A 36-Channel SPAD-Integrated Scanning LiDAR Sensor with Multi-Event Histogramming TDC and Embedded Interference Filter

Seo, Hyeongseok; Yoon, Hee-Sun; Kim, Dongkyu; Kim, Jung-Woo; Kim, Seong‐Jin; Chun, Jung-Hoon; Choi, Jaehyuk

doi:10.1109/vlsicircuits18222.2020.9162807

Cited by 16 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…Detectors typically used in pulsed-LiDAR applications include Charge-coupled devices (CCDs), particularly electron-multiplying CCDs (EM-CCDs) [ 38 ] and intensified-CCDs (I-CCDs) [ 39 ], avalanche photodiodes (APDs) [ 40 ], single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs), and silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), both analog (a-SiPM) and digital (d-SiPM) [ 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ].…”

Section: Detectors For Pulsed-lidar Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a 2020 Seo paper [ 57 ] a 63 channel SiPM array (with four SPADs per pixel) is used in a line scanning setup. Each pixel includes two histogramming TDCs (hTDCs): a 5-bit coarse TDC with a shift register architecture used to build the analog coarse histogram through a current injection in the corresponding accumulator and a 6-bit fine TDC, based on delay-locked loop (DLL), which is used to feed a fine histogram.…”

Section: Spad and Sipm Detectors For Pulsed-lidarmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to reduce data-throughput, the histogram can be computed on-chip, as in Hutchings [ 46 ], typically with the limitation of having a reduced FSR (in [ 46 ] the FSR reduces to 9 ns with on-chip histogram computation). Partial histograms (PHs) around the peak, detected through a coarse histogram, can be computed as in Zhang [ 56 ] and Seo [ 57 ] in order to preserve both high resolution and long range.…”

Section: Spad and Sipm Detectors For Pulsed-lidarmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Ximenes [ 53 , 54 ], a 256 × 256 image resolution is obtained through a dual axis laser scanner using an 8 × 32 SPAD array. In Seo [ 57 ], a 1 × 36 SiPM is used for line scanning through MEMS and rotating polygon mirrors to achieve 2200 × 36 resolution and 120° × 8° FOV. In Kumagai [ 50 ], a blade illumination laser scanning with horizontally oscillating MEMS mirrors is used in combination with a staring 63 × 200 SPAD camera activated one column at a time, in a non-coaxial setup.…”

Section: Spad and Sipm Detectors For Pulsed-lidarmentioning

confidence: 99%

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SPADs and SiPMs Arrays for Long-Range High-Speed Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)

Villa

Severini

Madonini

et al. 2021

Sensors

118

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Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is a 3D imaging technique, widely used in many applications such as augmented reality, automotive, machine vision, spacecraft navigation and landing. Achieving long-ranges and high-speed, most of all in outdoor applications with strong solar background illumination, are challenging requirements. In the introduction we review different 3D-ranging techniques (stereo-vision, projection with structured light, pulsed-LiDAR, amplitude-modulated continuous-wave LiDAR, frequency-modulated continuous-wave interferometry), illumination schemes (single point and blade scanning, flash-LiDAR) and time-resolved detectors for LiDAR (EM-CCD, I-CCD, APD, SPAD, SiPM). Then, we provide an extensive review of silicon- single photon avalanche diode (SPAD)-based LiDAR detectors (both commercial products and research prototypes) analyzing how each architecture faces the main challenges of LiDAR (i.e., long ranges, centimeter resolution, large field-of-view and high angular resolution, high operation speed, background immunity, eye-safety and multi-camera operation). Recent progresses in 3D stacking technologies provided an important step forward in SPAD array development, allowing to reach smaller pitch, higher pixel count and more complex processing electronics. In the conclusions, we provide some guidelines for the design of next generation SPAD-LiDAR detectors.

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Section: Detectors For Pulsed-lidar Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Spad and Sipm Detectors For Pulsed-lidarmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Spad and Sipm Detectors For Pulsed-lidarmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Spad and Sipm Detectors For Pulsed-lidarmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

SPADs and SiPMs Arrays for Long-Range High-Speed Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)

Villa

Severini

Madonini

et al. 2021

Sensors

118

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Various research groups have compared the performance of APD- and SPAD-based optical detection systems and also derived SNR definitions for both APDs and SPADs. The authors of [ 1 ] derive an SNR definition for SPADs in single- or multi-event [ 2 , 3 ] acquisition mode which is the basis for this work. An extension of this definition is given by [ 4 ] representing afterpulsing effects in gated SPADs, which are assumed to be negligible in this work through the use of a sufficiently long dead time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analytical Evaluation of Signal-to-Noise Ratios for Avalanche- and Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes

Buchner

Hadrath

Burkard

et al. 2021

Sensors

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Performance of systems for optical detection depends on the choice of the right detector for the right application. Designers of optical systems for ranging applications can choose from a variety of highly sensitive photodetectors, of which the two most prominent ones are linear mode avalanche photodiodes (LM-APDs or APDs) and Geiger-mode APDs or single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). Both achieve high responsivity and fast optical response, while maintaining low noise characteristics, which is crucial in low-light applications such as fluorescence lifetime measurements or high intensity measurements, for example, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), in outdoor scenarios. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of detectors is used as an analytical, scenario-dependent tool to simplify detector choice for optical system designers depending on technologically achievable photodiode parameters. In this article, analytical methods are used to obtain a universal SNR comparison of APDs and SPADs for the first time. Different signal and ambient light power levels are evaluated. The low noise characteristic of a typical SPAD leads to high SNR in scenarios with overall low signal power, but high background illumination can saturate the detector. LM-APDs achieve higher SNR in systems with higher signal and noise power but compromise signals with low power because of the noise characteristic of the diode and its readout electronics. Besides pure differentiation of signal levels without time information, ranging performance in LiDAR with time-dependent signals is discussed for a reference distance of 100 m. This evaluation should support LiDAR system designers in choosing a matching photodiode and allows for further discussion regarding future technological development and multi pixel detector designs in a common framework.

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Fundamental limits to depth imaging with single-photon detector array sensors

Scholes

Mora-Martín

Zhu

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Single-Photon Avalanche Detector (SPAD) arrays are a rapidly emerging technology. These multi-pixel sensors have single-photon sensitivities and pico-second temporal resolutions thus they can rapidly generate depth images with millimeter precision. Such sensors are a key enabling technology for future autonomous systems as they provide guidance and situational awareness. However, to fully exploit the capabilities of SPAD array sensors, it is crucial to establish the quality of depth images they are able to generate in a wide range of scenarios. Given a particular optical system and a finite image acquisition time, what is the best-case depth resolution and what are realistic images generated by SPAD arrays? In this work, we establish a robust yet simple numerical procedure that rapidly establishes the fundamental limits to depth imaging with SPAD arrays under real world conditions. Our approach accurately generates realistic depth images in a wide range of scenarios, allowing the performance of an optical depth imaging system to be established without the need for costly and laborious field testing. This procedure has applications in object detection and tracking for autonomous systems and could be easily extended to systems for underwater imaging or for imaging around corners.

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A 36-Channel SPAD-Integrated Scanning LiDAR Sensor with Multi-Event Histogramming TDC and Embedded Interference Filter

Cited by 16 publications

References 0 publications

SPADs and SiPMs Arrays for Long-Range High-Speed Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)

SPADs and SiPMs Arrays for Long-Range High-Speed Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)

Analytical Evaluation of Signal-to-Noise Ratios for Avalanche- and Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes

Fundamental limits to depth imaging with single-photon detector array sensors

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