3D imaging laser radar using Geiger-mode APDs: analysis and experiments

Abstract

For a direct-detection 3D imaging ladar, the use of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode (APD) could greatly enhance the detection efficiency of the receiver since each range measurement requires only one detected photon. Single photon sensitivity of the detector offers significant advantages in reducing receiver size, mass and power and reducing laser complexity. This paper studies the 3D imaging ladar using APDs which are actively quenched and gated to operate at Geiger-mode to detect short weak laser echo pulse. The detection model of this detector as well as the detection probability and false alarm probability for this ladar is analyzed and discussed. The analysis shows that the major factors influencing system design are the background light noise and the dead time of the Geiger-mode APD. Then the noise which affects the false alarm probability is analyzed and calculated and the measures to extract the weak signal echo from a high noise background are put forward. The research also shows that using a detector array instead of a single detector could reduce the false alarm probability by orders of magnitude. Finally a 3D imaging brassboard system which utilizes Geiger-mode APDs, a fast pulse, high repetition rate laser, and an optical scanner is described, and some experimental results obtained by this system are presented and analyzed. The results suggest that if the background light noise is sufficiently suppressed, 3D images of the targets could be successfully taken by the ladar using Geiger-mode APDs.

Spaceborne laser rangefinder ranging sensitivity and accuracy analysis

“…The random error m R 15 . 0 3 = σ and the 3D image of the target collected in daylight is shown in Figure 3 [7] .…”

Development of pulsed‐laser three‐dimensional imaging flash lidar using APD arrays

“…130 Moreover, there may be some cross-talk between pixels of the APD array. 135 Over the past 20 years, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT/LL) has been pioneered in the field of flash lidar using Geiger-mode APD arrays under continuous development. 67,136 The size of the Geiger-mode APD array was gradually upgraded from 4 Â 4, 137 32 Â 32, 23,138-140 32 Â 128, 141 64 Â 64, 52,142 256 Â 128 127 to 256 Â 256.…”

“…75 The photo detection probability (PDE) represented the probability that an incident photon will produce a detection event and the PDE was 10%-12%. 160 As the same as the linear-mode APD array, the Geigermode APD array with a large scale was also heavily relied on the advanced semiconductor processing technology. To avoid using a large Geiger-mode APD array meanwhile possess a high imaging resolution, scanning method can be used to compensate for the low resolution caused by the small scale of the Geiger-mode APD array.…”

“…A 64 × 64 InGaAs Geiger‐mode APD array and ROIC with 453 ps resolution were fabricated by Hamamatsu Photonics K.K 75 . The photo detection probability (PDE) represented the probability that an incident photon will produce a detection event and the PDE was 10%–12% 160 …”

Multi-channel photon counting three-dimensional imaging laser radar system using fiber array coupled Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode

“…This feature of photon counting laser radar enables ranging under conditions of long range, low laser pulse energy, and multi-pixel detection, while receiver size, mass, power, and complexity of laser radar are reduced Several research groups have started their studies on photon counting laser radars. [2][3][4][5][6] Their systems often contain single photon detectors (commonly Geiger mode APDs or PMTs), a photon events timing hardware, and a Poissonstatistics based photon counting noise filter software. In this article, Geiger mode APDs are employed as the single photon detectors in laser radar system.…”