Photon sensing with threshold detection using capacitor-based comparator
US11181419B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 9, 2018 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J2001/4466
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A threshold detection circuit includes a plurality of capacitors. A plurality of switching circuits is coupled to the capacitors such that a first end of each of the capacitors is coupled to a corresponding photon sensor during detection intervals, and the first end of each capacitor is coupled to a variable initialization value during reset intervals. A threshold number of the capacitors are initialized to a first value and the remaining capacitors are initialized to a second value during reset intervals. A comparator is coupled to a second of the capacitors to generate a detection event in response to the threshold number of photon sensors sensing one or more incident photons during detection intervals.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.