Thanks to JR for the pointer!
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Laser Components Presents SPAD Array for LiDAR Applications
Laser Components unveils the SPAD2L192, a solid-state SPAD sensor for flash LiDAR applications. With a resolution of 192 x 2 pixels, the SPAD array offers high sensitivity and high temporal resolution. The noise is below 50 cps. The in-pixel time-to-digital converter features a temporal resolution of 312.5 ps and a scale value of 1.28 μs. That enables a nominal range of up to 192 m at a resolution of 4.7 cm. The distance measurement is based on the first-photon, direct ToF principle.
Thanks to JR for the pointer!
Thanks to JR for the pointer!
Only 5% fill factor on a line sensor? shouldn't they be able to pack the pixels in tightly, at least along the linear axis?
ReplyDeleteThis would depend on the definition used for fill factor. It is described as in-pixe TDC, so moving this out of the pixel would likely increase the fill-factor to a degree. However, the diameter of the SPAD guard ring and how close nearby SPADs can be placed is also a key limit to fill factor.
DeleteWhile 5% fill factor combined with a low PDE, is perhaps limitting in this initial design, 10Hz DCR at room temperature at 5V from a 0.35um CMOS process is far better than the high kcps DCRs of SPAD arrays in 2009 that were also in 0.35um CMOS.
That 2% PDE could be actually PDP
DeleteGiven the 5% fill factor, if PDE is indeed 2% (=PDE * FF) it would mean a PDP @ 905 of about 40% which seems very high.
My view is that the FF provided is to be read, as Edward Fisher wrote, as SPAD+TDC to be used as a reference number in case this design was meant to be used in a 2D array.
In this particular configuration of a line-sensor, then the FF should be calculated as higher since the light would be concentrated on the SPADs only. In this case only, PDP and PDE can be considered the more or less the same.