Device supporting single photon time position information measurement

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the technical field of time position information measurement, and particularly relates to a device for supporting single photon time position information measurement, which comprises a control circuit board and further comprises a gating generation circuit used for enabling gating trigger signals collected by the control circuit board to generate gating signals through the gating generation circuit, one end of the control circuit board is electrically connected with the gating generation circuit; and the single-photon diode is used for outputting an avalanche signal after receiving the single photon, and one end of the gating generation circuit is electrically connected with the single-photon diode. The single-photon-level time position measuring device can realize single-photon-level time position measurement, not only can be used for traditional laser measurement, but also can be suitable for leading-edge technical fields of quantum secret communication, quantum radar, single-photon imaging, single-photon cameras and the like.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to time position information measurement technical field, concretely to a kind of device of single-photon time position information measurement. BACKGROUND

[0002] Time position information measurement technology has wide application scenarios, it is usually through measuring the time difference between light emission and reception to calculate distance or construct three-dimensional scene technology, which can be used for laser ranging, autonomous driving and industrial robots, consumer electronics and smart devices and other scenarios.

[0003] But traditional measurement mode can be through strong light to range or through sound wave, radio wave, millimeter wave and so on mode realizes, for example Figure 6 As shown in the TOF technology, it is usually controlled by control circuit to control laser source to emit light, and after emitting light, it is reflected on obstacle and enters photoelectric detection module;The time interval t of trigger signal and return signal is measured in control circuit, so that the distance L between light source and obstacle can be calculated =c*t / 2;Wherein c is the speed of light. Based on the above, the traditional measurement mode has the problems of limited range and precision of measurement. Therefore, a kind of device of single-photon time position information measurement is invented. UTILITY MODEL CONTENT

[0004] To solve the above technical problems, according to one aspect of the utility model, the utility model provides the following technical scheme:

[0005] A kind of device of single-photon time position information measurement, it includes control circuit board, still include:

[0006] Gate generation circuit, for making control circuit board collected gate trigger signal pass through gate generation circuit to generate gate signal, and one end of control circuit board is electrically connected with gate generation circuit;

[0007] Single-photon diode, for outputting avalanche signal after receiving single photon, and one end of gate generation circuit is electrically connected with single-photon diode;

[0008] Free running single-photon detection circuit, for outputting single-photon detection count pulse signal after receiving avalanche signal, and one end of single-photon diode is electrically connected with free running single-photon detection circuit;

[0009] Clock distributor, for outputting single-photon detection pulse for user to measure, Stop signal for time position information measurement and detection pulse signal for detection count statistics after receiving single-photon detection count pulse signal, and one end of free running single-photon detection circuit is electrically connected with clock distributor;

[0010] A start signal generation circuit is used to generate a start signal from a user inputted electrical signal or optical signal;

[0011] A TDC module or chip is used to measure the time position information of the start signal and the stop signal, and the TDC module or chip is electrically connected with the clock distributor and the start signal generation circuit.

[0012] As a preferred scheme of the device for supporting single photon time position information measurement, one end of the control circuit board is electrically connected with the user communication interface through a communication interface.

[0013] As a preferred scheme of the device for supporting single photon time position information measurement, the control circuit board is electrically connected with the free-running single photon detection circuit, so as to control the free-running single photon detection circuit.

[0014] As a preferred scheme of the device for supporting single photon time position information measurement, one end of the control circuit board is electrically connected with the clock distributor, so as to transmit the detection pulse signal to the control circuit board.

[0015] As a preferred scheme of the device for supporting single photon time position information measurement, the control circuit board is electrically connected with the TDC module or chip through a communication interface, so as to transmit the measurement result of the TDC module or chip to the control circuit board.

