Integrated circuit combination of a target integrated circuit, photovoltaic cells and light sensitive diodes connected to enable a self-sufficient light detector device

摘要

An integrated circuit (IC) comprises a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) cells formed over a passivation layer of a target integrated circuit (TIC), wherein at least one PV cell of the plurality of PV cells is usable as a light sensing device; an interface to an energy storage unit; the TIC comprising at least: a control unit; and a switching circuit, the switching circuit coupled to the plurality of PV cells, the energy storage, and the control unit; wherein the control unit is configured to control at least the switching circuit to configure a connection scheme, wherein the connection scheme devises at least one first PV cell of the plurality of PV cells to connect to the energy storage and at least one second PV cell to connect to the control unit for light detection.

主权项

1. An integrated circuit (IC), comprising:
a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) cells formed over a passivation layer of a target integrated circuit (TIC); and an interface adapted to be coupled to an energy storage unit; the TIC comprising at least:
a control unit; anda switching circuit, the switching circuit being coupled to at least one of the plurality of PV cells, the interface to the energy storage unit, and the control unit; wherein the control unit, when operating, is configured to control at least the switching circuit to couple at least one first PV cell of the plurality of PV cells to the energy storage unit, wherein energy generated by the at least one first PV cell of the plurality of PV cells is stored in the energy storage unit, and to couple at least one second PV cell of the plurality of PV cells to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to employ energy generated by the at least one second PV cell of the plurality of PV cells for determining a characteristic of light incident on the at least one second PV cell of the plurality of PV cells.