Small angular displacement sensor based on silicon photomultiplier for tracking systems

Abstract

The possibility of using a silicon photomultiplier in sensors of small angular displacements for tracking systems is evaluated. The commercially available silicon photomultipliers of the KOF5-1035, ketek RM 3325 and ON Semi FC 30035 models are avalanche matrix photodetectors characterized by a large photosensitive surface area, high gain, low supply voltage and low cost. For these silicon photomultipliers, the dependences of the magnitude of the photocurrent on the angle of incidence of radiation relative to the normal to the plane of the photosensitive surface are obtained. It is established that the dependence of the average value of the amplitude of the photo-response on the angle of incidence of radiation has a sufficiently long linear section. A variant of an angular position sensor based on silicon photomultipliers for tracking systems is proposed, which makes it possible to determine the direction of displacement of a moving object, as well as the magnitude of the displacement angle. Such sensors can be used in automated Smart Home and Smart City systems, in positioning systems for various types of industrial equipment and robotic systems, as well as for remote monitoring of the angular position of hard-to-reach objects.