# US 12,183,837 B2 · Detector for detecting charged particles or light > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,183,837 B2 - Document ID: US12183837B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/445,969 - Filed: 2021-08-26 - Published: 2022-05-26 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-20 - Assignees: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. - Applicants: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. - Inventors: Sayaka Takatsuka; Hiroshi Kobayashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12183837B2 ## CPC - H10F 77/959: {for devices working in avalanche mode} - H10F 30/225: the potential barrier working in avalanche mode, e.g. avalanche photodiodes - H10F 77/20: Electrodes - H01J 49/025: {Detectors specially adapted to particle spectrometers (data acquisition H01J49/0036; detectors per se G01T, e.g. G01T1/28, G01T1/29)} - H01J 49/068: {Mounting, supporting, spacing, or insulating electrodes} - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) ## Abstract An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a detector that includes an AD and detects charged particles or light, and enables speeding up of response of the detector without changing a structure of the AD that limits the response of the detector. A drive circuit of the AD includes a first capacitor and a first resistor. Both the first capacitor and the first resistor are connected in series to the AD in a state where both terminals are set to have the same potential. This configuration reduces the apparent capacitance of the AD and speeds up the response of the entire detector including the drive circuit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A detector for detecting charged particles or light, the detector comprising: an avalanche diode having a first electrode electrically connected to a power supply terminal having a first reference potential different from a ground potential, a second electrode electrically connected to a signal output terminal, and an electron incidence plane on which electrons generated due to the charged particles, photoelectrons generated due to the light, or electrons generated by multiplication of the photoelectrons are incident; and a drive circuit configured to drive the avalanche diode, wherein the drive circuit includes: a first capacitor disposed on wiring between the power supply terminal and the first electrode of the avalanche diode, the first capacitor having a first terminal electrically connected to the power supply terminal, and a second terminal which is different from the first terminal of the first capacitor and electrically connected to the first electrode of the avalanche diode; and a first resistor connected in parallel with the first capacitor, the first resistor having a first terminal which is electrically connected to the first terminal of the first capacitor and has a same potential as a potential of the first terminal of the first capacitor, and a second terminal which is electrically connected to the second terminal of the first capacitor and has a same potential as a potential of the second terminal of the first capacitor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The detector according to claim 1, wherein a capacitance of the first capacitor is ten times or less a capacitance of the avalanche diode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The detector according to claim 2, wherein a capacitance of the first capacitor is equal to or less than a capacitance of the avalanche diode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The detector according to claim 1, wherein a resistance value of the first resistor is 30 kδ or more and 500 kΩ or less. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The detector according to claim 1, wherein the signal output terminal is electrically connected to wiring between the second electrode of the avalanche diode and a node having a second reference potential different from the first reference potential, and the drive circuit further includes a second capacitor having a first terminal electrically connected to both the first terminal of the first capacitor and the first terminal of the first resistor, and a second terminal having a same potential as a potential of the node. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The detector according to claim 1, wherein the drive circuit further includes a third capacitor as an AC coupler disposed on wiring between the signal output terminal and the second electrode of the avalanche diode, and the third capacitor has a first terminal electrically connected to the second electrode of the avalanche diode and a second terminal electrically connected to the signal output terminal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The detector according to claim 1 further comprising: a microchannel plate having an input plane on which the charged particles are incident and an output plane from which the electrons generated due to the charged particles are emitted; and a focus electrode, wherein the electrons emitted from the output plane of the microchannel plate are focused by the focus electrode, and then incident on the electron incidence plane of the avalanche diode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The detector according to claim 1 further comprising: a photoelectric conversion unit configured to convert the light into the photoelectrons, wherein the photoelectrons or the electrons generated by multiplication of the photoelectrons are incident on the electron incidence plane of the avalanche diode. ### Claim 9 A detector for detecting charged particles or light, the detector comprising: an avalanche diode having a first electrode electrically connected to a power supply terminal having a first reference potential different from a ground potential, a second electrode electrically connected to a signal output terminal, and an electron incidence plane on which electrons generated due to the charged particles, photoelectrons generated due to the light, or electrons generated by multiplication of the photoelectrons are incident; and a drive circuit configured to drive the avalanche diode, wherein the drive circuit includes: a first capacitor disposed on wiring located between the second electrode of the avalanche diode and a node having a second reference potential different from the first reference potential, the wiring electrically connected to the signal output terminal, the first capacitor having a first terminal electrically connected to the second electrode of the avalanche diode, and a second terminal while which is different from the first terminal of the first capacitor and electrically connected to the signal output terminal; a second capacitor having a first terminal electrically connected to the first electrode of the avalanche diode, and a second terminal which is different from the first terminal of the second capacitor and has a same potential as a potential of the node; and a first resistor connected in parallel with the first capacitor, the first resistor having a first terminal which is electrically connected to the first terminal of the first capacitor and has a same potential as a potential of the first terminal of the first capacitor, and a second terminal which is different from the first terminal of the first resistor, and the second terminal of the first resistor is electrically connected to the second terminal of the first capacitor so as to have a same potential as a potential of the second terminal of the first capacitor, or the second terminal of the first resistor is electrically connected to the second terminal of the second capacitor so as to have a same potential as a potential of the second terminal of the second capacitor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The detector according to claim 9, wherein a capacitance of the first capacitor is ten times or less a capacitance of the avalanche diode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The detector according to claim 9, wherein a capacitance of the first capacitor is equal to or less than a capacitance of the avalanche diode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The detector according to claim 9, wherein a resistance value of the first resistor is 30 kΩ or more and 500 kΩ or less. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The detector according to claim 9 further comprising: a microchannel plate having an input plane on which the charged particles are incident and an output plane from which the electrons generated due to the charged particles are emitted; and a focus electrode, wherein the electrons emitted from the output plane of the microchannel plate are focused by the focus electrode, and then incident on the electron incidence plane of the avalanche diode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The detector according to claim 9 further comprising: a photoelectric conversion unit configured to convert the light into the photoelectrons, wherein the photoelectrons or the electrons generated by multiplication of the photoelectrons are incident on the electron incidence plane of the avalanche diode.