Laser radar imager based on 3D integration of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes with two SOI timing circuit layers
February 6, 2006
Conference Paper
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ISSCC 2006, IEEE Int. Solid-State Circuits Conf., 6-9 February 2006.
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Summary
We have developed focal-plane arrays and laser-radar (ladar) imaging systems based on Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (APDs) integrated with high-speed all-digital CMOS timing circuits. A Geiger-mode APD produces a digital pulse upon detection of a single photon. This pulse is used to stop a fast digital counter in the pixel circuit, thereby measuring photon arrival time. This "photon-to-digital conversion" yields quantum-limited sensitivity and noiseless readout, enabling high-performance ladar systems. Previously reported focal planes, based on bump bonding or epoxy bonding the APDs to foundry chips, had coarse (100um) pixel spacing and 0.5ns timing quantization.