Sensing apparatus having a light sensitive detector field
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
InventorsIain Scott, Sam Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensing apparatus includes a sensor and a processor. The sensor includes at least one light sensitive detector. The processor determines a first control value to control a voltage differential across the at least one light sensitive detector, and compares the first control value with a reference value associated with a reference temperature. Based on the comparison, the processor provides adjustment information for adjusting at least one output of the sensing apparatus, and an operating parameter of the sensing apparatus other than the voltage differential.
Claims21
A device comprising:
- a single photon avalanche detector (SPAD);
- a voltage regulator coupled to the SPAD;
- a counter having an input coupled to an output of the SPAD;
- and
- a controller configured to perform a calibration test by:
- modifying a voltage across the SPAD by controlling the voltage regulator to cycle through a plurality of output voltages;
- determining, with the counter, a plurality of counts, wherein each count of the plurality of counts is associated with a respective voltage of the plurality of output voltages;
- selecting a first voltage of the plurality of output voltages based on the plurality of counts;
- compare the first voltage with a reference voltage;
- and
- determining a temperature drift based on the comparison.
A method comprising:
- cycling through a plurality of voltage across a single photon avalanche detector (SPAD);
- determining, with a counter coupled to the SPAD, a plurality of counts, wherein each count of the plurality of counts is associated with a respective voltage of the plurality of voltages;
- selecting a first voltage of the plurality of voltages based on the plurality of counts;
- comparing the first voltage with a reference voltage;
- and
- determining a temperature drift based on the comparison.
A device comprising:
- means for cycling through a plurality of voltage across means for sensing light;
- means for determining a plurality of counts received from the means for sensing light, wherein each count of the plurality of counts is associated with a respective voltage of the plurality of voltages;
- means for selecting a first voltage of the plurality of voltages based on the plurality of counts;
- means for comparing the first voltage with a reference voltage;
- and
- means for determining a temperature drift based on the comparison.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.