Single-Photon Avalanche Diode Circuit with Variable Hold-off Time and Dual Delay Regime

M. Dandin, “Single-Photon Avalanche Diode Circuit with Variable Hold-off Time and Dual Delay Regime,” United States Patent No. 9,671,284, issued Jun. 6, 2017.

A circuit is provided. The circuit includes a single-photon avalanche diode. The circuit further includes a delay element comprising a first regulator and a second regulator, each of which is independently selectable based on a selection signal applied to a selection terminal of the delay element. The delay element is configured to receive, at an inverting section, an event signal indicative of an avalanche event in the single-photon avalanche diode. Furthermore, the delay element is configurable in one of two distinct delay resolution regimes, each corresponding to only one edge of the event signal being actively delayed by the delay element when one of the first regulator and the second regulator is enabled and the other one of the first regulator and the second regulator is turned off.