 19 and parallel to the electrodes 15 and 17 are two grids 20 and 21 which help to achieve constant field conditions on both sides of the window 19.
- the grids can be of gold and have a width of one mil.
- FIGURE 2 we see a second plate 22 on which there is deposited a photoconductive coating 23 which covers an area corresponding to that of the window 19 in the first plate 11.
- the second plate 22 is provided with two electrodes 25 and 27 which are deposited on top of the photoconductive coating 23 which extends under both electrodes 25 and 27.
- FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines A-A of both FIGURES l and 2. It shows how the photoconductive cell of the invention is assembled. It can be seen that the photoconductive coatings 13 and 25 are on the inner surfaces of the two plates 11 and 22. The photoconductive coatings 13 and 23 are separated by a thin transparent layer 29 of insulating material such as quartz (or a cement transparent to infrared radiation) which is sandwiched between the photoconductive coatings 13 and 23.
- quartz or a cement transparent to infrared radiation
- FIGURE 4 shows how the photoconductive cell of the invention may be connected to an amplifier and illustrates its operation.
- the two photoconductive coatings 13 and 23, which are represented by resistors, are connected in series across a battery 31.
- the potential at the junction 33 which is the input terminal of the amplifier 35.
- the potential at the amplifier 33 is raised towards that of the positive terminal of the battery 31.
- the potential at the junction 33 is lowered towards that of the negative terminal of the battery 31.
- a photoconductive cell comprising two plates of electrically insulating material, said plates facing each other, a first photoconductive coating applied to the inner surface of one of said plates so as to leave therein a centrally disposed window on which there is no photoconductive coating, a second photoconductive coating applied to the inner surface of the other of said plates so as to cover an area corresponding to that of said window, a thin transparent layer of insulating material sandwiched between said first and second photoconductive coatings, and means to make electrical connections to both of said photoconductive coatings.
- a photoconductive cell comprising two plates of electrically insulating material, said plates facing each other, a first photoconductive coating applied to the inner surface of one of said plates so as to leave therein a centrally disposed window on which there is no photoconductive coating, a pair of conductive grids adjacent to said window, a second photoconductive coating applied to the inner surface of the other of said plates so as to cover an area corresponding to that of said window, a thin transparent layer of insulating material sandwiched between said first and second photoconductive coatings, and means to make electrical connections to both of said photoconductive coatings.
Description
N. C. ANDERSON PHOTOCONDUCTIVE CELL Filed Nov. 1'7, 1958 FIG. 1 FIG. 2
FIG. 3
3w g xv AMPLIFIER 23 31 FIG. 4
INVENTOR N.C. ANDERSON ATTORNEY A b 3 n u United States Patent Ofiice 3,076,949 Patented Feb. 5, 1963 3,076,949 PHOTOCONDUCTIVE CELL Norman C. Anderson, Wellesley, Mass., assignor to Infrared Industries, Inc., Needham Heights, Mass., a corporationof Delaware Filed Nov. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 774,197 2 Claims. (Cl. 338-18) This invention relates to photoconductive cells.
There are applications in which photoconductive cells are used in searching and tracking a source of radiation. For instance, some anti-aircraft missiles search for and track enemy bombers, the engines of which are excellent sources of infrared radiation. Usually a photoconductive cell having a large area is used to do the searching and, once the source of radiation is located, a photoconductive cell of much smaller area is used to do the tracking. In the past this could be achieved by using two individual photoconductive cells with a beam-splitter arrangement or by using two or more separate cells with two or more separate amplifiers.
It is the principal object of this invention to provide a photoconductive cell having a large photoconductive area for searching and a small photoconductive area for tracking This combination photoconductive cell can be readily used with a single amplifier by alternatively using one of the photoconductive areas as a load resistor when the signal is on the other photoconductive area.
The photoconductive cell in accordance with this invention comprises two plates on which photoconductive material is deposited. The first plate has a photoconductive coating deposited thereon, leaving a central window with no photoconductive coating. The second plate has a photoconductive coating which covers an area corresponding to that of the window. The two plates are assembled together so that the photoconductive coatings are face to face, and the photoconductive coatings are separated by a thin layer of insulating material which is sandwiched between the two plates.
Other and incidental objects of this invention will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and an inspection of the accompanying drawing in which:
FIGURE 1 is a bottom view of the first plate showing the photoconductive coating thereon;
FIGURE 2 is a top view of the second plate showing the photoconductive coating thereon;
FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines AA of FIGURES 1 and 2 of the assembled photoconductive cell in accordance with this invention; and
FIGURE 4 is an electrical diagram showing how the photoconductive cell of this invention may be connected to an amplifier.
Referring now to FIGURE 1 there is shown a first plate of electrically insulating material 11 on which there is applied a photoconductive coating 13. The photoconductive coating 13 is provided with two electrodes 15 and 17 which may be thin layers of gold deposited on top of the photoconductive coating 13. The photoconductive coating 13 is provided with a centrally disposed window 19 on which there is no photoconductive coating. Adjacent to the window 19 and parallel to the electrodes 15 and 17 are two grids 20 and 21 which help to achieve constant field conditions on both sides of the window 19. The grids can be of gold and have a width of one mil.
Referring now to FIGURE 2 we see a second plate 22 on which there is deposited a photoconductive coating 23 which covers an area corresponding to that of the window 19 in the first plate 11. The second plate 22 is provided with two electrodes 25 and 27 which are deposited on top of the photoconductive coating 23 which extends under both electrodes 25 and 27.
FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines A-A of both FIGURES l and 2. It shows how the photoconductive cell of the invention is assembled. It can be seen that the photoconductive coatings 13 and 25 are on the inner surfaces of the two plates 11 and 22. The photoconductive coatings 13 and 23 are separated by a thin transparent layer 29 of insulating material such as quartz (or a cement transparent to infrared radiation) which is sandwiched between the photoconductive coatings 13 and 23.
FIGURE 4 shows how the photoconductive cell of the invention may be connected to an amplifier and illustrates its operation. The two photoconductive coatings 13 and 23, which are represented by resistors, are connected in series across a battery 31. When radiation impinges upon one of the photoconductive coatings, its resistance goes down, and this affects the potential at the junction 33 which is the input terminal of the amplifier 35. When a spot of light or radiation is focused on the photoconductive coating 13, the potential at the amplifier 33 is raised towards that of the positive terminal of the battery 31. ,When this spot of radiation is on the photoconductive coating 23 the potential at the junction 33 is lowered towards that of the negative terminal of the battery 31. There is thus a signal which indicates that the source of radiation is within the searching area of the cell and another signal which shows that the source of radiation is being accurately tracked by the tracking portion of the photoconductive cell.
I claim:
1. A photoconductive cell comprising two plates of electrically insulating material, said plates facing each other, a first photoconductive coating applied to the inner surface of one of said plates so as to leave therein a centrally disposed window on which there is no photoconductive coating, a second photoconductive coating applied to the inner surface of the other of said plates so as to cover an area corresponding to that of said window, a thin transparent layer of insulating material sandwiched between said first and second photoconductive coatings, and means to make electrical connections to both of said photoconductive coatings.
2. A photoconductive cell comprising two plates of electrically insulating material, said plates facing each other, a first photoconductive coating applied to the inner surface of one of said plates so as to leave therein a centrally disposed window on which there is no photoconductive coating, a pair of conductive grids adjacent to said window, a second photoconductive coating applied to the inner surface of the other of said plates so as to cover an area corresponding to that of said window, a thin transparent layer of insulating material sandwiched between said first and second photoconductive coatings, and means to make electrical connections to both of said photoconductive coatings.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,001,672 Carpenter May 14, 1935 2,838,876 Smith June 17, 1958
Claims (1)
1. A PHOTOCONDUCTIVE CELL COMPRISING TWO PLATES OF ELECTRICALLY INSULATING MATERIAL, SAID PLATES FACING EACH OTHER, A FIRST PHOTOCONDUCTIVE COATING APPLIED TO THE INNER SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID PLATES SO AS TO LEAVE THEREIN A CENTRALLY DISPOSED WINDOW ON WHICH THREE IS NO PHOTOCONDUCTIVE COATING, A SECOND PHOTOCONDUCTIVE COATING APPLIED TO THE INNER SURFACE OF THE OTHER OF SAID PLATES SO AS TO COVER AN AREA CORRESPONDING TO THAT OF SAID WINDOW, A THIN TRANSPARENT LAYER OF INSULATING MATERIAL SANDWICHED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND PHOTOCONDUCTIVE COATINGS, AND MEANS TO MAKE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO BOTH OF SAID PHOTOCONDUTIVE COATINGS.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US774197A US3076949A (en) | 1958-11-17 | 1958-11-17 | Photoconductive cell |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US774197A US3076949A (en) | 1958-11-17 | 1958-11-17 | Photoconductive cell |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3076949A true US3076949A (en) | 1963-02-05 |
Family
ID=25100513
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US774197A Expired - Lifetime US3076949A (en) | 1958-11-17 | 1958-11-17 | Photoconductive cell |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3076949A (en) |
Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3106692A (en) * | 1962-11-27 | 1963-10-08 | Joseph T Mcnaney | Bolometer |
US3191045A (en) * | 1961-12-11 | 1965-06-22 | Clairex Corp | Photosensitive element having photoconductive layers |
US3193685A (en) * | 1961-12-01 | 1965-07-06 | Rca Corp | Photosensitive superconductor device |
US3193686A (en) * | 1963-05-07 | 1965-07-06 | Western Electric Co | Photosensitive detectors and methods utilizing photosensitive detectors for positioning articles |
