PHOTODETECTION DEVICE, SEMICONDUCTOR PHOTODETECTION ELEMENT, AND METHOD FOR DRIVING SEMICONDUCTOR PHOTODETECTION ELEMENT

    公开(公告)号:US20210344864A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-11-04

    申请号:US17258947

    申请日:2019-06-06

    Abstract: Each of a plurality of cells includes at least one avalanche photodiode. A light projecting unit is arranged to project light having a cross-sectional shape whose longitudinal direction corresponds to a first direction. The light projecting unit is arranged to scan the light along a second direction intersecting the first direction such that the reflected light is incident on, among N cell groups each of which includes M cells aligned in a row direction, each cell group or each plurality of cell groups. A controller is arranged to apply, in accordance with the incidence of the reflected light, a bias voltage that makes the avalanche photodiode operate in a Geiger mode to each cell group or each plurality of cell groups, and is arranged to read signals from cells included in the cell group or the plurality of cell groups to which the bias voltage has been applied.

    LIGHT DETECTION DEVICE
    2.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20200058821A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-02-20

    申请号:US16346929

    申请日:2017-11-09

    Abstract: A photodetecting device includes a semiconductor substrate including a one-dimensionally distributed plurality of pixels. The photodetecting device includes, for each pixel, a plurality of avalanche photodiodes arranged to operate in Geiger mode, a plurality of quenching resistors electrically connected in series with the respective avalanche photodiodes, and a signal processing unit arranged to process output signals from the plurality of avalanche photodiodes. Light receiving regions of the plurality of avalanche photodiodes are two-dimensionally distributed for each pixel. Each signal processing unit includes a gate grounded circuit and a current mirror circuit electrically connected to the gate grounded circuit. The gate grounded circuit is electrically connected to the plurality of avalanche photodiodes of the corresponding pixel via the plurality of quenching resistors. The current minor circuit is arranged to output a signal corresponding to output signals from the plurality of avalanche photodiodes.

    LIGHT DETECTION DEVICE
    3.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20190334050A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-10-31

    申请号:US16348187

    申请日:2017-11-09

    Abstract: A photodetecting device includes a semiconductor photodetecting element including a plurality of pixels distributed two-dimensionally and a mount substrate including a plurality of signal processing units arranged to process output signals from the corresponding pixels. The semiconductor photodetecting element includes, for each of the pixels, a plurality of avalanche photodiodes arranged to operate in Geiger mode, a plurality of quenching resistors each electrically connected in series with a respective avalanche photodiodes, and a through-electrode electrically connected to the plurality of quenching resistors. Each of the signal processing units includes a current mirror circuit electrically connected to the plurality of avalanche photodiodes via the corresponding through-electrode and arranged to output a signal corresponding to output signals from the plurality of avalanche photodiodes. The number of signal processing units included on the mount substrate is more than the number of light receiving regions in each of the pixels.

    PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION ELEMENT AND PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION MODULE

    公开(公告)号:US20190051767A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-02-14

    申请号:US16064165

    申请日:2016-12-12

    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes: a plurality of pixels that are formed on a common semiconductor substrate and each of which includes an avalanche photodiode; a first line that is formed on the semiconductor substrate, is electrically connected to two or more first pixels included in the plurality of pixels, and collectively extracts output currents from the two or more first pixels; and a second line that is formed on the semiconductor substrate, is electrically connected to two or more second pixels included in the plurality of pixels, and collectively extracts output currents from the two or more second pixels. A light receiving area of each first pixel is larger than a light receiving area of each second pixel.

    LIGHT DETECTION APPARATUS
    5.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20230102241A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-03-30

    申请号:US17801004

    申请日:2021-02-15

    Abstract: In a light detection device, a circuit substrate includes a plurality of signal processing units which process a detection signal output from a corresponding pixel. Light-receiving regions of a plurality of avalanche photodiodes are two-dimensionally arranged for every pixel. In each of the signal processing units, a timing measurement unit measures timing at which light is incident on a corresponding pixel, based on the detection signal. An energy measurement unit measures energy of light incident on a corresponding pixel, based on the detection signal. A storage unit stores a measurement result in the timing measurement unit and the energy measurement unit. A light detection region where a plurality of the pixels are provided and a signal processing region where a plurality of the signal processing units are provided overlap each other at least at a part.

    OPTICAL DEVICE
    6.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20220342206A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-10-27

    申请号:US17763285

    申请日:2020-09-09

    Abstract: In an optical device, a mirror surface is provided in a movable portion. A support portion supports the movable portion through an elastic connection portion. A force generator generates force in the movable portion. A drive controller outputs a drive signal that operates the force generator. The movable portion has a resonance frequency higher than a frequency of the drive signal output from the drive controller in a state before the elastic connection portion is heated. The movable portion swings due to the elastic deformation of the elastic connection portion in response to the force of the force generator. A heat controller acquires a signal that indicates a swing state of the movable portion and performs, based on a phase of the acquired signal, feedback control of heating of the elastic connection portion by a heater.

    PHOTODETECTOR DEVICE
    7.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20210372852A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-12-02

    申请号:US16963303

    申请日:2019-01-24

    Abstract: A photodetector device includes an avalanche photodiode array substrate. A circuit substrate includes time measurement circuits and a clock driver. Each of the time measurement circuit includes a delay line unit, and is arranged to acquire, from an operation result of a delay line, time information indicating timing at which a pulse signal is input from a corresponding avalanche photodiode. The delay line unit is arranged to initiate an operation of the delay line in response to input of the pulse signal to the time measurement circuit, and to stop the operation of the delay line in response to input of a clock signal from a clock driver to the time measurement circuit, and is arranged to detect a time interval shorter than a cycle of the clock signal by the operation of the delay line.

    READOUT CIRCUIT
    8.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20170123082A1

    公开(公告)日:2017-05-04

    申请号:US15335588

    申请日:2016-10-27

    CPC classification number: G01T1/247 G01T1/18 H01L31/02027

    Abstract: A readout circuit for reading out an output current from a photoelectric conversion element which collectively outputs currents generated in a plurality of pixels, each of which includes an avalanche photodiode, includes a current mirror circuit configured to receive the output current and output first and second currents having magnitudes in proportion to the output current, a photon counting circuit configured to count the number of photons incident on the photoelectric conversion element on the basis of the first current, an integral circuit configured to integrate the second current to generate a voltage signal, and a signal processing unit configured to determine a magnitude of light incident on the photoelectric conversion element on the basis of a counting result output from the photon counting circuit and a magnitude of the voltage signal output from the integral circuit.

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