Light receiver having geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes and method for reading out

US10436638B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SICK AG · DE

Inventors

• Klaus Clemens · Waldkirch, DE
• Gottfried Hug · Waldkirch, DE
• Stefan Seitz · Windach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 8, 2017
• Grant date: Oct 8, 2019
• Expiry date: Nov 30, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01J2001/448
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A light receiver (50) is provided having a plurality of avalanche photodiode elements (10) that are each biased by a bias above a breakdown voltage and that are thus operated in a Geiger mode to trigger a Geiger current on light reception. The avalanche photodiode elements (10) have a first connector (20, 22, 28a-b) and a second connector (20, 22, 28a-b). A first signal tapping circuit (12) for reading out the avalanche photodiode elements is connected to one of the connectors (20, 22, 28a-b). In this respect, a second signal tapping circuit (12) for reading out the avalanche photodiode elements (10) is connected to the other connector (20, 22, 28a-b).