METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE GAIN AND ZERO OF A MULTI-PIXEL PHOTON COUNTER DEVICE, AND LIGHT-MEASURING SYSTEM IMPLEMENTING SAID METHOD

摘要

A method for controlling the gain and zero of a multiple pixel photon counter device, and light-measuring system implementing said method.;Signals provided by the device are acquired for predefined periods, until a predefined total measurement time is reached, an amplitude histogram is formed from the acquired signals, the positions of two consecutive peaks, measurable on the histogram, are determined, an error signal is produced, which is equal to the deviation between both peaks and, by means of the same, the voltage supplying the device is regulated, so as to keep the deviation equal to a predefined set point.

主权项

1. A method for controlling the gain of a multiple pixel photon counting device, comprising an array of avalanche photodiodes, the device being supplied with voltage and providing a signal when it detects photons, comprising the following steps of:
acquiring the signals provided by the device for predefined periods, until a predefined total measurement time is reached, forming an amplitude histogram, including a set of peaks, from the signals thus acquired, and for which the amplitude is drawn in abscissa and a number of photoelectrons or thermal agitation electrons is drawn in ordinate, determining the respective positions of two consecutive peaks, measurable on the histogram, producing an error signal which is equal to the deviation between both consecutive peaks, and by means of the error signal, regulating the voltage which supplies the device, so as to keep the deviation equal to a predefined set point.