A semiconductor sensor is a device that uses a semiconductor, usually silicon or germanium, to detect traversing charged particles or the absorption of photons. Several thin wafers of the semiconductor material are layered together to form these sensors. In the field of particle physics, these sensors are usually known as silicon detectors. When their sensitive structures are based on a single diode, they are called semiconductor diode detectors. When they contain many diodes with different functions, the more general term semiconductor detector is used.
Semiconductor sensors are known for their higher detection efficiency, better spectrometric resolution, enhanced accuracy and low cost. There are different types of semiconductor sensors for determining gas pressure, temperature, voltage and radiation. The important application areas for semiconductor sensors include medical, automotive and aerospace. They have acquired an added importance in recent times due to the emergence of various applications under the umbrella of the “Internet of Things” (IoT).
This report provides analysis of and technology trends related to Semiconductor sensors and their applications.
