US 12,218,172 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., Glendale, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/542,477.
Application 18/542,477 is a continuation of application No. 18/052,886, filed on Nov. 4, 2022, granted, now 11,888,013.
Application 18/052,886 is a continuation of application No. 16/778,204, filed on Jan. 31, 2020, granted, now 11,495,634, issued on Nov. 8, 2022.
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. 3, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/698,805, filed on Jul. 16, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0128301 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. H01L 27/146 (2006.01)
CPC H01L 27/14643 (2013.01) [H01L 27/14614 (2013.01); H01L 27/14616 (2013.01); H01L 27/1464 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensing device, comprising:
a light source to emit light;
a light sensor to detect reflection of the light emitted by the light source, the light sensor having a photodetector with a photocharge storage capacity in excess of one electron and an output circuit to generate an output signal in response to detection of the reflection, wherein the photodetector includes a pinned floating diffusion region that reduces a delay time between the detection of the reflection and the generation of the output signal; and
circuitry to measure an elapsed time based on the output signal to determine, based on the elapsed time, a distance between the sensing device and a surface that yielded the reflection of the light emitted by the light source.