US 11,936,421 B2
Control and prognosis of power electronic devices using light
Keith Corzine, Santa Cruz, CA (US); Todd Weatherford, Santa Cruz, CA (US); and Matthew Porter, Santa Cruz, CA (US)
Assigned to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERISTY OF CALIFORNIA, Oakland, CA (US); and THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US); and The Government of the United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Monterey, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/113,500.
Application 18/113,500 is a division of application No. 16/796,393, filed on Feb. 20, 2020, granted, now 11,621,774.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/808,242, filed on Feb. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0208516 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
Int. Cl. H04B 10/071 (2013.01); G01J 3/28 (2006.01); G02B 6/12 (2006.01); H01L 33/32 (2010.01); H04B 10/80 (2013.01)
CPC H04B 10/071 (2013.01) [G01J 3/28 (2013.01); G02B 6/12007 (2013.01); H01L 33/32 (2013.01); H04B 10/801 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optically-monitored and/or optically-controlled electronic device, comprising:
at least one of a semiconductor transistor or a semiconductor diode;
an optical detector configured to detect light emitted by said at least one of said semiconductor transistor or said semiconductor diode during operation; and
a signal processor configured to communicate with said optical detector to receive information regarding said light detected,
wherein said signal processor is further configured to provide information concerning at least one of an electrical current flowing in, a temperature of, or a condition of said at least one of said semiconductor transistor or said semiconductor diode during operation,
wherein said at least one of a semiconductor transistor or semiconductor diode is a semiconductor transistor comprising a drain electrode, a source electrode and a gate electrode, and
said optically-monitored and/or optically-controlled electronic device further comprising a gate controller configured to communicate with said signal processor and said gate electrode so as to provide feedback control of said semiconductor transistor using information based on said light detected by said optical detector.