Patent ID: 6462326
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: G01S,H01L

Abstract:
An electronic circuit for determining the position of a fast pulsing laser beam using a position-sensing detector that outputs two current pulse values for each position dimension that are proportional to the laser beam's position in that dimension, the electronic circuit is comprised of two identical sub-circuits per dimension plus computer means for calculating the laser beam's position based on the sub-circuit inputs, each sub-circuit comprised of:a. a transimpedance amplifier to receive a current pulse value from the position-sensing detector, outputting an amplified voltage pulse; b. a peak detector to receive the transimpedance amplifier output, outputting an extended voltage pulse at the peak voltage level; c. a trimming amplifier to receive the peak detector output and outputting a signal that further amplifies, adjusts the maximum and minimum voltage range, and buffers the peak detector output; and d. an A/D converter to digitize the trimming amplifier output, thereby providing an appropriate input to said computer means.