Application using a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD)

1. A method for heating liquid contents within a holding vessel positioned in an oven comprising a heating element, the method comprising:

directing an incident optical signal at the liquid contents within the holding vessel by modulating an illumination source with a first modulation frequency interleaved with a second modulation frequency different from the first modulation frequency;

monitoring the liquid contents within the holding vessel by operating a proximity detector comprising at least one single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) directed toward a surface of the liquid contents, wherein monitoring the liquid contents comprises operating the proximity detector using phase extraction, the phase extraction comprising:

receiving a reflected optical signal at the at least one SPAD, the reflected optical signal being a reflection of the incident optical signal off the liquid contents;

determining a first number of photons received at the at least one SPAD during a first period of time during which the illumination source is turned on and directing the incident optical signal at the liquid contents;

determining a second number of photons received at the at least one SPAD during a second period of time immediately following the first period of time and during which the illumination source is turned off; and

determining a phase shift between the incident optical signal and the reflected optical signal based on the first number of photons and the second number of photons; and

controlling the heating element based upon the monitoring.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring comprises determining whether there is surface movement of the liquid contents within the holding vessel.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein determining comprises determining whether there is boiling of the liquid contents.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein controlling comprises changing power to the heating element based upon determining whether there is surface movement of the liquid contents within the holding vessel.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the heating element comprises a microwave heating element; and wherein controlling comprises controlling power supplied to the microwave heating element.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the illumination source comprises at least one of a light emitting diode (LED) and a laser.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one SPAD comprises an array of SPADs.

8. A method for heating liquid contents within a holding vessel positioned in an oven comprising a heating element, the method comprising:

continuously monitoring the liquid contents within the holding vessel by operating a proximity detector comprising a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array directed toward a surface of the liquid contents to determine whether there is surface movement thereof, wherein monitoring comprises operating the proximity detector using phase extraction, the phase extraction comprising:

receiving a reflected optical signal at the SPAD, the reflected optical signal being a reflection of an incident optical signal off surface of the liquid contents;

determining a first number of photons received at the SPAD during a first period of time during which the incident optical signal is directed at the liquid contents;

determining a second number of photons received at the SPAD during a second period of time immediately following the first period of time and during which no incident optical signal is directed at the liquid contents; and

determining a phase shift between the incident optical signal and the reflected optical signal based on the first number of photons and the second number of photons; and

controlling the heating element based upon the continuous monitoring.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein determining comprises determining whether there is boiling of the liquid contents.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein controlling comprises changing power to the heating element based upon determining whether there is surface movement of the liquid contents within the holding vessel.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the heating element comprises a microwave heating element; and wherein controlling comprises controlling power supplied to the microwave heating element.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein monitoring comprises operating an illumination source configured to generate the incident optical signal and directed at the liquid contents within the holding vessel while operating the proximity detector.

13. The method of claim 12 comprising modulating the illumination source with a plurality of different modulation frequencies.

14. A method for heating liquid contents within a holding vessel positioned in a microwave oven comprising a microwave heating element, the method comprising:

modulating a light emitting diode with a plurality of different modulation frequencies, the modulating directing an incident optical signal at a surface of the liquid contents;

receiving a reflected optical signal at a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD), the reflected optical signal being a reflection of the incident optical signal off the surface of the liquid contents;

counting, using a first counter coupled to the SPAD, a first number of photons received at the SPAD during a first period of time during which the light emitting diode is turned on and directing the incident optical signal at the surface of the liquid contents;

counting, using a second counter coupled to the SPAD, a second number of photons received at the SPAD during a second period of time immediately following the first period of time and during which the light emitting diode is turned off and not directing the incident optical signal at the surface of the liquid contents, the second counter being different from the first counter; and

determining a phase shift between the incident optical signal and the reflected optical signal based on the first number of photons and the second number of photons; and

controlling the microwave heating element based upon the phase shift.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein controlling the microwave heating element comprises reducing power to the microwave heating element based on the phase shift.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the phase shift is indicative of a boiling of the liquid contents.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of different modulation frequencies comprises a first modulation frequency interleaved with a second modulation frequency different from the first modulation frequency.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein determining the phase shift between the incident optical signal and the reflected optical signal based on the first number of photons and the second number of photons comprises determining the phase shift between the incident optical signal and the reflected optical signal based on a comparison of a sum of the first number of photons and the second number of photons against at least one of the first number of photons or the second number of photons.