Pixel circuit with controlled capacitor discharge time of flight measurement

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 9171985
APP PUB NO 20140124652A1
SERIAL NO

14066771

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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A pixel circuit includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) and a measurement circuit including a capacitance. The SPAD detects an incident photon and the measurement circuit discharges the capacitance at a known rate during a discharge time period. The length of the discharge time period is determined by the time of detection of the photon, such that the final amount of charge on the capacitance corresponds to the time of flight of the photon. The pixel circuit may be included in a time resolved imaging apparatus. A method of measuring the time of flight of a photon includes responding to an incident photon detection by discharging a capacitance at a known rate and correlating final capacitance charge to time of flight.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITEDPLANAR HOUSE PARKWAY GLOBE PARK MARLOW - BUCKINGHAMSHIRE SL7 1YL
THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGHEDINBURGH EH8 9YL

International Classification(s)

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Dutton, Neale Edinburgh, GB 52 536
Henderson, Robert K Edinburgh, GB 11 371

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