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US 7,902,570 B2Granted
Apparatus comprising a single photon photodetector having reduced afterpulsing and method therefor
AssigneePrinceton Lightwave, Inc.
InventorsMark Allen Itzler, Rafael Ben-Michael, Sabbir Sajjad Rangwala
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Abstract
A single-photon detector is disclosed that provides reduced afterpulsing without some of the disadvantages for doing so in the prior art. An embodiment of the present invention provides a stimulus pulse to the active area of an avalanche photodetector to stimulate charges that are trapped in energy trap states to detrap. In some embodiments of the present invention, the stimulus pulse is a thermal pulse.
Claims9
An article comprising:
- an avalanche photodetector having a first layer comprising a multiplication region including traps;
- a stimulator comprising a thin-film resistive heater;
- and
- a second layer that is electrically insulating,
- wherein the avalanche photodetector, the heater, and the second layer are monolithically integrated with each other,
- wherein the second layer interposes the first layer and the heater, conducts heat between the heater and the first layer, and electrically insulates the first layer from the heater,
- wherein the stimulator is operatively arranged to provide a pulse of thermal energy to the multiplication region, and
- wherein the thermal energy detraps electrical carriers in the traps of the multiplication region.
5 more elements
An article comprising:
- an avalanche photodetector, wherein the avalanche photodetector is dimensioned and arranged to provide an electrical signal in response to the receipt of a single photon, wherein the avalanche photodetector comprises:
- a first layer comprising a multiplication region including traps;
- a stimulator comprising a thin-film heater;
- and
- a second layer that is electrically insulating,
- wherein the avalanche photodetector, the heater, and the second layer are monolithically integrated with each other,
- wherein the second layer interposes the first layer and the heater, conducts heat between the heater and the first layer, and electrically insulates the first layer from the heater,
- wherein the heater is operatively arranged to provide a pulse of thermal energy to the multiplication region, and
- wherein the thermal energy detraps electrical carriers in the traps of the multiplication region.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.