[0016] As a preferred scheme of the device for supporting single photon time position information measurement, the free-running single photon detection circuit comprises:

[0017] A low-noise amplifier is used to amplify the avalanche signal, and the low-noise amplifier is electrically connected with the single photon diode;

[0018] A filter is used to filter the signal amplified by the low-noise amplifier, and the filter is electrically connected with the low-noise amplifier;

[0019] A high-speed comparator is used to digitize the analog signal filtered by the filter, and the high-speed comparator is electrically connected with the filter;

[0020] A pulse width control circuit is used to convert the signal passed through the high-speed comparator into a single photon detection counting pulse signal, and the pulse width control circuit is electrically connected with the clock distributor.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the device for supporting single photon time position information measurement has the following advantages:

[0022] Through the user communication interface, the control circuit board, the gate generation circuit, the single photon diode, the free running single photon detection circuit, the clock distributor, the Start signal generation circuit and the TDC module or chip, single photon level time position measurement can be realized, which can be used not only in traditional laser measurement, but also in quantum secure communication, quantum radar, single photon imaging, single photon camera and other frontier technical fields; in addition, the measurement range and precision can be improved to a certain extent. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 It is a whole frame schematic view of the utility model;

[0024] Figure 2 It is a free running single photon detection circuit schematic view of the utility model;

[0025] Figure 3 It is a Start signal generation circuit schematic view of the utility model;

[0026] Figure 4 It is a multi-path Stop signal schematic view of the utility model;

[0027] Figure 5 It is a multi-path single photon time position information measurement device schematic view of the utility model;

[0028] Figure 6 It is a traditional TOF technical principle schematic view.

[0029] In the drawing: user communication interface 1, control circuit board 2, gate generation circuit 3, single photon diode 4, free running single photon detection circuit 5, clock distributor 6, Start signal generation circuit 7, TDC module or chip 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and advantages of the utility model more clear, the following will combine with the drawing to make the embodiment of the utility model further detailed description.

[0031] The utility model provides a kind of device for supporting single photon time position information measurement, please refer to Figures 1-5 ;Including:

[0032] User communication interface 1: one end of the control circuit board 2 is electrically connected user communication interface 1 by communication interface;

[0033] Wherein, the physical interface of user communication interface 1 can be standard USB interface, network interface, serial port, PCIE interface, SFP optical interface and other physical forms;In addition, user communication interface 1 has the following functions:

[0034] 1. Can be used to read the measurement results of the single photon time position information collected by the TDC module or chip;

[0035] 2. Can be used to read the detection counts per unit time of the free running single photon detector counted in the control circuit board (the total number of detection counts can be 1s, 1min or other time);

[0036] 3. The user communication interface can be used to configure the parameters of the free running single photon detection circuit, and change the performance indicators of the free running single photon detector, such as detection efficiency, dark count, after-pulse probability, etc.

[0037] 4. The user communication interface can be used to read the working state information of the free running single photon detector.

[0038] Control circuit board 2: the control circuit board 2 and the free running single photon detection circuit 5 are electrically connected to control the free running single photon detection circuit 5; one end of the control circuit board 2 is electrically connected to the clock distributor 6 to transmit the detection pulse signal to the control circuit board 2; the control circuit board 2 and the TDC module or chip 8 are electrically connected through the communication interface to transmit the measurement results of the TDC module or chip 8 to the control circuit board 2;

[0039] Among them, the control circuit board 2 has the following functions:

[0040] 1. The detection pulse signal output by the clock distributor is given to the control circuit board, and the control circuit board can realize the counter function inside it, so that the number of pulse counts output by the free running single photon detector per unit time can be counted;

[0041] 2. The data information output by the TDC module or chip communication interface is given to the control circuit board, and the control circuit board can perform protocol analysis, and then output a standard protocol format data to the user through the user communication interface for data analysis (the data can include protocol frame header, frame tail information, time position information between TDC module Stat and one or more Stop signals, etc.);

[0042] 3. The control circuit board can control the free running single photon detection circuit, such as controlling the discrimination level value of the comparator in the free running single photon detection circuit; it can also control the external working state circuit of the single photon diode, such as controlling the bias voltage and working temperature required by the single photon diode outside;

[0043] 4. The control circuit board can support the user to output a gate trigger signal, and the control circuit board collects the gate trigger signal and outputs a gate signal to the single photon diode through the gate generation circuit, so as to change the working mode of the single photon diode from free running to gated mode.

