Patent ID: 8884240

Claim:
An integrated silicon solid state photomultiplier (SSPM) device operable in a Geiger mode, the device comprising: a pixel unit including an array of more than 2×2 p-n micro-pixels on a common substrate; a signal division network electrically coupled to each micro-pixel, the signal division network including four output connections each for providing an output signal; a signal output measurement unit configured to measure the output signal from each output connection; a processing unit configured to process the output signals so as to identify the micro-pixel generating a signal or a center of mass of micro-pixels generating a signal, and a global signal receiving unit comprising a preamplifier electrically coupled in series with a capacitor, wherein the capacitor is electrically coupled to the micro-pixels, wherein the signal division network further includes a plurality of resistive elements; the micro-pixels are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns; the micro-pixels arranged in the same row are coupled in parallel with one another; the micro-pixels arranged in the same column are coupled in parallel with one another; one of the plurality of resistive elements is provided, for each row of micro-pixels, in series between the micro-pixels in the same row and the micro-pixels in an adjacent row; and one of the plurality of resistive elements is provided, for each column of micro-pixels, in series between the micro-pixels in the same column and the micro-pixels in an adjacent column.