High dynamic range analog front-end receiver for long range LIDAR
A system and method for operating a high dynamic range analog front-end receiver for long range LIDAR with a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) include a clipping circuit to prevent saturation of the TIA. The output of the clipping circuit is connected via a diode or transistor to the input of the TIA and regulated such that the input voltage of the TIA remains close to or is only slightly above the saturation threshold voltage of the TIA. The regulation of the input voltage of the TIA can be improved by connecting a limiting resistor in series with the diode or transistor. A second clipping circuit capable of dissipating higher input currents and thus higher voltages may be connected in parallel with the first clipping circuit. A resistive element may be placed between the first and second clipping circuits to further limit the input current to the TIA.
1. A current-pulse detection system, comprising:
a transimpedance amplifier (TIA), configured to convert an input current applied to an input port of the TIA into an output voltage, where the input current is based on a current generated by a sensor and provided at a signal output of the sensor, and where the input port of the TIA is to be coupled to the signal output of the sensor;
a first clipping circuit, coupled to the input port of the TIA and configured to, in response to a clip voltage applied to the first clipping circuit, limit an input voltage to the TIA,
wherein the first clipping circuit includes a first amplifier that includes:
a first input terminal, coupled to the clip voltage,
a second input terminal, coupled to the input port of the TIA, and
an output terminal, coupled to the input port of the TIA; and
a resistive element between the input port of the TIA and the signal output of the sensor.
2. The current-pulse detection system of claim 1 , wherein the second input terminal is coupled to the input port of the TIA by a limiting resistor.
3. The current-pulse detection system of claim 2 , wherein the output terminal of the first amplifier is coupled to the input port of the TIA by the limiting resistor.
4. The current-pulse detection system of claim 2 , wherein the TIA includes a feedback resistor, and wherein a resistance of the limiting resistor is smaller than a resistance of the feedback resistor.
5. The current-pulse detection system of claim 1 , wherein the first clipping circuit is coupled to the input port of the TIA by a rectifying element.
6. The current-pulse detection system of claim 4 , wherein the rectifying element includes a diode or a transistor having a gate coupled to the output terminal of the first amplifier and an emitter coupled to the input port of the TIA.
7. The current-pulse detection system of claim 1 , further comprising
a second clipping circuit, configured to be coupled to the signal output of the sensor and configured to, in response to a second clip voltage applied to the second clipping circuit, dissipate a portion of the current generated by the sensor.
8. The current-pulse detection system of claim 1 , further comprising a diode circuit to be coupled to the signal output of the sensor.
9. The current-pulse detection system of claim 8 , wherein the diode circuit comprises an electrostatic discharge protection diode.
10. The current-pulse detection system of claim 1 , further comprising
an electrostatic discharge circuit, to be coupled to the signal output of the sensor.
11. The current-pulse detection system of claim 1 , wherein the second input terminal of the first amplifier is coupled to the input port of the TIA by the second input terminal being coupled to the output terminal of the first amplifier.
12. The current-pulse detection system of claim 1 ,
wherein the sensor is a photodetector, the photodetector configured to provide the input current in response to an optical signal detected by the photodetector.
13. The current-pulse detection system of claim 1 , wherein the current-pulse detection system is a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system.
14. A current-pulse detection system, comprising:
a transimpedance amplifier (TIA); and
a first clipping circuit, coupled to an input port of the TIA and configured to, in response to a clip voltage applied to the first clipping circuit, limit an input voltage to the TIA,
wherein the first clipping circuit includes a first amplifier that includes:
a first input terminal, coupled to the clip voltage,
a second input terminal, coupled to the input port of the TIA by a limiting resistor, and
an output terminal, coupled to the input port of the TIA.
15. The current-pulse detection system of claim 14 , wherein the output terminal of the first amplifier is coupled to the input port of the TIA by the limiting resistor.
16. The current-pulse detection system of claim 14 , wherein the TIA includes a feedback resistor, and wherein a resistance of the limiting resistor is smaller than a resistance of the feedback resistor.
17. The current-pulse detection system of claim 14 , wherein the current-pulse detection system is a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system.
18. A current-pulse detection system, comprising:
a transimpedance amplifier (TIA), configured to convert an input current applied to an input port of the TIA into an output voltage, where the input current is based on a current generated by a sensor and provided at a signal output of the sensor, and where the input port of the TIA is to be coupled to the signal output of the sensor;
a first clipping circuit, coupled to the input port of the TIA and configured to, in response to a clip voltage applied to the first clipping circuit, limit an input voltage to the TIA,
wherein the first clipping circuit includes a first amplifier that includes:
a first input terminal, coupled to the clip voltage,
a second input terminal, coupled to the input port of the TIA, and
an output terminal, coupled to the input port of the TIA; and
a second clipping circuit, configured to be coupled to the signal output of the sensor and configured to, in response to a second clip voltage applied to the second clipping circuit, dissipate a portion of the current generated by the sensor.
19. The current-pulse detection system of claim 18 , further comprising an electrostatic discharge circuit, to be coupled to the signal output of the sensor.
20. The current-pulse detection system of claim 18 , wherein the second input terminal is coupled to the input port of the TIA by a resistor.
21. The current-pulse detection system of claim 18 , wherein the current-pulse detection system is a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system.
22. A current-pulse detection system, comprising:
a transimpedance amplifier (TIA), configured to convert an input current applied to an input port of the TIA into an output voltage, where the input current is based on a current generated by a sensor and provided at a signal output of the sensor, and where the input port of the TIA is to be coupled to the signal output of the sensor;
an electrostatic discharge circuit to be coupled to the signal output of the sensor; and
a first clipping circuit, coupled to the input port of the TIA and configured to, in response to a clip voltage applied to the first clipping circuit, limit an input voltage to the TIA,
wherein the first clipping circuit includes a first amplifier that includes:
a first input terminal, coupled to the clip voltage,
a second input terminal, coupled to the input port of the TIA, and
an output terminal, coupled to the input port of the TIA.
23. The current-pulse detection system of claim 22 , wherein the second input terminal is coupled to the input port of the TIA by a resistor.
24. The current-pulse detection system of claim 22 , wherein the current-pulse detection system is a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system.
25. A current-pulse detection system, comprising:
a transimpedance amplifier (TIA);
a first clipping circuit, coupled to an input port of the TIA and configured to, in response to a clip voltage applied to the first clipping circuit, limit an input voltage to the TIA,
wherein the first clipping circuit includes a first amplifier, having:
a first input terminal, coupled to the clip voltage,
a second input terminal, coupled to the input port of the TIA, and
an output terminal, coupled to the input port of the TIA;
a resistive element; and
a second clipping circuit, configured to, in response to a second clip voltage applied to the second clipping circuit, limit the input voltage to the TIA,
wherein:
an output terminal of the second clipping circuit is coupled to a first terminal of the resistive element, and
a second terminal of the resistive element is coupled to the input port of the TIA.
26. The current-pulse detection system of claim 25 , wherein:
the second clipping circuit includes a second amplifier,
the output terminal of the second clipping circuit is an output terminal of the second amplifier,
the second amplifier includes a first input terminal coupled to the second clip voltage, and
the second amplifier further includes a second input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the second amplifier.
27. The current-pulse detection system of claim 25 , wherein the output terminal of the second clipping circuit is coupled to the first terminal of the resistive element by a rectifying element.
28. The current-pulse detection system of claim 25 , wherein the second input terminal is coupled to the input port of the TIA by a resistor.
29. The current-pulse detection system of claim 25 , wherein the current-pulse detection system is a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system.