Gate Voltage Effect on Pulse Detection Efficiency of Perimeter-Gated SPADs
For researchers and engineers using SPADs in pulsed LIDAR, this work provides practical guidance on optimizing pg-SPAD operation, though it is an incremental study of a known device.
The paper investigates how the gate voltage affects pulse detection efficiency in perimeter-gated single-photon avalanche diodes (pg-SPADs), demonstrating a trade-off between detection efficiency and the spread of spurious events in pulsed optical systems. It provides guidelines for optimal use in pulsed LIDAR applications.
Perimeter-gated single-photon avalanche diodes (pg-SPADs) are known for their dynamic dark noise modulation capabilities. They are reported to trade noise for photon sensitivity under continuous illumination. However, the implications of this trade-off have not heretofore been studied with pulsed optical systems. This work bridges this gap. We demonstrate that pg-SPADs fabricated in a 0.35 $μ$m standard CMOS process trade-off pulse detection efficiency for a reduction in the the spread of spurious events within a burst window. Consequently, herein, we propose guidelines for the optimal use of pg-SPADs in pulsed LIDAR applications in view of the observed trade-off.