Optical detection device for detecting an intensity of a light beam and for detecting data transmitted by the light beam

US7009165B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Föderung der Wissenschaften e.V. · US
• Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Ingo Hehemann · Duisburg, DE
• Werner Brockherde · Duisburg, DE
• Armin Kemna · Duisburg, DE
• Holger Hofmann · Bad Mergentheim, DE
• Hartmut Richter · Villingen-Schwenningen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 19, 2004
• Grant date: Mar 7, 2006
• Expiry date: Nov 19, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G11B7/126
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An optical detection device for detecting an intensity of a light beam in a detection window and for detecting data transmitted by the light beam includes a first detection diode and an array of at least two second detection diodes in a detection window. In addition, provision is made for a first readout circuit connectable to the first detection diode, for reading out the first detection diode at a first readout speed to detect the data, and for a second readout circuit connectable to the second detection diodes, for reading out the second detection diodes at a second readout speed smaller than the first readout speed, so as to detect the intensity of the light beam. A fundamental consideration underlying the present invention is that although the provision of additional detection diodes in the detection window initially is associated with additional expense and a reduction of the surface area of the detection window which may effectively be utilized for data detection, these disadvantages are outweighed however, by the fact that this array of additional detection diodes in the detection window enables more effective and/or less expensive control of the alignment of the light beam…