A 64 $\times$ 64-Pixels Digital Silicon Photomultiplier Direct TOF Sensor With 100-MPhotons/s/pixel Background Rejection and Imaging/Altimeter Mode With 0.14% Precision Up To 6 km for Spacecraft Navigation and Landing

Perenzoni, Matteo; Stoppa, David

doi:10.1109/jssc.2016.2623635

Cited by 141 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…A non-paralyzable dead time, t d , is assumed for all analyses in the paper. Therefore, the event rates in Equations (7) and (8) are modified to provide the effective rates.…”

Section: As Shown Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mitigating challenges from high background noise have been addressed by coincidence detection (or similar technique) on the sensor [7,11,12,16]. Coincidence detection is a well-known technique which utilizes spatio-temporal correlation of photons within a laser pulse to filter out background noise photons which are uniformly distributed in time.…”

Section: Dtof Sensor Adapted For Coincidence Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another drawback of ITOF sensors is their limited ability to distinguish two nearby objects [6]. DTOF sensors, on the other hand, are able to mitigate these challenges with detection ranges reaching up to several hundred meters [7,8], principally determined by the available optical power and their innate ability to discriminate multiple echoes easily [9]. This paper focuses on single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) based DTOF sensors for LiDAR.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modeling and Analysis of a Direct Time-of-Flight Sensor Architecture for LiDAR Applications

Zhang

Charbon

2019

Sensors

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Tel.: +41-216-954-413 † This paper is an extended version of our paper published in: Padmanabhan, P.; Zhang, C.; Charbon, E.Analysis of a modular SPAD-based direct time-of-flight depth sensor architecture for wide dynamic range scenes in a LiDAR system. Abstract:Direct time-of-flight (DTOF) is a prominent depth sensing method in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) applications. Single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) arrays integrated in DTOF sensors have demonstrated excellent ranging and 3D imaging capabilities, making them promising candidates for LiDARs. However, high background noise due to solar exposure limits their performance and degrades the signal-to-background noise ratio (SBR). Noise-filtering techniques based on coincidence detection and time-gating have been implemented to mitigate this challenge but 3D imaging of a wide dynamic range scene is an ongoing issue. In this paper, we propose a coincidence-based DTOF sensor architecture to address the aforementioned challenges. The architecture is analyzed using a probabilistic model and simulation. A flash LiDAR setup is simulated with typical operating conditions of a wide angle field-of-view (FOV = 40 • ) in a 50 klux ambient light assumption. Single-point ranging simulations are obtained for distances up to 150 m using the DTOF model. An activity-dependent coincidence is proposed as a way to improve imaging of wide dynamic range targets. An example scene with targets ranging between 8-60% reflectivity is used to simulate the proposed method. The model predicts that a single threshold cannot yield an accurate reconstruction and a higher (lower) reflective target requires a higher (lower) coincidence threshold. Further, a pixel-clustering scheme is introduced, capable of providing multiple simultaneous timing information as a means to enhance throughput and reduce timing uncertainty. Example scenes are reconstructed to distinguish up to 4 distinct target peaks simulated with a resolution of 500 ps. Alternatively, a time-gating mode is simulated where in the DTOF sensor performs target-selective ranging. Simulation results show reconstruction of a 10% reflective target at 20 m in the presence of a retro-reflective equivalent with a 60% reflectivity at 5 m within the same FOV.

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“…A non-paralyzable dead time, t d , is assumed for all analyses in the paper. Therefore, the event rates in Equations (7) and (8) are modified to provide the effective rates.…”

Section: As Shown Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Dtof Sensor Adapted For Coincidence Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modeling and Analysis of a Direct Time-of-Flight Sensor Architecture for LiDAR Applications

Zhang

Charbon

2019

Sensors

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“…Interestingly, they can be built in 2D SPAD-arrays currently of up to 265 × 256 pixels [156] where each pixel is a SPAD. [157][158][159] This offers applications for coincidence imaging [160] but the pixel number is still fairly low. Due to the electronics around the actual sensitive area, the filling factor is low, too.…”

Section: Avalanche Photodiodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspectives for Applications of Quantum Imaging

Basset

Setzpfandt

Steinlechner

et al. 2019

Laser & Photonics Reviews

126

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Quantum imaging is a multifaceted field of research that promises highly efficient imaging in extreme spectral ranges as well as ultralow‐light microscopy. Since the first proof‐of‐concept experiments over 30 years ago, the field has evolved from highly fascinating academic research to the verge of demonstrating practical technological enhancements in imaging and microscopy. Here, the aim is to give researchers from outside the quantum optical community, in particular those applying imaging technology, an overview of several promising quantum imaging approaches and evaluate both the quantum benefit and the prospects for practical usage in the near future. Several use case scenarios are discussed and a careful analysis of related technology requirements and necessary developments toward practical and commercial application is provided.

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“…The time measurement is realized with time-to-digital converters (TDC) or time-to-amplitude converters. The measurement range can be up to several kilometers with this kind of a pulsed TOF method [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An 80 × 25 pixel CMOS single-photon image sensor with sub-ns time gating for solid state 3D scanning

Ruokamo

Rapakko

Kostamovaara

2017

2017 13th Conference on Ph.D. Research in Microelectronics and Electronics (PRIME)

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Imager topology with sub-ns time gating for 3D distance measurement application and first measurement results of the prototype are presented. The imager has a fully digital operating principle with single-photon avalanche diode detectors and on-chip narrow gating of pixel groups. The prototype detector has 80 x 25 pixels with a fill factor of 34 % in the sensor area. The chip has been fabricated in a 0.35 µm high-voltage process and occupies 5.69 x 5.02 mm 2 area.

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A 64 $\times$ 64-Pixels Digital Silicon Photomultiplier Direct TOF Sensor With 100-MPhotons/s/pixel Background Rejection and Imaging/Altimeter Mode With 0.14% Precision Up To 6 km for Spacecraft Navigation and Landing

Cited by 141 publications

References 12 publications

Modeling and Analysis of a Direct Time-of-Flight Sensor Architecture for LiDAR Applications

Modeling and Analysis of a Direct Time-of-Flight Sensor Architecture for LiDAR Applications

Perspectives for Applications of Quantum Imaging

An 80 × 25 pixel CMOS single-photon image sensor with sub-ns time gating for solid state 3D scanning

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