US 11,888,013 B2
High-sensitivity depth sensor with non-avalanche photodetector
Saleh Masoodian, Monrovia, CA (US); and Jiaju Ma, Monrovia, CA (US)
Assigned to Gigajot Technology, Inc., Glendale, CA (US)
Filed by Gigajot Technology, Inc., Pasadena, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/052,886.
Application 18/052,886 is a continuation of application No. 16/778,204, filed on Jan. 31, 2020, granted, now 11,495,634.
Application 16/778,204 is a continuation of application No. 16/513,653, filed on Jul. 16, 2019, granted, now 10,580,820, issued on Mar. 30, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/698,805, filed on Jul. 16, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0207602 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
Int. Cl. H01L 27/146 (2006.01)
CPC H01L 27/14643 (2013.01) [H01L 27/1464 (2013.01); H01L 27/14614 (2013.01); H01L 27/14616 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensing device, comprising:
a light sensor to detect light reflected from a surface, the light sensor comprising:
a photodiode including a photowell capable of storing two or more electrons generated in response to detection of the light; and
readout circuitry to generate an output signal that transitions between voltage levels in response to storage of each of the electrons within the photodiode; and
measurement circuitry to generate a value representative of a distance between the sensing device and the surface based on the output signal, the measurement circuitry comprising:
a counter that outputs an incremental sequence of count values; and
a plurality of latching circuits that receive respective input signals generated based on the output signal from the readout circuitry and store respective count values of the incremental sequence from the counter when the respective input signals exceed respective threshold levels.