Three dimensional conical horn antenna coupled image detector and the manufacturing method thereof

The present invention relates to three dimensional conical horn antenna coupled image detectors and the manufacturing method thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to the method of manufacturing an image detector by coupling three dimensional conical horn antenna with the image detector which are constructed using the Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) Technology that improves the sensitivity of the image detector.

The conventional method of improving the performance of an image detector has normally been relied on the coupling two dimensional antenna with the image detector.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 a and FIG. 1 b , the configuration diagram of an conventional conical horn antenna coupled image detector shows that the image detector 3 is located within the waveguide 5 of the conical horn antenna constructed on the substrate 1 . The shape of the image detector 3 is a square type.

However, some of the problems of the conventional configuration for image detectors are as follows;

Firstly, the coupling of two dimensional antenna results a significant increase in the size of image detectors causing difficulties in an array type manufacturing.

Secondly, the conventional image detectors are not effective for coupling with conical horn antenna due to their square shape.

Thirdly, the floating structure of the conventional image detectors for thermal isolation could cause a serious damage to the structure during the coupling with antenna.

Fourthly, the loss of light receiving part of the conventional antenna coupled image detectors becomes large because the thermal isolation legs as well as absorption layer are included in the antenna simultaneously.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above problems of prior arts. The object of the invention is to provide an image detector that can effectively couple with conical horn antenna using the MEMS technology. Another object is to provide the manufacturing method of an image detector which is coupled with three dimensional conical horn antenna.

In order to achieve the stated objectives, the present invention mainly focuses on the manufacturing process technology of the support which supports the conical horn antenna, the circular absorption layer which has the identical diameter to that of a bottom cross section of the waveguide of the antenna and the circular shaped thermal isolation leg.

FIG. 1 a and FIG. 1 b , are configuration diagrams of an conventional conical horn antenna coupled image detector.

From FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 represent the basic configuration diagram, single isolated configuration diagram and a cross section of the image detector coupled with conical horn antenna array according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 a and FIG. 5 b show an overall configuration of the conical horn antenna and the simulation results of its directivity respectively.

FIG. 6 a and FIG. 6 b show an overall configuration of the square horn antenna and the simulation results of its directivity respectively.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram which shows the increase in the signal to noise ratio (S/N) as a result of the directionality improvement due to the coupling of the conical horn antenna.

FIG. 8 a configuration diagram which shows the decrease in the power consumption by reducing the size of the image detector, consequently lowering the thermal mass and thermal time constant.

FIGS. 9 a - 9 h and 10 a - 10 f show the manufacturing process diagram of the image detector coupled with three dimensional conical horn antenna according to the present invention.

10 : Substrate

20 : Horn Antenna Structure

25 : Waveguide

30 a , 30 b : Supports

40 : Image Detector

50 : Absorption Layer

60 : Thermal Isolation Leg

100 : Substrate

102 : Sacrificial Oxide Layer

104 , 108 , 112 , 116 , 120 , 124 , 128 : Etching Mask

106 : First Silicon Nitride Layer

110 : Vanadium Oxide Layer

114 : Conductive Layer

118 : Second Silicon Nitride Layer

122 : Third Silicon Nitride Layer

126 : Side Wall Space

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

From FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 represent the basic configuration diagram, single isolated configuration diagram and a cross section of the image detector coupled with conical horn antenna array according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2 , FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , the conical horn antenna structure 20 is supported by the supports 30 a , 30 b on the substrate 10 and the waveguide 25 of the conical horn antenna is formed at the center of the conical horn antenna structure 20 . The image detector 40 is formed at the lower section of the waveguide 25 and the image detector 40 comprises an absorption layer 50 whose diameter is identical to that of a bottom cross section of the waveguide 25 . The image detector 40 also includes a circular shaped thermal isolation leg 60 , which spans a greater distance than the diameter of the horn antenna wave guide 25 , and is formed on the surface of the image detector 40 .

The supports 30 a , 30 b prevent the absorption layer 50 of the image detector from any damages due to its floatation above the substrate 10 at the time of coupling between the image detector 40 and the conical horn antenna. Also, in order to maximize the coupling efficiency between the conical horn antenna and the image detector 40 , the diameter of the waveguide of the conical horn antenna coincides with the diameter of the absorption layer 30 .

