Discriminating photo counts and dark counts in an avalanche photodiode
US9835490B2 · kind B2 · utility
16Cited by
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22Claims
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Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 29, 2015 |
| Grant date | Dec 5, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 31, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S7/487
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The output of an avalanche photodiode (APD) comprises a “photocurrent” component comprising photon initiated events resulting from the interaction of photons with the APD and a “dark current” component comprising dark carrier events arising in the APD even when the APD is not exposed to light. Differences in the pulse height distributions of photon initiated events and dark carrier initiated events are used to statistically discriminate between photocurrent and dark current components of APD output.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.