Circuit architecture for optical receiver with increased dynamic range
View Patent ↗A circuit architecture for a sensing component of a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) device can provide a wide dynamic range. The circuit architecture includes at least one photosensor, each photosensor including an input that is configured to receive an optical signal; a respective diode corresponding to each photosensor, each respective diode including an input that is coupled to an output of the corresponding photosensor; a multiplexer including an input that is coupled to the output of each of the at least one photosensors; and an amplifier including an input that is coupled to the output of the multiplexer.
1. A circuit comprising:
at least one photosensor, each photosensor comprising an input that is configured to receive an optical signal;
a respective diode coupled to each photosensor, each respective diode comprising an input that is coupled to an output of the coupled photosensor;
a multiplexer comprising an input that is coupled to the output of each of the at least one photosensor; and
an amplifier comprising an input that is coupled to the output of the multiplexer.
2. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the at least one photosensor comprises at least one photodiode.
3. The circuit of claim 2 , wherein the at least one photodiode comprises at least one avalanche photodiode.
4. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the at least one photosensor includes at least ten photosensors.
5. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein an output of each respective diode is coupled to ground.
6. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the input of the amplifier that is coupled to the output of the multiplexer is a negative input.
7. The circuit of claim 6 , wherein the amplifier comprises a negative feedback loop.
8. The circuit of claim 7 , wherein the negative feedback loop comprises a resistor.
9. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the amplifier is a trans-impedance amplifier.
10. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein an output of the amplifier is coupled to an analysis element of a light-detection and ranging device.
11. A light-detection and ranging (LIDAR) device, comprising:
at least one laser source, wherein the at least one laser source is configured to emit a light signal in a defined wavelength range;
at least one photosensor, each photosensor comprising an input that is configured to receive a light signal having wavelengths in the defined wavelength range;
a respective diode coupled to each photosensor, each respective diode comprising an input that is coupled to an output of the coupled photosensor;
a multiplexer comprising an input that is coupled to the output of each of the at least one photosensor; and
an amplifier comprising an input that is coupled to the output of the multiplexer.
12. The LIDAR device of claim 11 , wherein the defined wavelength range includes a wavelength of at least one of about 905 nanometers and about 1550 nanometers.
13. The LIDAR device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one photosensor comprises at least one photodiode.
14. The LIDAR device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one photosensor includes at least ten photosensors.
15. The LIDAR device of claim 11 , wherein an output of each respective diode is coupled to ground.
16. The LIDAR device of claim 11 , wherein the input of the amplifier that is coupled to the output of the multiplexer is a negative input.
17. The LIDAR device of claim 16 , wherein the amplifier comprises a negative feedback loop.
18. The LIDAR device of claim 17 , wherein the negative feedback loop comprises a resistor.
19. The LIDAR device of claim 11 , wherein the amplifier is a trans-impedance amplifier.
20. The LIDAR device of claim 11 , wherein an output of the amplifier is coupled to an analysis element of the LIDAR device.
21. A circuit comprising:
one, and only one, photosensor, the photosensor comprising an input that is configured to receive an optical signal;
a respective diode coupled to the photosensor, the respective diode comprising an input that is coupled to an output of the photosensor; and
an amplifier comprising an input that is coupled to the output of the photosensor.
22. The circuit of claim 21 , wherein the photosensor comprises a photodiode.
23. The circuit of claim 21 , wherein an output of the amplifier is coupled to an analysis element of a light-detection and ranging device.