[0044] The gate generation circuit 3 is used for generating a gate signal through the gate generation circuit 3 for the gate trigger signal collected by the control circuit board 2, and one end of the control circuit board 2 is electrically connected to the gate generation circuit 3.

[0045] The single photon diode 4 is used for outputting an avalanche signal after receiving a single photon, and one end of the gate generation circuit 3 is electrically connected to the single photon diode 4.

[0046] The principle of the single photon diode 4 is as follows:

[0047] The single photon diode 4 is mainly used for single photon detection function; it works in Geiger mode, and an external bias voltage needs to be added to it; when it receives a single photon, it outputs an avalanche signal to the free running single photon detection circuit; at the same time, since the single photon diode receives a single photon signal, an avalanche circuit is generated, and then a voltage drop is generated in the sampling resistor inside the single photon diode, so that the voltage drop between the two ends of the single photon diode is reduced for quenching.

[0048] The free running single photon detection circuit 5 is used for outputting a single photon detection counting pulse signal after receiving an avalanche signal, and one end of the single photon diode 4 is electrically connected to the free running single photon detection circuit 5.

[0049] The free running single photon detection circuit 5 includes: a low noise amplifier for amplifying the avalanche signal, and the low noise amplifier is electrically connected to the single photon diode 4; a filter for filtering the signal through the low noise amplifier, and the filter is electrically connected to the low noise amplifier; a high-speed comparator for digitizing the analog signal through the filter, and the high-speed comparator is electrically connected to the filter; a pulse width control circuit for converting the signal through the high-speed comparator into a single photon detection counting pulse signal, and the pulse width control circuit is electrically connected to the clock distributor 6.

[0050] The principle of the free running single photon detection circuit 5 is as follows:

[0051] After the avalanche signal output by the single photon diode is sent to the free running single photon detection circuit, the circuit mainly filters and amplifies the avalanche signal and then outputs the analog signal to a high-speed comparator for digital processing, so that a standard digital pulse signal is output; the free running single photon detection circuit first receives the avalanche signal and sends it to a low-noise amplifier for amplification; then the weak avalanche signal is filtered by a filter, which mainly filters signals such as power supply ripple; the filtered signal is sent to a high-speed comparator to output a standard digital signal, but the pulse width of the digital signal is strongly related to the avalanche signal, and the pulse width is uncertain; the uncertain digital signal after comparison is sent to a pulse width control circuit to output a standard width pulse signal (such as a 10ns pulse width LVTTL signal), so that a single photon detection counting pulse signal is obtained.

[0052] The clock distributor 6 is used for outputting a single photon detection pulse for measurement by a user, a Stop signal for time position information measurement, and a detection pulse signal for detection count statistics after receiving the single photon detection counting pulse signal, and one end of the free running single photon detection circuit 5 is electrically connected to the clock distributor 6.

[0053] The principle of the clock distributor 6 is as follows:

[0054] The single photon detection counting pulse signal can output multiple identical signals through the clock distributor (of course, in actual work, the single photon detection counting pulse signal can be directly output to a TDC module or chip as a STOP signal without the clock distributor), a first signal (single photon detection pulse) can be used by the user to view the single photon detection pulse information; a second Stop signal is sent to the TDC module or chip for time position information measurement, and a third detection pulse signal is sent to the control circuit board for detection count statistics; in addition, the clock distributor can also output 2, 4 or other numbers of signals in the utility model.

[0055] The Start signal generation circuit 7 is used for generating a Start signal from an electrical signal or an optical signal input by a user.

[0056] The principle of the Start signal generation circuit 7 is as follows:

[0057] The Start signal generation circuit can be a standard electrical signal input by the user directly to the TDC module or chip as a Start signal, or an optical signal, which is converted into an electrical signal by the Start signal generation circuit and then sent to the TDC module as a Start signal. Figure 3 As shown in the figure, if the user uses an optical signal as a reference Start signal, the utility model also supports converting the optical signal into a standard electrical signal to the TDC module or chip.

