Low‐power compact tunable quenching configuration for minimizing afterpulsing in single‐photon avalanche diodes. (27th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pahlavanzadeh, Hadi; Karami, Mohammad Azim
• Is Part Of: International journal of circuit theory and applications. Volume 48:Number 9(2020)
• Page Start: 1534
• Page End: 1543
• Publication Date: 2020-04-27
• Subjects: CMOS technology -- free running -- hold‐off time -- photon‐counting -- photon‐timing -- quenching time -- reset time -- single‐photon avalanche diodes; Electric circuit analysis -- Periodicals; 621.319205
• DOI: 10.1002/cta.2805
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0098-9886

Abstract

Summary: This paper unveils two efficient free running (FR) quenching circuits with the aim of reducing quenching time (QT) to minimize avalanche charge. Likewise, one circuit is compactly designed with low power consumption, suitable for single‐photon avalanche diode ( SPAD) with hold‐off time below 10 ns. In second circuit, tunable hold‐off and reset‐time are provided within a wide range without decreasing QT, which are desirable in many applications. Proper operation and circuit uncertainty is assessed by Monte Carlo analysis in a standard 90‐nm complementary metal‐oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. In a bid to do a comparison between previously reported circuits and the proposed circuits, they are simulated with same SPAD model and parameters and results corroborate the proposed circuits guarantee active quenching time (AQT) of below 1 ns. Proposed circuits with current and area consumption of 0.74 μA, 32 μm 2 for 7‐ns dead time and 16.2 μA, 93 μm 2 for 21‐ns dead time are more efficient in terms of QT, area, and power consumption in comparison with other works. Abstract : This paper unveils two efficient free running (FR) quenching circuits with the aim of reducing quenching time (QT) to minimize avalanche charge. One circuit is compactly designed with low power consumption suitable for SPAD with hold‐off time below 10 ns. Second circuit provide hold‐off time within a wide range without decreasing QT.