Very high speed photodetector system using a PIN photodiode array for position sensing
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting a centroid of a spot produced by electromagnetic radiation, said apparatus comprising:
- a) an array of PIN photodiodes organized in columns and in rows;
b) vertical connections for interconnecting said PIN photodiodes in said columns in a first pattern interconnecting at least two adjacent columns;
c) horizontal connections for interconnecting said PIN photodiodes in said rows in a second pattern to interconnecting at least two adjacent rows, whereby no anode connection exists between said rows and said columns;
d) processing means for deriving an X-extent of said centroid from said columns and a Y-extent of said centroid from said rows.
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Abstract
An apparatus for detecting a centroid of a spot produced by electromagnetic radiation, e.g., optic radiation, using an array of PIN photodiodes serving as photodetectors and being organized in columns and in rows. Vertical connections are used to interconnect the PIN photodiodes in the columns in accordance with a first pattern that interconnects two or more adjacent columns. Horizontal connections are used to interconnect PIN photodiodes in the rows in accordance with a second pattern that interconnects two or more adjacent rows. The first and second patterns of interconnections can include just two adjacent columns and two adjacent rows, respectively and form a checkerboard interconnect pattern. The interconnections are made such that there are no anode connections between the PIN photodiodes in the rows and columns. The apparatus has a processing circuitry for rapidly deriving an X-extent of the centroid from current signals obtained from the columns and a Y-extent of the centroid from current signals obtained from the rows.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting a centroid of a spot produced by electromagnetic radiation, said apparatus comprising:
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a) an array of PIN photodiodes organized in columns and in rows;
b) vertical connections for interconnecting said PIN photodiodes in said columns in a first pattern interconnecting at least two adjacent columns;
c) horizontal connections for interconnecting said PIN photodiodes in said rows in a second pattern to interconnecting at least two adjacent rows, whereby no anode connection exists between said rows and said columns;
d) processing means for deriving an X-extent of said centroid from said columns and a Y-extent of said centroid from said rows. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for detecting a centroid of a spot produced by electromagnetic radiation, said method comprising:
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a) providing an array of PIN photodiodes organized in columns and in rows;
b) interconnecting said PIN photodiodes in said columns in a first pattern interconnecting at least two adjacent columns;
c) interconnecting said PIN photodiodes in said rows in a second pattern interconnecting at least two adjacent rows, such that no anode connection exists between said rows and said columns; and
d) deriving an X-extent of said centroid from said columns and a Y-extent of said centroid from said rows. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification