READ-OUT AMPLIFIER FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC DETECTOR

Abstract: A read-out amplifier (200) for a photovoltaic detector (201) employs an integrating amplifier (203) with capacitor feedback (230) during a self-calibrating active load (205, 240) to minimize debiasing of the photovoltaic detector during its operation. The self-calibrating active load reduces the effect of noise and threshold nonuniformities of the semiconductor devices (202, 203, 204, 205) used in the read-out amplifier circuitry.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to apparatus for generating suitable output signals in accordance with signals generated by photovoltaic devices. More specifically, the invention concerns amplifiers for processing signals generated by photovoltaic detectors and supplying the processed signals as outputs to suitable utilization devices. Focal plane arrays of infrared detecting photovoltaic devices, such as diodes, are used for imaging objects which emit infrared radiation. For example, suitable infrared emitting objects would be relatively warm and could be targets to be acquired by heat seeking weapon systems. Each photovoltaic detector in such an array serves as a picture element or "pixel" and read-out apparatus associated with each pixel is required to integrate the current generated by photons impinging on the infrared photovoltaic device. Integration of the acquired optical signal is desired to minimize target signal noise and to enable acquisition of randomly arriving photons at the detector device. To convert the integrated photovoltaic detector current to an output voltage for use by a processing device, it has been known to couple the detector output to a transimpedance amplifier which basically serves to generate an output voltage determined by an input current supplied from a photovoltaic device, the value of the output voltage being related to the transimpedance of the read-out amplifying device. While operationally satisfactory, such read-out devices, however, tended to induce debiasing of the detector, which leads to increased noise characteristics. Increased noise, in turn, requires use of relatively high bias voltages for the detector. Such a read-out amplifier is described in US-A-3864565, in which an electrical signal is provided which is proportional to the integral of the amount of light received by a photovoltaic detector over a specified time. In this read-out amplifier, a switch is used to control the integration by controlling the charging of a storage capacitor. One known approach to providing suitable read-out amplifiers for photovoltaic detectors utilizes a series connected autozero capacitor connected between the photovoltaic detector and an integrating amplifier field effect transistor gate. When the known amplifier is reset between read-out integration intervals, noise on the autozero capacitor is held on the photovoltaic detector for the duration of each integration read-out, thereby causing a noise current through the dynamic resistance of the photovoltaic device. This noise current is integrated causing an output noise much larger than the noise voltage initially generated at the autozero capacitor. There is, therefore, seen to be a need for an improved read-out amplifier for a photovoltaic detector which will exhibit improved noise characteristics and minimal debiasing, thereby enabling the photovoltaic detector to operate at relatively small bias voltage levels. According to the invention, there is provided a read-out amplifier comprising a photovoltaic detector; first switching means connected to the detector; and an output driver amplifier with an input coupled to the detector and an output coupled to an output of the read-out amplifier; characterised in that: the first switching means, in a low impedance state, couples a source of bias potential to an output terminal of the photovoltaic detector; the output driver amplifier comprises an integrator driver amplifier, in which: current generated by the detector is integrated when the first switching means is in a high impedance state; a signal at the output of the integrator driver amplifier is related to a signal at an input control terminal; and a feedback capacitor is connected between the output and the input control terminal of the integrator driver amplifier; and the read-out amplifier further comprises: active load means coupled to the output of the integrator driver amplifier which provides a self-calibrated current sink and enables the integrator driver amplifier to maintain a substantially constant bias potential at the detector when the first switching means is in the high impedance state; the active load means comprising: an active electronic device having an impedance between first and second output terminals which is variable in accordance with a signal at an input control terminal; a feedback auto zero capacitor between one of the output terminals and the input control terminal; and second switching means which, in a low impedance state, couples the other output terminal to the input control terminal. Accordingly, a read-out output voltage is provided which is proportional to the integral of the photovoltaic detector current generated during a preselected time interval and which will reduce reset noise at the read-out amplifier output. An infrared photovoltaic detector transimpedance read-out amplifier employs a capacitive feedback amplifier stage which drives a self-calibrating active load. The capacitive feedback is arranged to reduce debiasing of the photovoltaic detector and hence to improve the noise characteristics of the detector by enabling its operation with small bias voltage levels. The self-calibrating active load is configured to reduce the effect of low frequency noise and threshold nonuniformities commonly associated with metal-oxide-silicon field effect transistors (MOSFET). It is a feature of the invention that any reset noise voltage appearing across the autozero capacitor included in the self-calibrating active load will be substantially reduced at the photovoltaic detector. It is another feature of this invention that a PMOS field effect transistor driver can be used in place of an NMOS field effect transistor driver in the integrator stage which results in decreased MOSFET noise when the read-out amplifier is utilized with an N-on-P array of photovoltaic devices. These and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from a reading of a detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the drawing in which: FIG. 1 is a circuit schematic showing a prior art autozero capacitive transimpedance amplifier; FIG. 2 is a circuit schematic of a capacitive transimpedance read-out amplifier with self-calibrated active load arranged in accordance with the principles of the invention; and FIG. 3 is a timing diagram setting forth the output voltage of the read-out amplifier and the accompanying change in the photovoltaic detector bias voltage during operation of the circuit of FIG. 2. An example of a known read-out circuit for a photovoltaic detector is set forth in FIG. 1. This type of circuit is contemplated by the invention disclosed in co-pending U.S. Patent Application Nos. US-A-4786831 and US-A-4978872, assigned to the same assignee as this invention. Autozero capacitance 140 of transimpedance amplifier 100 of FIG. 1 is designed used for applications in which a stable detector bias is desired. Photovoltaic infrared detecting diode 101 has its anode terminal connected to bias source 112 which provides a voltage V COM to the anode terminals of all other photovoltaic diodes in the focal plane array. A cathode electrode of diode 101 is coupled to a first terminal of autozero capacitor C AZ 140, one terminal of feedback capacitor C FB 130 and to a drain electrode of an electronic switch comprised of a MOSFET 102. A terminal 120 of MOSFET 102 is coupled to a substrate bias V SS , while the source electrode of MOSFET 102 is coupled to the predetermined bias value, for the photovoltaic detector at terminal 110 and designated V DET . A gate electrode of MOSFET 102 is coupled at terminal 111 for receipt of a reset signal RST which is additionally coupled to a second electronic switch comprising MOSFET 103 at a gate thereof. A second terminal of autozero capacitor 140 is coupled to a source electrode of MOSFET 103 while a second terminal of the feedback capacitor 130 is coupled to the drain electrode of MOSFET 103. A substrate bias potential V SS is coupled to terminal 113 of MOSFET 103. An integrating amplifier which uses C FB 130 comprises MOSFET 105 having a gate electrode coupled to the source electrode of MOSFET 103, a bias potential V CAS coupled to a cascode gate of MOSFET 105 at terminal 119, a source electrode 118 coupled to bias source V SS and a drain electrode coupled to the read-out amplifier's output at terminal 117, the output voltage being designated V OUT . Also coupled to the output at 117 is the drain electrode of MOSFET 103 and a drain electrode of an active load MOSFET 104. A gate electrode of MOSFET 104 at terminal 114 is coupled to a bias voltage source V LD , while the source electrode of MOSFET 104 is coupled at terminal 115 to a bias Source V DD . A substrate bias source V SUB is coupled to device 104 at terminal 116. Devices such as shown in Fig. 1 have been used for applications requiring stable detector bias. However, with circuits such as that set forth in Fig. 1, reset noise on the autozero capacitor 140 between the photovoltaic detector 101 and the driver MOSFET 105 at the end of the reset period (when MOSFET switch 102 is turned off) is held on the detector for the entire integration period, causing a current through the detector dynamic resistance which is integrated on the feedback capacitor 130. The noise voltage resulting on the feedback capacitor 130 at the end of the integration interval can be much larger than the reset noise on the autozero capacitor 140 which originally generated the noise signal. Hence, while operating satisfactorily for its intended purpose, the circuit of Fig. 1 