Direct TOF Scanning LiDAR Sensor With Two-Step Multievent 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/jssc.2020.3048074

Cited by 48 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Therefore, there has been a trend in dToF SPADs not just to time photons on-chip, but also to generate photon timing histograms physically close to the SPAD array, which results in considerable data compression, and hence alleviates readout bottleneck issues, allowing higher photon throughputs to be achieved, and thus faster data acquisition [57,73]. Moreover, combining onhistogramming with a multi-event TDC [58,[74][75][76], capable of registering multi-events per laser cycle, has been demonstrated to reduce TDC pile-up distortion under high ambient conditions [31].…”

Section: B Dtof Spads With On-chip Histogrammingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct Time-of-Flight Single-Photon Imaging

Gyöngy

Dutton

Henderson

2022

IEEE Trans. Electron Devices

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This paper provides a tutorial introduction to the direct Time of Flight (dToF) signal chain and typical artifacts introduced due to detector and processing electronic limitations. We outline the memory requirements of embedded histograms related to desired precision and detectability which are often the limiting factor in the array resolution. A survey of integrated CMOS dToF arrays is provided highlighting future prospects to further scaling through process optimization or smart embedded processing. Index Terms-direct time-of-flight (dTOF), light detection and ranging (LiDAR), single photon avalanche diode (SPAD), silicon photo multiplier (SiPM), CMOS Image Sensor (CIS), SPAD array, 3D ranging

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Section: B Dtof Spads With On-chip Histogrammingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct Time-of-Flight Single-Photon Imaging

Gyöngy

Dutton

Henderson

2022

IEEE Trans. Electron Devices

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“…ime-to-Digital Converters (TDCs) are devices able to convert time delays into digital numbers, aiming at high time resolution, precision, conversion speed, and low deadtime. Among many other applications, TDCs are exploited in many scientific fields requiring the precise measurement of the arrival time of photons, such as in particle and high-energy physics [1], laser ranging [2] [3], time-of-flight positron emission tomography (ToF-PET) [4], fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), quantum imaging [5], etc. Besides TDC resolution, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-Channel FPGA Time-to-Digital Converter With 10 ps Bin and 40 ps FWHM

Portaluppi

Pasquinelli

Cusini

et al. 2022

IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas.

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We present a novel architecture for multi-channel Time-to-Digital Converters to be implemented into low-cost FPGAs, achieving 10 ps LSB, 164 µs full-scale range, and good linearity both in terms of DNL and INL. The conceived architecture is based on the carry chain delay line model and wave union A method: the positions of both rising and falling edges that propagate in multiple parallel carry chains are recorded each time there is a HIT input. This technique effectively sub-divides the ultra-wide bins improving the measurement precision, and, combined with the sliding-scale technique and continuous code density calibration, improves the TDC linearity. Employing the proposed architecture, we have implemented in a Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA a TDC with 20 timestamp units and validated the device in a Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting setup, when connected to an array chip with 5 × 5 Single Photon Avalanche Diodes.

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“…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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Direct TOF Scanning LiDAR Sensor With Two-Step Multievent Histogramming TDC and Embedded Interference Filter

Cited by 48 publications

References 22 publications

Direct Time-of-Flight Single-Photon Imaging

Direct Time-of-Flight Single-Photon Imaging

Multi-Channel FPGA Time-to-Digital Converter With 10 ps Bin and 40 ps FWHM

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

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