Circuit architecture for optical receiver with increased dynamic range

• US 9,069,060 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waymo LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Droz, Pierre-Yves, Zbrozek, Alexander, Linaval, Asheem
• Primary Examiner(s): Ratcliffe, Luke
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abraham, Samantha K
• Application Number:
  US13/802,561
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 356/3.01, 356/4.01, 356/4.07, 356/5.01, 356/9, 356/625
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/481 Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4861 Circuits for detection, sampling, integration or read-out
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/08 controlled by light

Abstract

A circuit architecture for a sensing component of a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) device can provide a wide dynamic range. The circuit architecture includes at least one photosensor, each photosensor including an input that is configured to receive an optical signal; a respective diode corresponding to each photosensor, each respective diode including an input that is coupled to an output of the corresponding photosensor; a multiplexer including an input that is coupled to the output of each of the at least one photosensors; and an amplifier including an input that is coupled to the output of the multiplexer.

Claims

1. A circuit comprising:

at least one photosensor, each photosensor comprising an input that is configured to receive an optical signal;

a respective diode coupled to each photosensor, each respective diode comprising an input that is coupled to an output of the coupled photosensor;

a multiplexer comprising an input that is coupled to the output of each of the at least one photosensor; and

an amplifier comprising an input that is coupled to the output of the multiplexer.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the at least one photosensor comprises at least one photodiode.

3. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the at least one photodiode comprises at least one avalanche photodiode.

4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the at least one photosensor includes at least ten photosensors.

5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein an output of each respective diode is coupled to ground.

6. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the input of the amplifier that is coupled to the output of the multiplexer is a negative input.

7. The circuit of claim 6, wherein the amplifier comprises a negative feedback loop.

8. The circuit of claim 7, wherein the negative feedback loop comprises a resistor.

9. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the amplifier is a trans-impedance amplifier.

10. The circuit of claim 1, wherein an output of the amplifier is coupled to an analysis element of a light-detection and ranging device.

11. A light-detection and ranging (LIDAR) device, comprising:

at least one laser source, wherein the at least one laser source is configured to emit a light signal in a defined wavelength range;

at least one photosensor, each photosensor comprising an input that is configured to receive a light signal having wavelengths in the defined wavelength range;

a respective diode coupled to each photosensor, each respective diode comprising an input that is coupled to an output of the coupled photosensor;

a multiplexer comprising an input that is coupled to the output of each of the at least one photosensor; and

an amplifier comprising an input that is coupled to the output of the multiplexer.

12. The LIDAR device of claim 11, wherein the defined wavelength range includes a wavelength of at least one of about 905 nanometers and about 1550 nanometers.

13. The LIDAR device of claim 11, wherein the at least one photosensor comprises at least one photodiode.

14. The LIDAR device of claim 11, wherein the at least one photosensor includes at least ten photosensors.

15. The LIDAR device of claim 11, wherein an output of each respective diode is coupled to ground.

16. The LIDAR device of claim 11, wherein the input of the amplifier that is coupled to the output of the multiplexer is a negative input.

17. The LIDAR device of claim 16, wherein the amplifier comprises a negative feedback loop.

18. The LIDAR device of claim 17, wherein the negative feedback loop comprises a resistor.

19. The LIDAR device of claim 11, wherein the amplifier is a trans-impedance amplifier.

20. The LIDAR device of claim 11, wherein an output of the amplifier is coupled to an analysis element of the LIDAR device.

21. A circuit comprising:

one, and only one, photosensor, the photosensor comprising an input that is configured to receive an optical signal;

a respective diode coupled to the photosensor, the respective diode comprising an input that is coupled to an output of the photosensor; and

an amplifier comprising an input that is coupled to the output of the photosensor.

22. The circuit of claim 21, wherein the photosensor comprises a photodiode.

23. The circuit of claim 21, wherein an output of the amplifier is coupled to an analysis element of a light-detection and ranging device.