US3211911A (en) * | 1962-09-11 | 1965-10-12 | Justin M Ruhge | Method and photocell device for obtaining light source position data |
US3252120A (en) * | 1966-05-17 | Dick karmiggelt by | ||
US3287562A (en) * | 1964-02-28 | 1966-11-22 | Kollsman Instr Corp | Photosensitive scanning means for rotating an image with respect to a light modulator |
US3381133A (en) * | 1963-04-19 | 1968-04-30 | Kollsman Instr Corp | Scanning device for tracker using concentric photosensitive surfaces cooperating with oscillated image |
US3415994A (en) * | 1966-10-28 | 1968-12-10 | Navy Usa | Dual element infrared detector |
US3480777A (en) * | 1969-02-28 | 1969-11-25 | Barnes Eng Co | Pyroelectric radiation detection system with extended frequency range and reduced capacitance |
US3679307A (en) * | 1970-02-19 | 1972-07-25 | Ati Inc | Non-contacting optical probe |
US3695766A (en) * | 1970-01-14 | 1972-10-03 | Us Army | Photosensitive surface shaping for optical heterodyning |
US4012638A (en) * | 1976-03-09 | 1977-03-15 | Altschuler Bruce R | Dental X-ray alignment system |
US4107530A (en) * | 1966-01-26 | 1978-08-15 | Lockheed Aircraft Corporation | Infrared acquisition device |
EP1422498A3 (en) * | 2002-11-22 | 2008-11-05 | Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON | Automatic reflector tracking apparatus |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2001672A (en) * | 1930-09-20 | 1935-05-14 | United Res Corp | Light-sensitive cell |
US2838876A (en) * | 1955-03-10 | 1958-06-17 | Jr Bonnie Smith | Basic electrical circuit for light driven toys |
-
1958
- 1958-11-17 US US774197A patent/US3076949A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2001672A (en) * | 1930-09-20 | 1935-05-14 | United Res Corp | Light-sensitive cell |
US2838876A (en) * | 1955-03-10 | 1958-06-17 | Jr Bonnie Smith | Basic electrical circuit for light driven toys |
Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3252120A (en) * | 1966-05-17 | Dick karmiggelt by | ||
US3193685A (en) * | 1961-12-01 | 1965-07-06 | Rca Corp | Photosensitive superconductor device |
US3191045A (en) * | 1961-12-11 | 1965-06-22 | Clairex Corp | Photosensitive element having photoconductive layers |
US3211911A (en) * | 1962-09-11 | 1965-10-12 | Justin M Ruhge | Method and photocell device for obtaining light source position data |
US3106692A (en) * | 1962-11-27 | 1963-10-08 | Joseph T Mcnaney | Bolometer |
US3381133A (en) * | 1963-04-19 | 1968-04-30 | Kollsman Instr Corp | Scanning device for tracker using concentric photosensitive surfaces cooperating with oscillated image |
US3193686A (en) * | 1963-05-07 | 1965-07-06 | Western Electric Co | Photosensitive detectors and methods utilizing photosensitive detectors for positioning articles |
US3287562A (en) * | 1964-02-28 | 1966-11-22 | Kollsman Instr Corp | Photosensitive scanning means for rotating an image with respect to a light modulator |
US4107530A (en) * | 1966-01-26 | 1978-08-15 | Lockheed Aircraft Corporation | Infrared acquisition device |
US3415994A (en) * | 1966-10-28 | 1968-12-10 | Navy Usa | Dual element infrared detector |
US3480777A (en) * | 1969-02-28 | 1969-11-25 | Barnes Eng Co | Pyroelectric radiation detection system with extended frequency range and reduced capacitance |
US3695766A (en) * | 1970-01-14 | 1972-10-03 | Us Army | Photosensitive surface shaping for optical heterodyning |
US3679307A (en) * | 1970-02-19 | 1972-07-25 | Ati Inc | Non-contacting optical probe |
US4012638A (en) * | 1976-03-09 | 1977-03-15 | Altschuler Bruce R | Dental X-ray alignment system |
EP1422498A3 (en) * | 2002-11-22 | 2008-11-05 | Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON | Automatic reflector tracking apparatus |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3076949A (en) | Photoconductive cell | |
US3028500A (en) | Photoelectric apparatus | |
GB1401738A (en) | Solar cell assemblies | |
US2728835A (en) | Radiation-sensitive resistor | |
GB1206034A (en) | Integrated solar cell array | |
US2885564A (en) | Logical circuit element | |
GB810506A (en) | Improvements in or relating to electrical switching circuits | |
ES455057A1 (en) | Color selection means comprising lens electrodes spaced by grains of insulating material | |
US2837661A (en) | Radiation amplifier | |
US2000642A (en) | Photoelectric device | |
US3359137A (en) | Solar cell configuration | |
US3502885A (en) | Non-coplanar electrode photoconductor structure and electroluminescent-photoconductor array | |
US2999177A (en) | Infra-red-sensitive mosaic | |
US3073963A (en) | Shift register | |
US3349273A (en) | Photoelectric transducer head | |
US2948816A (en) | Solid state image intensifier | |
US2907886A (en) | Radiation responsive devices | |
US3015738A (en) | Signal translating device | |
US1939532A (en) | Kerr cell | |
US3204106A (en) | Storage-type electroluminescent image amplifier | |
US1802747A (en) | System for recording electrical fluctuations | |
GB869710A (en) | Improvements in or relating to radiation detectors | |
GB815883A (en) | Improvements in or relating to barrier grid storage tubes | |
GB1326661A (en) | Resistive loads used in microwave circuits | |
GB1115319A (en) | Photocell array structure |