Method and apparatus for providing non-linear, passive quenching of avalanche currents in Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes
US7361882B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 2005 |
| Grant date | Apr 22, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 16, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J1/44
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing non-linear, passive quenching of avalanche currents in Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (APDs) is provided. A non-linear, passive, current-limiting device is connected in series with the APD and a bias source. The non-linear, passive, current-limiting device rapidly quenches avalanche currents generated by the APD in response to an input photon and resets the APD for detecting additional photons, using a minimal number of components. The non-linear, passive, current-limiting device could comprise a field-effect transistor (FET), as well as a junction FET (JFET) a metal-oxide semiconductor FET (MOSFET), or a current-limiting diode (CLD) connected in series with the APD and the bias source.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.