Photodetector arrangement having an adjustable output and method for adjusting an output of a photodetector arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10827138-B2
Application number	US-201716304358-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2017
Priority date	Jun 1, 2016
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

A photodetector arrangement having adjustable output, comprises a photodetector having an array of pixels wherein each pixel. The pixels are arranged to convert electromagnetic radiation into an analog detection data signal, respectively. A readout circuit is coupled to the photodetector and comprises a receiving component and a combining component. The receiving component is arranged to read out detection data signals, to select at least one detection data signal depending on a control signal and to adjust gain and polarity of the selected detection data signal. The combining component is arranged to combine the detection data signals into one or more output signals to be provided at one or more output terminals. A control unit is coupled to the readout circuit via a control terminal and is arranged to provide the control signal at the readout circuit depending on a set of instructions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A photodetector arrangement having adjustable output, comprising:
a photodetector comprising an array of pixels,
wherein each pixel is arranged to convert electromagnetic radiation into an analog detection data signal, respectively,
wherein the photodetector comprises a color array,
wherein the pixels are arranged into subarrays,
wherein pixels from different subarrays have different respective spectral responses, and
wherein pixels from the same subarray have the same spectral response,

a readout circuit coupled to the photodetector and comprising a receiving component and a combining component,
wherein the receiving component is arranged to read out detection data signals, to select at least one detection data signal depending on a control signal and to adjust a gain and a polarity of the selected detection data signal, and
wherein the combining component is arranged to combine, under control of the control signal, the detection data signals from pixels within the same subarrays and/or to combine the detection data signals from different subarrays into one or more output signals to be provided at one or more output terminals, and

a control unit coupled to the readout circuit via a control terminal and arranged to provide the control signal at the readout circuit depending on a set of instructions.

2. A photodetector arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the control signal alters the one or more output signals to match or approximate a target function.

3. The photodetector arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the combination of detection data signals and the adjustments of gain and polarity by the readout circuit is performed in the analog domain.

4. The photodetector arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the photodetector comprises a monochromatic array.

5. The photodetector arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein:
the pixels are arranged into a first, a second, a third, and a fourth subarray,
a first type of optical filter is deposited over the pixels from the first subarray,
a second type of optical filter is deposited over the pixels from the second subarray, and
a third type of optical filter is deposited over the pixels from the third subarray.

6. The photodetector arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein the optical filters are standardized according to a color matrix standard to allow for spectral photometric response.

7. The photodetector arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more output terminals are connected to one or more analog-to-digital converters, and wherein the one or more analog-to-digital converters are connected to a data register via channel data input terminals, respectively.

8. The photodetector arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein the analog-to-digital converters comprise integrating analog-to-digital converters.

9. The photodetector arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a programmable data register, and wherein the control signal depends on data values stored in the programmable data register.

10. The photodetector arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a microcontroller having a programmable firmware, and wherein the control signal is generated depending on a configuration of the firmware.

11. The photodetector arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is connected to a control interface having control input terminals.

12. The photodetector arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving component comprises one or more operational amplifiers to adjust the gain and the polarity of selected detection data signals.

13. The photodetector arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the combining component comprises one or more analog multiplexers to combine, under control of the control signal, the detection data signals from pixels within the same subarrays and/or to combine the detection data signals from different subarrays into the one or more output signals to be provided at the one or more output terminals.

14. The photodetector arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the control signal depends on a target function, and wherein the target function is a photopic and/or scotopic target function.

15. A method for adjusting an output of a photodetector arrangement, the photodetector arrangement comprising a photodetector having an array of pixels, wherein the photodetector comprises a color array, wherein the pixels are arranged into subarrays, wherein pixels from different subarrays have different respective spectral responses, and wherein pixels from the same subarray have the same spectral response, the method comprising:
for each pixel, converting electromagnetic radiation into a respective analog detection data signal,
reading out the detection signals,
selecting at least one detection signal,
adjusting again and a polarity of the selected detection data signal depending on a control signal,
combining, under control of the control signal, the detection data signals from pixels within the same subarrays and/or the detection data signals from different subarrays into one or more output signals, and
providing the one or more output signals at one or more output terminals.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the control signal depends on a target function such that by selecting the at least one detection signal, adjusting the gain and the polarity of the selected detection data signal and combining the detection data signals into one or more output signals, the one or more output signals approximates the target function.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the one or more target functions are photopic and/or scotopic functions.

18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the analog detection data signals are adjusted and combined into an overall adjusted sensor response OUT_adj according to the relationship:
OUT adj =Σ i s i ·p i ·g i ·OUT clear i +Σ j s i ·p j ·g j ·OUT red j +Σ k s k ·p k ·g k ·OUT_green k +Σ l s l ·p l ·g l ·OUT_blue l

wherein OUT_clear i , OUT_red j , OUT_green k , OUT_blue l with i,j,k,l∈{1, . . . , N·M} denote analog detection data signals of clear, red, green, and blue pixels, respectively,
wherein the terms s m , p m and g m with m∈{t,j,k,l} denote switching state with 0 for “off” and 1 for “on”, a polarity with +1 or −1, and an analog gain of a given pixel, respectively.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the overall adjusted sensor response OUT_adj is adjusted so as to fit the target function within a certain degree.

20. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the overall adjusted sensor response OUT_adj is adjusted with the photodetector arrangement arranged under a cover of an electronic device and/or arranged under a glass cover.

Assignees

• Ams Int Ag

Inventors

• Bishop Todd
• Lee Glenn
• Jacobs Dan

Classifications

• H04N25/57 Primary

  Control of the dynamic range · CPC title

• H04N25/77

  Pixel circuitry, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components · CPC title

• H04N25/78

  Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters · CPC title

• G01J3/462

  Computing operations in or between colour spaces; Colour management systems · CPC title

• G01J1/44

  Electric circuits {(for command of an exposure part G03B7/02)} · CPC title