Light receiver and method for reading out avalanche photodiodes in Geiger mode

US10612972B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SICK AG · DE

Inventors

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

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 19, 2017
• Grant date: Apr 7, 2020
• Expiry date: Jun 8, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04B10/691
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A light receiver (100), comprising:a plurality of avalanche photodiode elements (10) each being biased with a bias voltage above a breakdown voltage and thus operated in a Geiger mode in order to trigger a Geiger current upon light receptionand a plurality of readout circuits (42, 44, 46) associated with individual avalanche photodiode elements (10) or a group of avalanche photodiode elements (10) for reading out a Geiger current generated upon light reception,wherein the readout circuits (42, 44, 46) each comprise a measurement path (42) and a blanking path (46) as well as a switching element (44) for selectively supplying the Geiger current, or a measurement current corresponding to the Geiger current, to the measurement path (42) or the blanking path (46).