Optical receiver comprising a receiver photodetector integrated with an imaging array
US7643755B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 13, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jan 5, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/118
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A high-speed optical communications cell is integrated at the interior of a two-dimensional imaging array. The combined receiver and imager carries out both photodetection (converting photons to electrons) and circuit functions (e.g. amplifying and integrating the signals from the photodetectors). The high-speed receiver cell comprises a photodetector and a high-speed amplification circuit, providing an electrical output which can follow a rapidly varying optical signal falling on the photodetector. The imaging array comprises an array of photodetectors and readout circuits, providing an electrical representation of the variation of light with position across the receiver surface. The presence of an imaging array surrounding the communications receiver, and in the same plane as it, allows a single optical path to be used for source acquisition and tracking as well as for data reception.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.