Single photon avalanche diode and array of single photon avalanche diodes
AssigneeAms AG
InventorGeorg Roehrer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A single photon avalanche diode, SPAD, comprises an active area which is arranged to generate a photon triggered avalanche current. A cover is arranged on or above the active area. The cover shields the active area from incident photons. The cover comprises a stack of at least the first and a second metal layer. At least one of the metal layers, e.g. the first metal layer, comprises an aperture. The metal layers are arranged in the stack with respect to an optical axis such as to open an effective aperture along the optical axis. By way of the effective aperture a portion of the active area is exposed to incident photons being incident along the optical axis. The effective aperture is smaller than the aperture arranged in the first metal layer.
Claims15
A single photon avalanche diode, SPAD, comprising:
- an active area arranged to generate a photon-triggered avalanche current,
- a cover arranged on or above the active area and shielding the active area from incident photons;
- wherein:
- the cover comprises a stack of at least a first and a second metal layer,
- at least the first metal layer comprises an aperture,
- the metal layers are arranged with respect to an optical axis such as to open an effective aperture along the optical axis by which a portion of the active area is exposed to incident photons, and
- the effective aperture is smaller than the aperture arranged in the first metal layer.
The SPAD according to wherein the cover and/or active area has circular, rectangular, or polygonal shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.