A time-to-frequency converter transforms an initial single-photon pulse into a transformed pulse such that the temporal waveform of the initial pulse is mapped to the spectrum of the transformed pulse. The time-to-frequency converter includes a dispersive optical element followed by a time lens. The spectrum of the transformed pulse is then measured to determine the arrival time of the initial pulse. The spectrum can be measured using a photon-counting spectrometer that spatially disperses the transformed pulse onto an single-photon detector array. Alternatively. an additional dispersive element can be used with the time-to-frequency converter to implement a time magnifier. The arrival time of the resulting time-magnified pulse can then be measured using time-correlated single-photon counting. This arrival time can then be divided by the magnification factor of the time magnifier to obtain the arrival time of the initial pulsc.

An optoelectronic sensor device and a method for operating an optoelectronic sensor device are disclosed. In an embodiment the optoelectronic sensor device includes a radiation-emitting semiconductor chip configured to emit radiation with a peak wavelength which depends on a temperature of the radiation-emitting semiconductor chip. The sensor device further includes a sensor chip configured to detect a part of the radiation reflected back to the sensor chip as well as a spectral filter component having an adjustable spectral transmission range. A wavelength determination unit is configured to determine the peak wavelength and a filter driver is configured to adjust the spectral transmission range to the determined peak wavelength.

Systems and methods are provided for measuring an ambient light level in a volume that is lighted by a pulsating light source. A first light sensor is configured to generate a first signal based on an amount of light detected in the volume. A bypass switch is configured to bypass the first light sensor at a first point in time when the light source is on and to not bypass the first light sensor at a second point in time when the light source is off. A second sensor is configured to generate a second signal based on an environment in the volume, and a difference circuit is configured to determine a difference magnitude between the second signal and the first signal to generate an ambient light signal.

A laser designator pulse detector includes an InGaAs photodetector configured to convert laser signals into electrical signals. A Read Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC) is operatively connected to the InGaAs photodetector to condition electrical signals from the InGaAs photodetector. The ROIC can be operatively connected to a peripheral device including one or more modules configured to process signals from the ROIC and provide pulse detection, decoding, and tracking. In another aspect, a laser designator pulse detector includes a two-dimensional array of photodetectors configured to convert laser signals into electrical signals. A ROTC as described above is operatively connected to the two-dimensional array of photodetectors.

A method includes acquiring a pulse detection bitmap from an imaging sensor array into a digital read out integrated circuit (DROIC), filtering the pulse detection bitmap within the DROIC to convert the pulse detection bitmap into a filtered pulse detection bitmap, and determining for a given pixel in the filtered pulse detection bitmap whether the pixel has a value that exceeds a threshold, indicating a true laser pulse return has been detected in the pixel.

The present technology relates to a measurement circuit, a driving method, and an electronic instrument capable of reducing power consumption. In the measurement circuit, irradiation light is emitted from the light emitting unit toward the object, and light from the object is received to measure pulse waves or the like. The measurement circuit includes: a light receiving unit that receives light from an object; an integrating unit that performs integration of a current generated in accordance with the reception of the light by the light receiving unit and generates a voltage according to the amount of reception of the light; and a pulse generating unit that generates a pulse signal having a pulse width corresponding to the amount of reception of the light on the basis of the voltage. The present technology can be applied to electronic instruments such as wearable devices, for example.

An optoelectronic sensor device and a method for operating an optoelectronic sensor device are disclosed. In an embodiment the optoelectronic sensor device includes a radiation-emitting semiconductor chip configured to emit radiation with a peak wavelength which depends on a temperature of the radiation-emitting semiconductor chip. The sensor device further includes a sensor chip configured to detect a part of the radiation reflected back to the sensor chip as well as a spectral filter component having an adjustable spectral transmission range. A wavelength determination unit is configured to determine the peak wavelength and a filter driver is configured to adjust the spectral transmission range to the determined peak wavelength.

A method of distinguishing effective pulses from test pulses in a scintillation detector that generates measurement light pulses includes providing a regularly-pulsed test light source that produces individual test light pulses having a time-dependent course of relative light intensity, which differs from a time-dependent course of relative light intensity of the measurement light pulses. The test light pulses are provided to a light detector for measurement of the test light pulses. The time-dependent courses of the relative light intensities of the test light pulses are analyzed. The measured pulses are separated into the test light pulses and the measurement light pulses according to the different time-dependent courses of the relative light intensities. The detector includes a scintillator, a light detector, a regularly-pulsed test light source that is adapted provide test light pulses to the light detector for measurement, and an electronic measuring circuit.

A pulse repetition frequency detector, tracker, and decoder includes a two-dimensional InGaAs FPA of photodetectors configured to convert laser signals into electrical signals. A ROIC is operatively connected to the InGaAs FPA to condition electrical signals from the InGaAs FPA. A module is operatively connected to the ROIC to decode pulsed codes in the conditioned electrical signals and to provide output for tracking decoded laser spots in two-dimensional space. In another aspect, an imaging device includes an imager with an imaging FPA operatively connected to a first ROIC for imaging. A pulse repetition frequency detector, tracker, and decoder including a second ROIC as described above, is operatively connected to the first ROIC. The first and second ROICs are operatively connected to correlate the position of decoded laser spots in images from the imaging FPA.

A light pulse detection circuit for connection to a photodiode, the detection circuit comprising an integration capacitor, discharge means, and comparator means adapted to compare an integration voltage across the terminals of the integration capacitor with a reference voltage threshold in order to produce a light pulse detection signal. The reference voltage threshold is a self-adaptive threshold depending on a level of light background noise. A detection device comprising a photodiode and such a detection circuit. A detection matrix comprising a plurality of such detection devices.