APPARATUS FOR DETECTING ILLUMINATION LEVELS
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a single photon avalanche diode pixel comprising a single photon avalanche diode and output transistor circuitry configured to provide an analog output current from the single photon avalanche diode;
wherein the single photon avalanche diode pixel is configured to operate in a first mode to output a digital single photon detection event; and
wherein the single photon avalanche diode pixel is further configured to operate in a second mode to output the analog output current indicating a level of illumination of the pixel.
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Abstract
An apparatus includes a single photon avalanche diode pixel that includes a single photon avalanche diode and an output transistor configured to provide an analog output current from the single photon avalanche diode. The single photon avalanche diode pixel is configured to operate in a first mode to output a digital single photon detection event. The single photon avalanche diode pixel is further configured to operate in a second mode to output the analog output current indicating a level of illumination of the pixel.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a single photon avalanche diode pixel comprising a single photon avalanche diode and output transistor circuitry configured to provide an analog output current from the single photon avalanche diode; wherein the single photon avalanche diode pixel is configured to operate in a first mode to output a digital single photon detection event; and wherein the single photon avalanche diode pixel is further configured to operate in a second mode to output the analog output current indicating a level of illumination of the pixel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for operating a single photon avalanche diode pixel that comprises a single photon avalanche diode and output transistor circuitry, the method comprising:
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configuring the single photon avalanche diode pixel to operate in a first mode to output a digital single photon detection event; and configuring the single photon avalanche diode pixel to operate in a second mode by configuring the output transistor circuitry to provide an analog output current from the single photon avalanche diode indicating a level of illumination of the pixel. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for operating a single photon avalanche diode pixel that comprises a single photon avalanche diode and an output transistor, the apparatus comprising:
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means for configuring the single photon avalanche diode pixel to operate in a first mode to output a digital single photon detection event; and means for configuring the single photon avalanche diode pixel to operate in a second mode by configuring the output transistor to provide an analog output current from the single photon avalanche diode indicating a level of illumination of the pixel. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of rows of single photon avalanche diode pixels, each single photon avalanche diode pixel comprising a single photon avalanche diode and an output transistor configured to provide an analog output current from the single photon avalanche diode, wherein the single photon avalanche diode pixels are arranged as sets of pixels, wherein the single photon avalanche diode pixel is configured to operate in a first mode to output a digital single photon detection event, and wherein the single photon avalanche diode pixel is further configured to operate in a second mode to output the analog output current indicating a level of illumination of the pixel; and a plurality of trans-impedance amplifiers, each trans-impedance amplifier having an input coupled to receive an analog output current from each single photon avalanche diode pixel of a respective one of the sets of pixels. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification