INNOVATIVE
DETECTOR DESIGN

DEPHAN has developed a fundamentally new design of a solid-state photomultiplier

Existing technologies

APD (avalanche photodiode)

Photosensitive area

SiPM (silicon photomultiplier)

Photosensitive area &
Geiger-mode
avalanche cell

Blind spot

Fundamentally new design

Photosensitive area

Geiger-mode avalanche cell

Almost no blind spot

Wide dynamic range and whole photosensitive area (APD-like)

Low-noise internal amplification providing good sensitivity and time resolution (SiPM-like)

Easy link-up, low voltage, arrays support, higher thermal stability, and other SiPM advantages

Backlight resistance

High sensitivity

Simple and affordable

combines the advantages of market analogues — APD (avalanche photodiode) and SiPM (silicon photomultiplier)

capable of replacing vacuum-tube PMT in its remaining applications

optimized for long-range lidar operating in the presence of strong background light

Фотодетектор

Technology

Download Whitepaper

Small gaps

High cell density (4 µm pitch) gives 15 times the dynamic range for the same array size

Analog cell sensitivity

15x higher frame rate

More information in 1 frame

DEPHAN

SPAD

Backlight resistance

No sensitivity loss at 100 klk backlighting

High spatial resolution

Small element arrays and wide dynamic range of elements

DEFAN technology allows to reduce the cell pitch to 4 µm while maintaining all parameters important for LiDAR systems

ADVANTAGES OF DEFAN COMPARED TO SPAD MATRIX:

INNOVATIVE
DESIGN

DETECTOR
SPECIFICATIONS

High threshold sensitivity

Wide dynamic range

Backlight resistance

Moderate operating voltage (60-70 V)

CMOS compatible technology

Ability to create
1D-arrays/2D-arrays

Parameter

D-105-RC (NIR, Gen1)

TBD (NIR, Gen2)

Units

Photosensitive area

1 х 1

mm х mm

Cell density
(pulse dynamic range)

46 000

>70 000

per 1/mm²

Fill factor, f

90

87

%

Spectral range

400 - 940 (max @730)

400 - 950 (max @750)

nm

Photon detection efficiency (PDE)

35 @peak sensitivity.;
20 @λ=780 nm;
10 @λ=905 nm

40 @peak sensitivity.;
35 @λ=780 nm;
20 @λ=905 nm

%

Operating voltage

60 - 70

70 - 80

V

Crosstalk probability

< 1

%

Gain

(0,8 - 2,0) ∙ 10⁴

(0,5 - 1,0) ∙ 10⁴

-

FWHM time resolution (single photon jitter)

< 400 @λ=905 nm

< 350 @λ=905 nm

ps

Threshold sensitivity;
light impulse <1 ns (P_det=0,9; FDR=1 kHz)

@λ=780 nm: 50 to 75
@λ=905 nm: 120 to 150

@λ=780 nm: 40 to 65
@λ=905 nm: 100 to 120

photons

DETECTOR BENCHMARKING

The DEFAN photodetector has a unique combination of features to circumvent the limitations of competitive technologies in LiDAR applications

APD

DEPHAN

SiPM/SPAD

Single-element device in TO-5 package

different shapes and sizes available, from 0.025 to 1 mm²

sealed with transparent silicone encapsulant

Single-element device in SMD package

compact 5×5×2 mm SMD package ideal for PCB designs

sealed with silicone encapsulant or glass cap

optional optical filter (e.g. 900 to 910 nm band-pass)

Assembly of detector in SMD case with lens

SMD case is optimal for surface mounting

built-in lens with detector in the focal plane increases the effective size of the photosensitive area

Linear arrays

16 elements (available for

evaluation)

0.4×1.0 element size @18k cells

0,2×0,65 element size @9k cells)
0,2×0,65 element size @9k cells)
0,2×0,65 element size @9k cells)

Evaluation module

compatible with any TO-5 or similar detector package

USB interface with current and temperature measurement

built-in adjustable detector power supply with stabilization under load

Photodetectors (in development)

photodetector DEPHAN (1D-array)

readout and power electronics

data pre-processing and streaming

synchronization with the scanning system and laser

Download specification

8 / 16 / 32 elements (expected later)

product list

product

promising applications (detailed)

BioMedical, industrial and wireless communication Applications

Further technology development makes it possible to use DEFAN photodetectors for biomedical, industrial, and wireless optical communication applications, beating PMTs and SiPMs

MEDICAL IMAGING EXPLAINED:

PET, PET/CT, PET/MRI, SPECT

X-ray imaging (CT)

Scientific research
Biomarker detection
Bacteria detection
Cell counting
Cell sorting

▪ Wireless Optical Communication

Satellite-to-satellite
Satellite-to-ground

Building-to-building
Indoor communications

Industrial radiation detectors

▪ Flow Cytometry (Biological cell analysis and measurement)

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