Method and apparatus for generating charge from a light pulse
AssigneeSarnoff Corporation
InventorsTaner Dosluoglu, Robert Amantea, Peter Alan Levine, Robin Mark Adrian Dawson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for generating charge from a light pulse. In one example, a light sensor includes an active region for generating an electric charge in response to a light pulse. A drift region is formed within a substrate and receives the electric charge from the light sensor. A spatial charge distribution is produced within the drift region in response to an electric field. The drift region includes an outer edge and an inner edge. The volume of the drift region decreases from the outer edge to the inner edge.
Claims27
An apparatus for generating charge from a light pulse, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a light sensor having an active region for generating an electric charge in response to a light pulse;
- and
- a drift region, formed in said substrate, for receiving said electric charge from said light sensor and producing a spatial charge distribution therein in response to an electric field, said drift region having an outer edge and an inner edge, where a volume of said drift region decreases from said outer edge to said inner edge.
A method of generating charge from a light pulse, comprising:
- generating an electric charge in response to a light pulse;
- injecting said electric charge into a drift region formed in a substrate, said drift region having an outer edge and an inner edge, where a volume of said drift region decreases from said outer edge to said inner edge;
- and
- applying an electric field to said drift region to produce a spatial charge distribution therein.
An apparatus for resolving time-of-arrival of a light pulse, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a light sensor having an active region for generating an electric charge from a light pulse;
- a drift region, formed in said substrate, for receiving said electric charge and producing a spatial charge distribution therein in response to an electric field;
- and
- a control circuit for determining a time-of-arrival of said light pulse in response to a position of said spatial charge distribution within said drift region.
A method for resolving time-of-arrival of a light pulse, comprising:
- generating an electric charge from a light pulse;
- injecting said electric charge into a drift region formed in a substrate;
- applying an electric field to said drift region to produce a spatial charge distribution therein;
- and
- determining a time-of-arrival of said light pulse in response to a position of said spatial charge distribution within said drift region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.