Low cost optical polarization sensor

D. Patrick Baxter; Jeffrey M. Raynor; Jean-Luc Jaffard; David Renshaw

doi:10.1117/12.700502

21 February 2007 Low-cost optical polarization sensor

D. Patrick Baxter, Jeffrey M. Raynor, Jean-Luc Jaffard, David Renshaw

Proceedings Volume 6501, Sensors, Cameras, and Systems for Scientific/Industrial Applications VIII; 65010R (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.700502
Event: Electronic Imaging 2007, 2007, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Polarized light is a naturally occurring phenomenon that human vision does not discern, yet it can provide useful supplementary information from an image or optical system. Polarization detection can be implemented using hybrid sensors where additional polarizing material is mounted onto a standard sensor. However these types of sensor tend to be expensive, requiring extra manufacturing and materials. Presented is a low cost polarization sensor which is implemented using standard CMOS technology and manufacturing techniques, without the need for supplementary implants or optical layers. The polarization sensor is realised using a polarization grating, formed from a standard metal layer, above a CMOS sensor. To compensate for the loss of photons due to the polarization grating, a high dynamic range sensor is implemented using large, 110 micron photodiodes. The photosensor is used in a "light to frequency conversion pixel" where the photocurrent is converted to a digital square wave output with a frequency proportional to the photon flux density. A modulation depth of 10% is achieved. A rotary encoder application implementing the polarization sensor is discussed.

Citation Download Citation

D. Patrick Baxter, Jeffrey M. Raynor, Jean-Luc Jaffard, and David Renshaw "Low-cost optical polarization sensor", Proc. SPIE 6501, Sensors, Cameras, and Systems for Scientific/Industrial Applications VIII, 65010R (21 February 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.700502

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