Photodetector Systems with Low-Power Time-to-Digital Converter Architectures to determine an arrival time of photon at a photodetector based on event detection time window

Abstract

An exemplary photodetector system includes a photodetector and a time-to-digital converter (TDC) coupled to the photodetector. The TDC is configured to receive, during a predetermined event detection time window that commences in response to an application of a light pulse to a target, a signal triggered by an event in which the photodetector detects a photon of the light pulse after the light pulse reflects from the target. The TDC is further configured to enable, in response to the receiving the signal, a gated ring oscillator (GRO) of the TDC, measure, using the GRO, a time interval between when the event occurred and an end of the predetermined event detection time window, and determine, based on the time interval and the predetermined event detection time window, an arrival time of the photon at the photodetector.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 906,620 filed Sep. 26, 2019, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 858,029 filed Jun. 6, 2019. These applications are incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties.BACKGROUND INFORMATION[0002]Detecting neural activity in the brain is useful for medical diagnostics, imaging, neuroengineering, brain-computer interfacing, and a variety of other diagnostic and consumer-related applications. For example, it may be desirable to detect neural activity in the brain of a patient to determine if a particular region of the brain has been impacted by reduced blood irrigation, a hemorrhage, or any other type of damage. As another example, it may be desirable to detect neural activity in the brain of a user and computationally decode the detected neural activity into commands that can be used to control various types of consumer ele...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to two provisional patent applications, namely, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 906,620 filed Sep. 26, 2019, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 858,029 filed Jun. 6, 2019. The patent describes a photodetector system with a low-power TDC (Low-power TDC) architecture that can detect neural activity in the brain using a non-invasive detector. The system includes a photodetector, a TDC, and a control circuit. The TDC converts the time it takes for a photon to be detected by the photodetector into a digital representation. The control circuit determines the arrival time of the photon at the photodetector and uses this information to detect neural activity in the brain. The TDC architectures described herein may conserve power and reduce power consumption compared to conventional systems. The technical effects of this patent are the improved detection and control of neural activity in the brain using a non-invasive detector with low-power TDC architecture.

Problems solved by technology

However, synchronizing TDCs and / or components of TDCs may consume a relatively high amount of power.

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