[0058] TDC module or chip 8: for the measurement of the time position information of the Start signal and the Stop signal, and the TDC module or chip 8 is electrically connected with the clock distributor 6 and the Start signal generation circuit 7;

[0059] Wherein, the principle of the TDC module or chip 8 is as follows:

[0060] The TDC module or chip 8 can place its functions in the control circuit board by FPGA; the TDC module or chip mainly realizes the measurement of the time position information of the Start signal and the Stop signal, and sends the measurement results to the control circuit board through the communication interface;

[0061] In addition, the Stop of the TDC in the utility model can be one-way or multi-way; when it is one-way, the time position information measurement between single photons and the reference Start signal in a single way can be realized, which can be used for single photon ranging in quantum radar; when the stop of the TDC is multi-way, the time position information measurement between the Start signal and the multi-way Stop signal (in this case, the input of the multi-way free-running single photon detection counting pulse is required) can be realized, which can be used for quantum secure communication, single photon imaging, single photon camera and other applications;

[0062] According to Figure 4 And Figure 5 It can be known that in the multi-way single photon time position information measurement device, not only the time position information between the Start signal and any one-way single photon can be measured, but also the time position information between any two-way or multi-way single photons can be measured through conversion.

[0063] Although the utility model has been described in the foregoing with reference to the embodiments, various improvements can be made and equivalent parts can be replaced without departing from the scope of the utility model. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, each feature in the disclosed embodiments of the utility model can be combined with each other in any way, and the combinations are not described exhaustively in the specification only for the consideration of omitting the length and saving resources. Therefore, the utility model is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus supporting single-photon time-of- flight information measurement, comprising a control circuit board (2), characterized in that Also included are: a gate generation circuit (3) for making the gate trigger signal collected by the control circuit board (2) pass through the gate generation circuit (3) to generate a gate signal, and one end of the control circuit board (2) is electrically connected to the gate generation circuit (3); a single photon diode (4) for outputting an avalanche signal after receiving a single photon, and one end of the gate generation circuit (3) is electrically connected to the single photon diode (4); a free-running single photon detection circuit (5) for outputting a single photon detection count pulse signal after receiving the avalanche signal, and one end of the single photon diode (4) is electrically connected to the free-running single photon detection circuit (5); a clock distributor (6) for outputting a single photon detection pulse for user measurement, a Stop signal for time position information measurement, and a detection pulse signal for detection count statistics after receiving the single photon detection count pulse signal, and one end of the free-running single photon detection circuit (5) is electrically connected to the clock distributor (6); a Start signal generation circuit (7) for generating a Start signal from a user input electrical signal or optical signal; a TDC module or chip (8) for measuring the time position information of the Start signal and the Stop signal, and the TDC module or chip (8) is electrically connected to the clock distributor (6) and the Start signal generation circuit (7).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, One end of the control circuit board (2) is electrically connected to the user communication interface (1) through a communication interface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The control circuit board (2) and the free-running single photon detection circuit (5) are electrically connected to enable control of the free-running single photon detection circuit (5).

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, One end of the control circuit board (2) is electrically connected to the clock distributor (6) to enable the transmission of the detection pulse signal to the control circuit board (2).

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The control circuit board (2) and the TDC module or chip (8) are electrically connected through a communication interface to enable the transmission of the measurement results of the TDC module or chip (8) to the control circuit board (2).

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The free-running single photon detection circuit (5) includes: a low-noise amplifier for amplifying the avalanche signal, and the low-noise amplifier is electrically connected to the single photon diode (4); a filter for filtering the signal passing through the low-noise amplifier, and the filter is electrically connected to the low-noise amplifier; a high-speed comparator for digitizing the analog signal passing through the filter, and the high-speed comparator is electrically connected to the filter; a pulse width control circuit for converting the signal passing through the high-speed comparator into a single photon detection count pulse signal, and the pulse width control circuit is electrically connected to the clock distributor (6).

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