Abstract:
A photon detection system including a photon detector configured to detect single photons, a signal divider to divide the output signal of the photon detector into a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is substantially identical to the second part, a delay mechanism to delay the second part with respect to the first part, and a combiner to combine the first and delayed second parts of the signal such that the delayed second part is used to cancel periodic variations in the first part of the output signal.
Abstract:
A photon detection system including a photon detector configured to detect single photons, the photon detector being gated such that it produces a periodic output signal and the gating signal having a frequency of at least 50 MHz. The system further includes a combiner for combining the signal from one period with signals from other periods such that periodic variations in the output signal of the detector are suppressed.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a method for adjusting a bias voltage of a SPAD photodiode, comprising successive steps of: applying to the photodiode a first test bias voltage lower than a normal bias voltage applied to the photodiode in a normal operating mode, subjecting the photodiode to photons, reading a first avalanche triggering signal of the photodiode, applying to the photodiode a second test bias voltage, different from the first test bias voltage, subjecting the photodiode to photons, reading a second avalanche triggering signal of the photodiode, increasing the normal bias voltage if the first and second signals indicate that the photodiode did not avalanche trigger, and reducing the normal bias voltage if the first and second signals indicate that the photodiode did avalanche trigger.
Abstract:
Mapping apparatus includes a transmitter, which emits a beam comprising pulses of light, and a scanner, which is configured to scan the beam, within a predefined scan range, over a scene. A receiver receives the light reflected from the scene and to generate an output indicative of a time of flight of the pulses to and from points in the scene. A processor is coupled to control the scanner so as to cause the beam to scan over a selected window within the scan range and to process the output of the receiver so as to generate a 3D map of a part of the scene that is within the selected window.
Abstract:
A system for measuring one or more characteristics of light of a photon energy Eph from a light source, that can be determined from measuring three-photon absorption events, the system comprising: a) a detector having a band gap material characterized by gap energy between 2.1 and 3 times Eph; b) an optical element configured to concentrate a beam of light from the light source on the detector; c) a signal amplifier that amplifies an output signal indicative of when three photons produced by the light source undergo a three-photon absorption event in the band gap material; and d) an analyzer that analyzes the output signal to count or measure a rate of the three-photon absorption events, and determines the one or more characteristics of the light from the light source.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an optical routing module (2) suitable for use in a light microscope (1) for sample inspection simultaneously with a primary light source (10) and a secondary light source (7) of different wavelength. The module (2) comprises a housing mounting first and second polarizing beam splitters PBS1, PBS2 along a primary light beam pathway through the module and having secondary light beam inlet and outlet means (5,6) opposite different ones of the polarizing beam splitters PBS1, PBS2, which have a narrow predetermined operating wavelength range, defined between s- and p-plane transitional wavelengths, which substantially excludes the primary light source wave length band and such that at least one polarizing plane component of each of the secondary light source and a secondary light output from the sample is subjected to a different one of transmission and reflection from that to which the primary light source is subjected at each of the first and second polarizing beam splitters PBS1, PBS2, which are further formed and arranged for defining a secondary light beam pathway from the inlet (5) to the outlet (6) so that the secondary light beam pathway is brought substantially into alignment with an outward leg of said primary beam pathway upstream of the sample by said first polarizing beam splitter PBS1 and is separated back out from a return leg of said primary light beam pathway downstream of the sample by said second polarizing beam splitter PBS2 whereby in use of the module (2) in a light microscope (1), the area of incidence of the secondary light beam with the sample may be monitored via the primary light beam.
Abstract:
An apparatus comprises an array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. Each of the vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers is configured to be a source of light. The apparatus also comprises an optical arrangement configured to receive light from a plurality of the vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers and to output a plurality of light beams.
Abstract:
A photodetection device according to the present disclosure includes: a light-receiving section including a light-receiving element, a first switch, a second switch, and a signal generator, the first switch that couples the light-receiving element to a first node by being turned on, the second switch that applies a predetermined voltage to the first node by being turned on, and the signal generator that generates a pulse signal on the basis of a voltage at the first node; a controller that controls operations of the first switch and the second switch; a detector that detects a timing at which the pulse signal is changed, on the basis of the pulse signal; and an output section that outputs a detection signal corresponding to a detection result by the detector when the second switch is turned on.
Abstract:
An exemplary optical measurement system described herein includes a control circuit configured to output a global bias voltage and a module communicatively coupled to the control circuit. The module includes a light source configured to emit light directed at a target. The module further includes a plurality of detectors configured to detect arrival times for photons of the light after the light is scattered by the target. The module further includes a module control circuit configured to receive the global bias voltage and output a plurality of detector bias voltages based on the global bias voltage. The plurality of detector bias voltages include a respective detector bias voltage for each detector of the plurality of detectors.
Abstract:
An electronic device includes a stack of a first level having a SPAD, a second level having a quench circuit for said SPAD, and a third level having a circuit for processing data generated by said SPAD. A method for making the device includes: a) forming of the first level; b) bonding, on the first level, by molecular bonding, of a stack of layers including a semiconductor layer; and c) forming the quench circuit of the second level in the semiconductor layer.