The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 05, 2016
Filed:
Mar. 06, 2015
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Tokyo, JP;
Masaki Atsuta, Kanagawa, JP;
Keita Sasaki, Kanagawa, JP;
Hitoshi Yagi, Kanagawa, JP;
Rei Hasegawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
According to an embodiment, a photodetector includes a photodetecting element that has a pn junction and outputs a photocurrent corresponding to detected light, a voltage applying unit that applies a voltage to the photodetecting element, an obtaining unit that obtains the photocurrent detected by the photodetecting element, and a voltage controller. The voltage controller controls the voltage applying unit to apply, during a drive period, a drive voltage whose absolute value is not smaller than an avalanche breakdown voltage of the pn junction and which is in reverse bias with respect to the pn junction; and apply, during a standby period, any of a first standby voltage in forward bias, a second standby voltage with a voltage value of 0 V, and a third standby voltage whose absolute value is greater than 0 V, which is less than the drive voltage, and which is in reverse bias.