Position-sensitive readout modes for digital silicon photomultiplier arrays
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a photon detector including;
a detector array comprising single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors configured to break down responsive to impingement of a photon,trigger circuitry configured to generate a trigger signal responsive to break down of a SPAD detector of the detector array, andlatches configured to store position coordinates of SPAD detectors of the detector array that are in break down, the latches being configured to latch responsive to a trigger signal generated by the trigger circuitry;
wherein the latches comprise;
row latches wherein each row latch connects with a logical “
OR”
combination of SPAD detectors of a corresponding row of the detector array; and
column latches wherein each column latch connects with a logical “
OR”
combination of SPAD detectors of a corresponding column of the detector array.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A photon detector (10) includes a detector array (12) comprising single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors (14) configured to break down responsive to impingement of a photon. Trigger circuitry (34) is configured to generate a trigger signal responsive to break down of a SPAD detector of the detector array. Latches (20, 22) are configured to store position coordinates of SPAD detectors of the detector array that are in break down. The latches are configured to latch responsive to a trigger signal generated by the trigger circuitry. The latches may include row latches (22) each connecting with a logical “OR” combination of SPAD detectors of a corresponding row of the detector array, and column latches (20) each connecting with a logical “OR” combination of SPAD detectors of a corresponding column of the detector array. Time to digital converter (TDC) circuitry (28) may generate a digital time stamp for the trigger signal.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
a photon detector including; a detector array comprising single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors configured to break down responsive to impingement of a photon, trigger circuitry configured to generate a trigger signal responsive to break down of a SPAD detector of the detector array, and latches configured to store position coordinates of SPAD detectors of the detector array that are in break down, the latches being configured to latch responsive to a trigger signal generated by the trigger circuitry; wherein the latches comprise; row latches wherein each row latch connects with a logical “
OR”
combination of SPAD detectors of a corresponding row of the detector array; andcolumn latches wherein each column latch connects with a logical “
OR”
combination of SPAD detectors of a corresponding column of the detector array.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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a photon detector including; a detector array comprising single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors configured to break down responsive to impingement of a photon; trigger circuitry configured to generate a trigger signal responsive to break down of a SPAD detector of the detector array; latches configured to store position coordinates of SPAD detectors of the detector array that are in break down, the latches being configured to latch responsive to a trigger signal generated by the trigger circuitry; and at least one delay element that delays propagation of the trigger signal to the latches by an integration time interval such that the latches after latching provide a position coordinates for the SPAD detectors that break down over the integration time interval.
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9. A method comprising:
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providing a detector array comprising single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors configured to break down responsive to impingement of a photon in a position; providing latches configured to store position coordinates of a SPAD detector of the detector array that is in break down; generating a trigger signal responsive to break down of a SPAD detector of the detector array; latching the latches responsive to the trigger signal; and performing time to digital conversion triggered by the trigger signal to generate a time stamp for the breakdown of the SPAD detector whose break down caused the generating of the trigger signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
a photon detector including; an array of single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors, latches configured to store position coordinates of a SPAD detector of the array that is in breakdown, triggering circuitry configured to generate a trigger signal responsive to break down of a SPAD detector of the array wherein the trigger signal causes latching of the latches, processing circuitry configured to output a photon detection position based on position coordinates stored in the latched latches; and time to digital converter (TDC) circuitry configured to generate a digital time stamp for a trigger signal generated by the trigger circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
a photon detector including; an array of single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors, latches configured to store position coordinates of SPAD detectors of the array that are in breakdown, triggering circuitry configured to generate a trigger signal responsive to break down of a SPAD detector of the array wherein the trigger signal causes latching of the latches, at least one delay element that delays the latching by an integration time, and processing circuitry configured to output detection positions of photons detected over the integration time based on position coordinates stored in the latched latches. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
Specification