Configurable photo detector circuit
View Patent ↗A configurable photo detector circuit comprises a photo detector array including a plurality of photo detectors coupled to a plurality of amplifiers. A method for programming a detection pattern of the configurable photo detector circuit comprises selecting a first detection pattern for the photo detector array, generating first signals to create the first selected detection pattern, and applying the first generated signals to the photo detector circuit to implement the first selected detection pattern.
1. A method of using a configurable photo detector circuit, comprising:
receiving a first input to select a first switch configuration from a plurality of different switch configurations provided by a switching matrix;
configuring the switches of the switching matrix to implement the selected first switch configuration from the plurality of different switch configurations provided by the switching matrix;
receiving light at a plurality of photo detectors;
converting light into a first set of electrical signals at the plurality of photo detectors, wherein the first set of electrical signals is associated with a first detection pattern having a first shape, the first shape being one of a plurality of different shapes; and
selectively directing the first set of electrical signals to any of a first plurality of amplifiers based on the selected switch configuration.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the input comprises transferring data to a data transfer controller using an I 2 C interface.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
directing a first photo detector output to a first amplifier input; and
directing a second photo detector output to the first amplifier input.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
adjusting at least one of the gain, bandwidth, and offset of the plurality of amplifiers.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first switch configuration is configured for a first wavelength of light.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of photo detectors is a first plurality of detectors, the method further comprising:
receiving an input to select a second switch configuration from the plurality of different switch configurations provided by the switching matrix;
configuring the switches of the switching matrix to implement the selected second switch configuration of the plurality of different switch configurations by the switching matrix;
receiving light at a second plurality of photo detectors;
converting light into a second set of electrical signals at the second plurality of photo detectors, wherein the second set of electrical signals is associated with a second detection pattern having a second shape, the second shape being different from the first shape; and
selectively redirecting the electrical signals to various amplifiers from the plurality of amplifiers based on the second selected switch configuration.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first switch configuration is configured for a first wavelength of light; and
wherein the second switch configuration is configured for a second wavelength of light.