US 12,009,444 B2
Sensor comprising a photovoltaic device
Mark R. Schroeder, Hollister, CA (US); and Kenneth Buciak, Morgan Hill, CA (US)
Filed by Mark R. Schroeder, Hollister, CA (US); and Kenneth Buciak, Morgan Hill, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/089,185.
Application 18/089,185 is a continuation of application No. 17/129,873, filed on Dec. 21, 2020, granted, now 11,538,949, issued on Dec. 27, 2022.
Application 17/129,873 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/170,007, filed on Jan. 31, 2014, granted, now 10,872,988, issued on Dec. 22, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/760,127, filed on Feb. 3, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2023/0246113 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
Int. Cl. H01L 31/0352 (2006.01); H01L 31/0224 (2006.01); H01L 31/0445 (2014.01)
CPC H01L 31/03529 (2013.01) [H01L 31/022466 (2013.01); H01L 31/0445 (2014.12)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor, comprising:
a photovoltaic device, wherein the photovoltaic device comprises:
a core having a shape that is at least partially pseudospherical;
an absorber disposed over the core and having a shape that is at least partially curved; and
a transparent conductor disposed over the absorber and having a shape that is at least partially curved;
wherein the transparent conductor has an index of refraction that is less than an index of refraction of the absorber such that the transparent conductor and the absorber function as a lens to refract impinging photons into the absorber;
wherein an interface between the transparent conductor and the absorber has a smoothness defined such that a distance between peak to peak features on a surface of the transparent conductor at the interface is less than about one tenth of a wavelength of the impinging photons divided by the index of refraction of the transparent conductor; and
wherein the absorber and the transparent conductor have indices of refraction and thicknesses selected to function as an annular waveguide such that the photons impinging into the absorber travel circumferentially in the absorber about a center of the core.