Programmable SiPM arrays

A light detecting and ranging (LIDAR) system comprising:

• at least one light-emitter device;
• and
• a receiver subsystem, wherein the receiver subsystem comprises:
• a substrate;
• a plurality of light-detecting elements coupled to the substrate;
• a plurality of outputs coupled to the substrate;
• a plurality of electrical components coupled to the substrate, wherein the plurality of electrical components are selectable to control which output of the plurality of outputs is connected to each light-detecting element of the plurality of light-detecting elements and to thereby define a plurality of detectors in the receiver subsystem;
• and
• an aperture array comprising a plurality of apertures, wherein the detectors and the aperture array are aligned so as to define a plurality of receiver channels, wherein each receiver channel comprises a respective detector optically coupled to a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures, and wherein, for each aperture, which light-detecting elements detect light received via the respective aperture is identified and one or more electrical components of the plurality of electrical components is selectively connected or disconnected.

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a device, light via each of a plurality of apertures, wherein the device comprises (i) a plurality of light-detecting elements;
• (ii) a plurality of outputs;
• and (iii) a plurality of electrical components that are selectable to connect the plurality of light-detecting elements to the plurality of outputs by selecting which output of the plurality of outputs is connected to each light-detecting element of the plurality of light-detecting elements to define one or more detectors in the device, wherein the light-detecting elements, the plurality of outputs, and the plurality of electrical components are coupled to a substrate;
• and
• for each aperture, identifying which light-detecting elements detect light received via the respective aperture and selecting one or more electrical components of the plurality of electrical components to electrically connect or disconnect.