Gate-Controlled Photodetector in PIN technology for distance measurements

Within this work the optimized design of a Gate-Controlled Photodetector (GCP) as part of an integrated distance measurement sensor based on the time-of-flight (TOF) principle of modulated light is presented. The PIN setup of the GCP is proposed to receive efficiently correlated reception signals of even non-cooperative targets. Together with an optimized readout circuit design, the possibilities of 0.6 mum BiCMOS are exploited. As a result of the GCP design, a responsivity of R=0.24 A/W, a separation efficiency of eta_sep =50%, and a bandwidth of f_-3dB=90 MHz at a wavelength of lambda=660 nm are achieved. A standard deviation of sigma< 5 mm {2 cm} for a distance range of 1-2.5 m {0.5-3.3 m} and a predictable linearity error of plusmn10 cm for a range up to 3.3m are measured for the sensor with a transmitted optical power of P_opt=1.5 mW at lambda=650 nm and a white paper target.