A 32 × 32 avalanche photodiode array read-out circuit with rapid active-quenching and high-voltage protection

A 32×32 pixel avalanche photodiode array read-out circuit is presented. The pixel structure adopts a specially designed active-quenching circuit along with function of self-check, auto-reset, and high-voltage protection. The chip is expected to be used with Avalanche Photodiode (APD) array working at Geiger Mode, and the data of each pixel can be serially output individually in 32 channels. The chip has been fabricated in a 0.18um standard CMOS technology. The pixel pitch is 100um, while the whole chip size is 5 × 6 mm² which has realized low quenching time of 1ns, high-voltage protection (60V), and minimum time resolution of 500ps.