Philips Digital Photon Counting

Digital silicon photomultiplier technology for ultra-high performance photon-counting applications Philips’ highly innovative digital silicon photomultiplier technology has the potential to create a new class of light detector for ultra-low light levels down to single photons. By integrating both the sensor and the data processing into a single silicon chip, it will enable faster and more accurate photon counting in a wide range of applications where ultra-low light levels need to be measured. The key to this breakthrough lies in Philips’ ability to combine high performance single-photon avalanche photodiodes and low-voltage CMOS logic on the same silicon substrate using a conventional CMOS process technology. This integration enables true digital photon counting without the need for noise-sensitive off-chip A/D conversion. Offering the solid state advantages of sensitivity, speed and robustness, digital silicon photomultipliers are an attractive potential alternative to photomultiplier tubes in many applications. Potential application areas include: Medical imaging High-energy physics Night-vision and surveillance systems Analytical instrumentation Quantum cryptography