Statistical photo-calibration of photo-detectors for radiometry without calibrated light sources comprising an arithmetic unit to determine a gain and a bias from mean values and variance values

摘要

Calibration of a radiometry system uses a readout circuit of a photo-detector to provide first and second measurements collected over first and second integration times, respectively, where the first and second measurements are related to a photonic input to the photo-detector by a gain and a bias. First mean and variance values are computed for a plurality of first measurements. Second mean and variance values are computed for a plurality of second measurements. The gain and bias are determined from the first and second mean values and the first and second variance values without the use of a calibrated source. The rate of photonic input to the photo-detector and the variance of noise added in the readout circuit may also be determined.