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A. Kuttner, M. Hauser, A. Dervic, H. Zimmermann, M. Hofbauer:
"SPAD Based Digital Photon Counting Optical Distance Sensor in 150 nm CMOS Using Indirect Multiphase Time-of-Flight";
Talk: MIPRO 2021, Opatija, Croatia; 09-27-2021 - 10-01-2021; in: "44^th International Convention on Information, Communication and Electronic Technology", (2021), 2029 - 2034.

In this work a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) based phase measurement circuit for distance measurements using continuously modulated light in a 150nm CMOS technology is presented. An on-chip quadruple-voltage quenching circuit, allowing up to 7.2 V excess bias for external SPADs, generates pulses synchronous to the detection times of single photons. Circuit simulations show, that a precision of 0.54 m can be achieved for distance measurements in low background light environments, in a measurement time of 200 µs. The efficiency of background light suppression can be improved by increasing the measurement time. Even a factor of 100:1 of background to measurement light should allow sub-cm precision given a sufficient measurement time. Correlation frequencies up to 1 GHz are possible. On correlator block has a size of 230x210 µm² and the power consumption for each correlator is 391 µW.

SPAD; distance measurement; indirect time-of-flight (iTOF); phase measurement; photon counting; digital correlation

http://dx.doi.org/10.23919/MIPRO52101.2021.9597003