POSITION-SENSITIVE READOUT MODES FOR DIGITAL SILICON PHOTOMULTIPLIER ARRAYS

摘要

A photon detector (10) includes a detector array (12) comprising single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors (14) configured to break down responsive to impingement of a photon. Trigger circuitry (34) is configured to generate a trigger signal responsive to break down of a SPAD detector of the detector array. Latches (20, 22) are configured to store position coordinates of SPAD detectors of the detector array that are in break down. The latches are configured to latch responsive to a trigger signal generated by the trigger circuitry. The latches may include row latches (22) each connecting with a logical “OR” combination of SPAD detectors of a corresponding row of the detector array, and column latches (20) each connecting with a logical “OR” combination of SPAD detectors of a corresponding column of the detector array. Time to digital converter (TDC) circuitry (28) may generate a digital time stamp for the trigger signal.