System for gated detection of optical pulses containing a small number of photons using an avalanche photodiode
US6218657A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 15, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 17, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 15, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J1/46
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An avalanche-type detector circuit includes an avalanche-type photon detector device, a coupling capacitor, a bias network, a first transmission line and a second transmission line. The coupling capacitor has a first terminal that is coupled to a first terminal of the avalanche-type photon detector device. A first terminal of the bias network is coupled to the first terminal of the avalanche-type photon detector device, while a second terminal of the bias network is coupled to a bias voltage so that the avalanche-type photon detector device is reverse biased. A first end of the first transmission line is coupled to a second terminal of the coupling capacitor, and second end of the first transmission line is terminated by an open-circuit termination. A first end of the second transmission line is coupled to a second terminal of the avalanche-type photon detector device. The second end of the second transmission line is terminated by a short-circuit termination. A bias pulse voltage V.sub.pulse is coupled to the second terminal of the coupling capacitor such that the bias pulse voltage reverse biases the avalanche-type photon detector device to be greater than a reverse breakdown vol…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.