Dynamic range extension of SPAD-based devices
Assigneeams International AG
InventorsAndré Van Der Avoird, Bobby Daniel, Erik Jan Lous, Jagruth Prasanna Kumar
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Abstract
A radiation-sensitive device is disclosed. The radiation-sensitive device includes: a plurality of single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs), and processing circuitry configured to determine an intensity of incident radiation using at least one of the plurality SPADs. An amount of the SPADs used to determine the intensity of the incident radiation varies in relation to the intensity of the incident radiation. Also disclosed in an associated method of determining an intensity of radiation incident upon such a radiation-sensitive device, and uses of the radiation-sensitive device in an electronic-nose or point-of-care apparatus, or for ambient light sensing.
Claims13
A radiation-sensitive device comprising:
- a plurality of single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs);
- a plurality of counters, wherein each counter of the plurality of counters is associated with an SPAD of the plurality of SPADs and a size of each counter defines a maximum radiation intensity that each SPAD can measure;
- and
- processing circuitry configured to determine an intensity of incident radiation using at least one of the plurality SPADs, wherein an amount of the SPADs used to determine the intensity of the incident radiation varies in relation to the intensity of the incident radiation.
A method of determining an intensity of radiation incident upon a SPAD-based device, the method comprising varying an amount of SPADs used to determine the intensity of the incident radiation in relation to the intensity of the incident radiation, wherein each SPAD is associated with a counter and a size of the counter defines a maximum radiation intensity that each SPAD can measure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.