The thermal isolation leg 60 , which is formed in a circular shape on the surface of the image detector 40 so it reduces the thermal conductivity and improves the sensitivity of the image detector 40 .

In FIG. 5 a and FIG. 5 b show an overall configuration of the conical horn antenna and the simulation results of its directivity respectively. FIG. 6 a and FIG. 6 b show an overall configuration of the square horn antenna and the simulation results of its directivity respectively.

From the comparison of the directionality between the conical horn antenna and the square horn antenna, it can be seen that the directionality of the conical horn antenna is superior than the square horn antenna.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram which shows the increase in the signal to noise ratio (S/N) as a result of the directionality improvement due to the coupling of the conical horn antenna. FIG. 8 a configuration diagram which shows the decrease in the power consumption by reducing the size of the image detector, consequently lowering the thermal mass and thermal time constant.

FIG. 9 a and FIG. 10 f show the manufacturing process diagram of the image detector coupled with three dimensional conical horn antenna according to the present invention.

According to FIG. 9 a and FIG. 9 b , the pattern for the sacrificial layer 102 is formed by performing a patterning process using the etching mask 104 so as to form the thermal isolation leg 60 of the image detector 40 after depositing a polyimide layer with a thickness 2.0-2.5 μm as a sacrificial layer on the substrate 100 .

In this case, the pattern size of the sacrificial layer 102 is identical to the external diameter of the thermal isolation leg 60 of the image detector.

According to FIG. 9 c and FIG. 9 d , the pattern for the first silicon nitride layer 106 is formed by performing a patterning process using the etching mask 108 after depositing the first silicon nitride layer 106 (Si3N4) on the whole surface of the above resulting product.

According to FIG. 9 e and FIG. 9 f , the pattern for the vanadium oxide layer 110 is formed by performing a patterning process using the etching mask 112 after depositing the vanadium oxide layer 110 (VOx) on the whole surface of the above resulting product in order to form the absorption layer 50 of the image detector 40 .

In this case, the pattern size of the vanadium oxide layer 110 is identical to the diameter of the absorption layer 50 of the image detector 40 .

According to FIG. 9 g and FIG. 9 h , the pattern for the conductive layer 114 is formed by performing a patterning process using the etching mask 116 after depositing a Chrome layer (Cr) as the conductive layer 114 on the whole surface of the above resulting product.

In this case, only the region around the conductive layer 114 corresponding to the absorption layer 50 of the image detector 40 is removed by etching.

According to FIG. 10 a and FIG. 10 b , the pattern for the second silicon nitride layer 118 is formed by performing a patterning process using the etching mask 120 after depositing the second silicon nitride layer 118 (Si3N4) on the whole surface of the above resulting product.

According to FIG. 10 c and FIG. 10 d , the pattern for the side wall space 126 is formed by performing a patterning process using the etching mask 124 after depositing the third silicon nitride layer 122 (Si3N4) on the whole surface of the above resulting product in order to form a side wall space.

According to FIG. 10 e and FIG. 10 f , the final three dimensional conical horn antenna coupled image detector is completed by constructing a structure that can be aligned using the negative type photoresist etching mask 128 after removing the sacrificial layer 102 from the above resulting product.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the three dimensional conical horn antenna coupled image detector is finally manufactured.

The advantages of the three dimensional conical horn antenna coupled image detector according to the present invention are as follows;

Firstly, the crosstalk between the pixels in the array can be reduced through an improvement in directionality by coupling the image detector with three dimensional conical horn antenna with a superior directionality. Also, the circular waveguide improves the value of S/N ratio by acting as a high pass filter.

Secondly, the power consumption can be reduced through a reduction in the size of the image detector and it can also be used as a high speed image detector due to its low thermal mass and thermal time constant value.

Thirdly, the sensitivity can be improved by lowering the conductivity value through the construction of circular shaped thermal isolation legs rather than a linear type with respect to the construction of thermal isolation of the image detector.