MULTI-MODE PHOTODETECTOR
First Claim
1. A photodetector, comprising:
- a photodiode;
a bias terminal operable to receive an excess bias voltage and to set a bias voltage across the photodiode;
reset circuitry operable to control the bias voltage; and
output circuitry operable to read a voltage that depends on photons incident on the photodiode,wherein the photodetector is operable in a first mode as an integrating sensor with the bias voltage being set below the breakdown voltage of the photodiode and with the output circuitry operable to read an analog integration output voltage from the photodiode; and
wherein the photodetector is operable in a second mode as a single photon avalanche detector with the bias voltage being set above the breakdown voltage of the photodiode and with the output circuitry operable to read an avalanche output voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A photodetector includes a photodiode and output circuitry coupled to the photodiode. The photodetector is configurable for operation in at least two modes. A first configurable mode operates the photodetector as an integrating sensor. In this first mode, a bias voltage across the photodiode is set below the breakdown voltage of the photodiode and the output circuitry is configured to read an analog integration output voltage from the photodiode. A second configurable mode operates the photodetector as a single photon avalanche detector. In this second mode, the bias voltage across the photodiode is set above the breakdown voltage of the photodiode and the output circuitry is configured to read an avalanche output voltage.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A photodetector, comprising:
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a photodiode; a bias terminal operable to receive an excess bias voltage and to set a bias voltage across the photodiode; reset circuitry operable to control the bias voltage; and output circuitry operable to read a voltage that depends on photons incident on the photodiode, wherein the photodetector is operable in a first mode as an integrating sensor with the bias voltage being set below the breakdown voltage of the photodiode and with the output circuitry operable to read an analog integration output voltage from the photodiode; and wherein the photodetector is operable in a second mode as a single photon avalanche detector with the bias voltage being set above the breakdown voltage of the photodiode and with the output circuitry operable to read an avalanche output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An imaging device, comprising:
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a memory; a processor; and an image sensor coupled to at least one of the memory and processor, wherein the image sensor comprises a plurality of photodetectors, each photodetector including a photodiode and output circuitry, and each photodetector being operable in at least two modes including; a first mode as an integrating sensor with a bias voltage across the photodiode being set below the breakdown voltage of the photodiode and with the output circuitry operable to read an analog integration output voltage from the photodiode; and a second mode as a single photon avalanche detector with the bias voltage across the photodiode being set above the breakdown voltage of the photodiode and with the output circuitry operable to read an avalanche output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A photodetector, comprising:
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a photodiode and output circuitry, said photodetector being operable in at least two modes including; a first mode as an integrating sensor wherein a bias voltage across the photodiode is set below the breakdown voltage of the photodiode and the output circuitry is configured to read an analog integration output voltage from the photodiode; and a second mode as a single photon avalanche detector wherein the bias voltage across the photodiode is set above the breakdown voltage of the photodiode and the output circuitry is configured to read an avalanche output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method, comprising:
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controlling a photodetector to operate in at least two modes, wherein controlling comprises; for a first mode, where the photodetector operates as an integrating sensor, setting a bias voltage across a photodiode below the breakdown voltage of the photodiode and configuring output circuitry coupled to the photodiode to read an analog integration output voltage from the photodiode; and for a second mode, where the photodetector operates as a single photon avalanche detector, setting the bias voltage across the photodiode above the breakdown voltage of the photodiode and configuring the output circuitry to read an avalanche output voltage.
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Specification