requires higher bias voltage levels to provide a good noise margin. The invention, therefore, as embodied for example in the circuit schematic shown in Fig. 2, is directed to improve the performance of such circuits in the presence of noise. As seen from Fig. 2, an anode electrode of photovoltaic infrared detecting diode 201 is coupled to a return source of bias V COM at terminal 210. A cathode electrode of diode 201 is coupled to a source electrode of MOSFET switch 202, to a first terminal of feedback capacitor C FB 230, and a gate electrode of integrator driver amplifier MOSFET 203. The gate electrode 211 of the first MOSFET switch 202 is coupled for receipt of the first resetting enable signal RST1, while the drain electrode of switch 202 is coupled at terminal 212 to the desired bias voltage to be applied during the reset interval to diode 201 designated V DET . A substrate bias voltage V SUB is coupled to switch 202 at terminal 213. The source electrode of integrator driver 203 is coupled at terminal 217 to bias potential V DD while the drain electrode of driver 203 is coupled to a second terminal of feedback capacitor 230, an output terminal of the read-out amplifier 219 (carrying the output voltage designated V OUT ) and the respective drain electrodes of a second reset switch MOSFET 204 and MOSFET 205 which serves as the principle element of a self-calibrating active load for the read-out amplifier shown. A suitable substrate bias source V SUB is coupled to terminal 218 of MOSFET 203. Driver transistor 203 is of the PMOS type which has lower noise generating characteristics than NMOS type devices. A gate electrode of second reset switch 204 is coupled at terminal 214 for receipt of a second reset signal RST2. An appropriate substrate bias voltage V SS is coupled to switch 204 at terminal 220, while the source electrode of switch 204 is coupled to a first terminal of autozero capacitor C AZ 240 and to a gate electrode of dynamic load MOSFET 205. A second terminal of autozero capacitor 240 and the source electrode of MOSFET 205 are coupled to bias potential supply V SS at terminal 215. In the operation of read-out amplifier 200 of Fig. 2, MOSFETs 202 and 204 function simply as on/off electronic switches. These switches are both closed during the reset period of the amplifier and open during the read-out or integration period. During reset, the desired detector bias voltage, V DET , appears at the gate of the integrator driver MOSFET 203. This voltage defines the current, I DD , through integrator driver MOSFET 203 and active load MOSFET 205. The voltage on the gate of MOSFET 205 becomes the value required to allow I DD to flow through the drain-to-source circuit of load MOSFET 205. Both switches 202 and 204 are open, or in a high impedance state, during the integration. Autozero capacitor 240 maintains the reset voltage of the gate of MOSFET 205 at a level such as to cause MOSFET 205 to continue sinking current I DD established during the reset period. High gain around the feedback loop causes the gate of driver 203 to be held at a voltage such that driver 203 conducts the same amount of current as the active load device 205. Since the current through the active load 205 is the same as that defined by driver 203 during reset, the desired detector bias voltage is held on the gate of MOSFET 203 and the detector diode 201 by the feedback amplifier (driver 203 and feedback capacitor 230). If the open loop gain needs to be increased, a cascode gate 216 or, alternatively, a separate cascode transistor (not shown) can be added to driver MOSFET 203 as shown in Fig. 2 at terminal 216. The cascode gate tends to greatly increase the open loop gain of the integrator driver, because the cascode gate forces a constant voltage across the drain-to-source of the driver MOSFET 203 (analogous to the operation of a transistor source follower), resulting in the zeroing out of the drain-to-source conductance of device 203. Since it can be mathematically shown that the open loop gain is inversely proportional to the drain-to-source conductance of device 203, forcing this term to zero will result in the desired open loop gain increase. A typical sequence of operation of the circuit of Fig. 2 begins with the closure of the first and second electronic switches 202 and 204 (by a logical low signal appearing at input RST1 and a logical high signal appearing at the gate input of 204 at RST2). The closure or low impedance state of the source-to-drain of switch 202 places the detector bias voltage V DET onto the gate of driver MOSFET 203 resulting in a source to drain current I DD . The closure of switch 204 from source-to-drain couples the drain and gate of active load 205 to generate sufficient conduction through load 205 to sink current I DD to bias supply V SS at terminal 215. Next, the signal RST2 at terminal 214 goes to the logical zero or low state to turn switch 204 off. At this point, the autozero capacitor 240 holds a voltage sufficient to continue sinking I DD through load 205 (a so-called auto-biasing scheme). Next, RST1 goes high or to logic one to turn off switch 202, thereby initiating the integration period wherein the voltage on the photovoltaic detector 201 will be determined by the capacitive feedback loop of the integrator amplifier. During the integration or read-out period V OUT will go more positive as the current through the photovoltaic detector 201 is integrated. In general, the more light elements or photons impinging upon the detector during the integration interval, the higher the slope of the output voltage of the read-out amplifier. With the circuit as set forth in Fig. 2, it may be shown that the output voltage is directly proportional to the time interval of the current flowing through the photovoltaic detector and inversely proportional to the size of feedback capacitor 230. It may also be shown with the circuit of Fig. 2 that, during the integration interval, reset noise voltage on capacitor C AZ 240 will appear at the detector diode reduced by the ratio of the transconductance of driver MOSFET 203 to the transconductance of load MOSFET 205. MOSFETs 203 and 205 can easily be scaled such that such ratio is at least 10. The circuit of Fig. 2 has been simulated in the time domain through use of a computerized circuit analysis program. The pertinent wave forms predicted by the computerized simulation are set forth in Fig. 3 and demonstrate a debiasing or change in the bias voltage applied to the photovoltaic detecting diode of on the order of only 1.5 millivolts.

Claims: A read-out amplifier (200) comprising: a photovoltaic detector (201); first switching means (202) connected to the detector; and an output driver amplifier (203) with an input coupled to the detector (201) and an output coupled to an output of the read-out amplifier; characterised in that: the first switching means (202), in a low impedance state, couples a source of bias potential to an output terminal of the photovoltaic detector (201); the output driver amplifier comprises an integrator driver amplifier (203), in which: current generated by the detector (201) is integrated when the first switching means (202) is in a high impedance state; a signal at the output of the integrator driver amplifier (203) is related to a signal at an input control terminal (211); and a feedback capacitor (230) is connected between the output and the input control terminal of the integrator driver amplifier; and the read-out amplifier (200) further comprises: active load means (205) coupled to the output of the integrator driver amplifier (203) which provides a self-calibrated current sink and enables the integrator driver amplifier to maintain a substantially constant bias potential at the detector when the first switching means (202) is in the high impedance state; the active load means (205) comprising: an active electronic device (205) having an impedance between first and second output terminals which is variable in accordance with a signal at an input control terminal; a feedback auto zero capacitor (240) between one of the output terminals and the input control terminal; and second switching means (204) which, in a low impedance state, couples the other output terminal to the input control terminal. A read-out amplifier according to claim 1, in which: the first switching means (202) comprises a first field effect transistor; the integrator driver amplifier (203) includes a second field effect transistor with a source electrode coupled to a bias potential (217), a gate electrode serving as the input and a drain electrode serving as the output; the active electronic device of the active load means (205) comprises a third field effect transistor with a drain electrode serving as the first output terminal, a source electrode serving as the second output terminal, and a gate electrode serving as the input control terminal; the second switching means (204) comprises a fourth field effect transistor. A read-out amplifier according to claim 2, in which the first, second, third and fourth field effect transistors comprise metal-oxide-silicon devices (MOSFETs). A read-out amplifier according to claim 3, in which the second MOSFET further comprises a cascode gate electrode coupled to a source of bias potential and which increases open loop gain of the integrator driver amplifier. A read-out amplifier according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the first and second field effect transistors comprise metal-oxide-silicon devices (MOSFETs) of PMOS type. A read-out amplifier according to any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the third and fourth field effect transistors comprise metal-oxide-silicon devices (MOSFETs) of NMOS type. A read-out amplifier according to any one of claims 3 to 6, in which the second and third MOSFETs are selected such that the transconductance of the second MOSFET substantially exceeds the transconductance of the third MOSFET.

Inventors: STINEMAN, JOHN, A., JR.
Applicants: SANTA BARBARA RESEARCH CENTER
Application year: 1988
Main classification: H03F17
IPC codes: G11C7, H03F3