Back to results
US 12,372,398 B2Granted
Circuitry and methods of operating a photodiode
AssigneeNewSouth Innovations Pty Limited
InventorsYuan Wei, Torsten Lehmann, Leonardo Silvestri
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a photodiode and, in particular, to operating a photodiode in a zero-mode operation, where the photodiode operates at either zero current or zero voltage. Accordingly, there is provided a circuit configured for detecting light, including a photodiode; and a circuit configured for operating the photodiode at zero-mode.
Claims20
A circuit configured for detecting light with fluctuating light power, comprising:
- a photodiode configured for detecting the light with fluctuating light power,
- an amplifier;
- and
- a control system configured to:
- determine an average output voltage of the amplifier over a period of time;
- and
- control an input to the photodiode based on the average output voltage of the amplifier that was determined to shift an operating point of the photodiode to zero-mode,
- wherein the circuit is configured for operating the photodiode at the zero-mode for certain light power, wherein the certain light power falls within the fluctuating light power of the detected light,
- wherein, in the zero-mode, the photodiode operates at zero current.
6 more elements
A circuit configured for detecting light with fluctuating light power, comprising:
- a photodiode coupled to an amplifier, wherein the photodiode is configured to detect the light with fluctuating light power;
- and
- a control system configured to control a bias voltage provided to the amplifier,
- wherein the amplifier is configured to receive the bias voltage and a current of the photodiode, such that the bias voltage shifts an operating point of the photodiode to a zero-mode,
- wherein the circuit is configured for operating the photodiode at zero-mode for certain light power, wherein the certain light power falls within the fluctuating light power of the detected light, and
- wherein, in the zero-mode, the photodiode operates at zero current.
3 more elements
A circuit configured for detecting light with fluctuating light power, comprising:
- a photodiode configured for detecting the light with fluctuating light power,
- a capacitor;
- and
- an amplifier,
- wherein a first input of the amplifier is electrically connected to the photodiode via the capacitor and a second input of the amplifier is electrically connected to a reference voltage,
- wherein the circuit is configured for operating the photodiode at a zero-mode for certain light power, wherein the certain light power falls within the fluctuating light power of the detected light, and
- wherein, in the zero-mode, the photodiode operates at zero current.
4 more elements
A circuit configured for detecting light with fluctuating light power, comprising:
- a photodiode configured for detecting the light with fluctuating light power,
- wherein the circuit comprises an inductor that is in parallel with the photodiode,
- wherein the circuit is configured for operating the photodiode at a zero-mode for certain light power, wherein the certain light power falls within the fluctuating light power of the detected light, and
- wherein, in the zero-mode, the photodiode operates at zero current.
1 more element
A circuit configured for detecting light, comprising:
- a photodiode configured for detecting the light with fluctuating light power;
- an inductor;
- and
- an amplifier,
- wherein the inductor is connected in series with the photodiode between a bias voltage and a reference voltage,
- wherein a first input of the amplifier is electrically connected to a point where the photodiode is connected to the inductor, and a second input of the amplifier is electrically connected to the bias voltage, and
- wherein the circuit is configured for operating the photodiode at zero-mode.
4 more elements
A circuit configured for detecting light, comprising:
- a photodiode;
- and
- an amplifier,
- wherein the circuit is configured for operating the photodiode at zero-mode,
- wherein, in the zero-mode, the photodiode operates at zero current,
- wherein the circuit comprises a control system configured to control a bias voltage provided to the photodiode, such that the bias voltage shifts an operating point of the photodiode to the zero-mode,
- wherein a first input of the amplifier is electrically connected to the photodiode and a second input of the amplifier is electrically connected to a reference voltage, and
- wherein the control system is configured to perform operations comprising:
- determining an average output voltage of the amplifier over a period of time and is configured to provide the average output voltage as the bias voltage;
- determining a first bias voltage value and a second bias voltage value corresponding to threshold current values for operating the photodiode at zero-current;
- determining whether a value of the average output voltage is below the first bias voltage value and above the second bias voltage value;
- and
- outputting the average output voltage as the bias voltage if the value of the average output voltage is below the first bias voltage value and above the second bias voltage value.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.