Method for determining wavelengths of light incident on a photodetector

A photodetector system for determining a wavelength of incident light, comprising:

• means for determining a current generated in the photodetector in response to incident light;
• means for terminating the incident light;
• means for determining, for a plurality of times subsequent to the termination, a decay current generated by the photodetector;
• and
• means for determining the wavelength of the incident light in response to the determined current, the determined decay current at the plurality of times and a predetermined correspondence between current generated in the photodetector and decay current as a function of wavelength and time.

A method for determining a wavelength of light incident on a semiconductor photodetector, the method comprising:

• irradiating the semiconductor photodetector with light;
• terminating the irradiation of the semiconductor photodetector;
• determining a decay current generated by the semiconductor photodetector for a plurality of times;
• comparing the decay current for the plurality of times to reference decay currents to determine a matched reference decay current;
• and
• determining the wavelength of the light in response to a wavelength associated with the matched reference decay current.

A photodetector system for determining a wavelength of incident light, comprising:

• a photodetector;
• a shutter disposed proximate to the photodetector and adapted for terminating light incident on the photodetector;
• a current sampling module in communication with the photodetector to determine a decay current from the photodetector at a plurality of times;
• and
• a wavelength discrimination module in communication with the shutter and the current sampling module to determine the wavelength of the incident light in response to the decay current at the plurality of times and a predetermined correspondence between the decay current according to wavelength and time.

A method for determining a wavelength of light incident on a plurality of photodetectors configured in a vertical stack, the method comprising:

• determining a current generated in each photodetector in response to the light;
• terminating the light incident on the plurality of photodetectors;
• determining, for a plurality of times subsequent to the termination, a decay current generated by each photodetector;
• and
• determining the wavelength of the light in response to the determined currents, the determined decay currents at the plurality of times and a predetermined correspondence between the currents generated in the photodetectors and the decay currents as a function of wavelength and time.