A flex circuit optical sensor has an integrated Faraday shield. A conductive
trace
layer disposed on a substrate is used to form a conductive grid which shields the
face of a photodetector. A conductive ink layer is formed on a substrate side opposite
the trace layer. The back and sides of the detector are shielded by flex circuit
flaps that have the conductive ink layer but substantially exclude the trace layer
so as to fold over and closely adhere to the detector body. The shielded substrate
flaps advantageously eliminate a separate detector shield, which is typically fabricated
with an etched copper part that must be attached to a flex circuit before mounting
the detector.