US 12,294,034 B2
Light detection device
Shinya Iwashina, Hamamatsu (JP); Terumasa Nagano, Hamamatsu (JP); Masanori Okada, Hamamatsu (JP); Shunsuke Adachi, Hamamatsu (JP); and Takuya Fujita, Hamamatsu (JP)
Assigned to HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K., Hamamatsu (JP)
Appl. No. 18/691,119
Filed by HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K., Hamamatsu (JP)
PCT Filed Aug. 10, 2022, PCT No. PCT/JP2022/030670
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 12, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/042583, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 23, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-152232 (JP), filed on Sep. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0387754 A1, Nov. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. H01L 31/02 (2006.01); H01L 31/107 (2006.01)
CPC H01L 31/02027 (2013.01) [H01L 31/107 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light detection device comprising:
at least one avalanche photodiode forming a light receiving region and configured to operate in a Geiger mode;
at least one switch circuit including first, second, and third switches connected in parallel to each other; and
a read line electrically connecting the first switch and a signal processor configured to process a signal from the avalanche photodiode to each other, wherein:
each of the first, second, and third switches includes a first terminal connected to the avalanche photodiode, and a second terminal different from the first terminal, and is configured to switch between a conductive state in which the first terminal and the second terminal are conductive and a cutoff state in which the first terminal and the second terminal are electrically cut off,
the first switch is configured such that a voltage greater than or equal to a breakdown voltage is applied to the avalanche photodiode in the conductive state, and the second terminal of the first switch is connected to the read line,
the second switch is configured such that a voltage greater than or equal to a breakdown voltage is applied to the avalanche photodiode in the conductive state, and the second terminal of the second switch is not connected to the read line, and
the third switch is configured such that a voltage less than a breakdown voltage is applied to the avalanche photodiode in the conductive state and the second terminal of the third switch is not connected to the read line.