Temporal Photon Binning Circuit for Precise Arrival-Time Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photodetectors lack the capability to accurately measure the timing of incident photons with high resolution, which is essential for applications like molecular detection and nucleic acid sequencing.
Innovation Solution
An integrated photodetector with a photodetection region that produces charge carriers in response to incident photons, and a charge carrier segregation structure that selectively directs these charge carriers into storage regions based on their production times, enabling precise time-domain analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional photodetectors are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision of photon arrival times deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The photodetector is divided into multiple photodetection regions (e.g., first, second, third, and fourth regions) that correspond to different time bins. Each region independently detects photons arriving within specific time windows, enabling high-resolution temporal measurement through spatial segmentation of the detection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the photodetection process by creating multiple photodetection regions that are sensitive to different time bins. This transforms a single-time-point detection into a multi-time-point detection system, achieving high temporal resolution without requiring complex external timing electronics.
2Measurement precision
If multiple photodetection regions are used for time binning, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple photodetection regions and their associated charge carrier storage regions are integrated into a single semiconductor device structure. The charge carrier segregation structure combines multiple functions (charge separation, storage, and readout) into one integrated system, reducing the need for external components and simplifying the overall device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The charge carrier segregation structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it separates charge carriers generated in different photodetection regions, stores them in corresponding storage regions, and enables readout of temporal information. This multi-functional design reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for separate components for each function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The integrated photodetector achieves nanosecond or picosecond resolution in measuring photon arrival times, facilitating advanced applications such as molecular detection, nucleic acid sequencing, fluorescence lifetime imaging, and time-of-flight imaging.
Implementation Method 1
a photodetection region configured to receive incident photons, the photodetection region being configured to produce a plurality of charge carriers in response to the incident photons
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit includes a photodetection region configured to receive incident photons. The photodetection region is configured to produce a plurality of charge carriers in response to the incident photons. The integrated circuit also includes at least one charge carrier storage region. The integrated circuit also includes a charge carrier segregation structure configured to selectively direct charge carriers of the plurality of charge carriers into the at least one charge carrier storage region based upon times at which the charge carriers are produced.