Patent ID: 8946617
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: G01J,H01L

Abstract:
1. A photodiode comprising: a semiconductor material having a p-n junction, the p-n junction being located between a first doping region of a first doping type and a second doping region of a second doping type, the second doping region comprising a highly doped layer and a lightly doped layer, the highly doped layer being arranged adjacent to the first doping region and the lightly doped layer being arranged adjacent to the highly doped layer; a voltage source, the voltage source being connected to the first doping region and the lightly doped layer of the second doping region via contacts, the voltage source configured to apply a variable voltage between the first doping region and the lightly doped layer of the second doping region in order to vary the expansion of a space charge zone of the p-n junction from a region of the junction between the first doping region and the highly doped layer of the second doping region to a region enlarged from the first doping region via the highly doped layer of the second doping region into the lightly doped layer of the second doping region; and a current detection circuit, the current detection circuit being connected to the first doping region and the lightly doped layer of the second doping region via the contacts in order to detect a current flow between the first doping region and the second doping region.