Patent · US Active

Geiger mode APD light receiver having an active readout forming a virtual short-circuit

US10018505B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by

1References

16Claims

0Family size

Assignee

SICK AG · DE

Inventors

Klaus Clemens · Waldkirch, DE
Gottfried Hug · Waldkirch, DE
Stefan Seitz · Windach, DE
Sebastian TSCHUCH · Waldkirch, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jul 21, 2036

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01J2001/4466
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A light receiver (10, 50) having a plurality of avalanche photo diode elements (10, 12a-c) which are biased with a bias voltage greater than a breakthrough voltage and are thus operated in a Geiger mode in order to trigger a Geiger current upon light reception, and having a signal detection circuit (50) for reading out the avalanche photo diode elements (10, 12a-c), wherein the signal detection circuit (50) comprises an active coupling element (52) having an input (54) connected to the avalanche photo diode elements (10, 12a-c) and an output (56), the active coupling element (52) mapping the Geiger current at the input (54) to a measuring current corresponding to the Geiger current in its course and level, wherein the input (54) forms a virtual short-circuit for the Geiger current with respect to a potential (ground, −UBE; Uconst−UBE), and the output (56) is decoupled from the input (54).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.