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US 10,760,963 B2Granted
Method for electromagnetic energy sensing and a circuit arrangement
Assigneeams International AG
InventorGregg Kodra
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circuit arrangement comprises a photo detector (2) for detecting electromagnetic energy and a signal generating means (4, 6, 12, 16) being suitable for generating a sequence of events wherein an event interval of the sequence depends on the detected electromagnetic energy. The signal generating means (4, 6, 12, 16) is coupled downstream of the photo detector (2). A counting means (30, 32, 34, 36) for measuring a time period until a given number of events has been generated is coupled downstream of the signal generating means (4, 6, 12, 16).
Claims12
A method for electromagnetic energy sensing comprising:
- detecting electromagnetic energy, wherein detecting electromagnetic energy comprises converting the electromagnetic energy into a current,
- generating a sequence of events, wherein successive events of the sequence of events are separated in time by an event interval, wherein the event interval depends on the detected electromagnetic energy, and wherein generating the sequence of events comprises:
- integrating the current by charging a capacitor, and
- responsive to the integrated current reaching or exceeding a given threshold:
- generating one event, and
- discharging the capacitor,
- measuring a time period until a given number of events has been generated, wherein measuring the time period comprises counting a number of the events and comparing the counted number with the given value stored in a register, wherein the given number of events is greater than one, and
- providing the time period as an output value.
5 more elements
A circuit arrangement comprising:
- a photo detector operable to detect electromagnetic energy, wherein detecting electromagnetic energy comprises converting the electromagnetic energy into a current,
- a signal generating circuit operable to generate a sequence of events, wherein successive events of the sequence of events are separated in time by an event interval, wherein the event interval depends on the detected electromagnetic energy, wherein the signal generating circuit is coupled downstream of the photo detector, and
- wherein generating the sequence of events comprises:
- integrating the current by charging a capacitor, and
- responsive to the integrated current reaching or exceeding a given threshold:
- generating one event, and
- discharging the capacitor, and
- a counting circuit operable to measure a time period until a given number of events has been generated, wherein measuring the time period comprises counting a number of the events and comparing the counted number with the given value stored a register.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.