Patent · US Active

Photon detection device

US7547889B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
3References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 14, 2008
Grant dateJun 16, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 14, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01T1/20184
  • WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The present invention discloses a photon detection device that is adapted to detect at least one packet of photons. The photon detection device may include a photon-sensitive element having an output, an amplifier; and a non-linear feedback (NLF) element. The photon-sensitive element generates charges upon the engagement of at least one photon packet therewith. An increase from a first number of charges in the photon-sensitive element to a second number of charges, results in a corresponding increase of a first reset time required to reset the first number of charges to a respective second reset time required to reset the second number of charges in the photon-sensitive element, whereby the reset time is non-linear to with respect to an increase in the charges. Additional and alternative embodiments are described and claimed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.