Avalanche photodiode operating voltage selection algorithm
US8653434B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 8, 2011 |
| Grant date | Feb 18, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 7, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J2001/4466
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An accurate and rapid method for characterizing the performance of an APD and setting its operating voltage Vop to an optimal value uses an on-board LED or other pulsed light source to measure APD responses at different operating voltages Vop. An estimated breakdown voltage Vb is determined by comparing the measured responses, and the Vop is adjusted to a new value at a fixed offset from the estimated Vb. The fixed offset is selected according to ambient light conditions, including the presence or absence of light background noise, and whether the sun is partially or fully in the field of view. The method is iterated until convergence, or until a maximum number of iterations is reached. In embodiments, a plurality of APD's having a common Vop can be adjusted, and the Vop is never set below a minimum value VopBW necessary to meet timing requirements for a missile guidance system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.