Lock in pinned photodiode photodetector

• US 20030213984A1
• Filed: 06/12/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Alexander Krymski, Eric R. Fossum, Vladimir Berezin
• Inventors: Berezin, Vladimir, Krymski, Alexander, Fossum, Eric R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,750,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/232
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/487 Extracting wanted echo signals , e.g. pulse detection
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14601 Structural or functional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14609 Pixel-elements with integrated switching, control, storage or amplification elements scanning details of imagers (circuitry of solid-state image sensors H04N25/00); circuitry of imagers H04N25/70
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14643 Photodiode arrays; MOS imagers

Abstract

A lock in pinned photodiode photodetector includes a plurality of output ports which are sequentially enabled. Each time when the output port is enabled is considered to be a different bin of time. A specified pattern is sent, and the output bins are investigated to look for that pattern. The time when the pattern is received indicates the time of flight.

Claims

1. A lock-in photo-detector.