Techniques for improved performances of direct-detection three-dimensional imaging laser radar system using Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode

Min Seok Oh; Tae Hoon Kim; Sung Eun Jo; Hong Jin Kong

doi:10.1117/12.884816

12 May 2011 Techniques for improved performances of direct-detection three-dimensional imaging laser radar system using Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode

Min Seok Oh, Tae Hoon Kim, Sung Eun Jo, Hong Jin Kong

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8033, Advanced Photon Counting Techniques V; 80330E (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884816
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2011, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Direct-detection three-dimensional imaging laser radar system using Geiger-mode av.alanche photodiode (GAPD) is investigated in order to acquire three-dimensional images of objects at a long distance (more than 100m). Due to extremely high sensitivity of the GAPD, a laser radar system using GAPD is not only advantageous in terms of ranging a distant object but also in detecting a target screened by a sparse obstacle located in front of it. Both laser radar systems using a single-pixel GAPD and 1x8-pixel GAPD focal plane array as detectors are built up and analyzed. Passively Q-switched microchip laser is used as a laser source and a compact peripheral component interconnect system, which includes a time-to-digital converter (TDC), is set up. With both the GAPD having short dead-time (45ns) and the TDC functioning multi-stop acquisition, the system operates in a multi-hit mode. Three-dimensional images taken by the laser radar systems are shown. Both the single-shot precision and the dependence of the precision on the effective number of laser pulses are shown. Range walk reduction and autofocus techniques are proposed and demonstrated experimentally; they improve the accuracy and transverse spatial resolution of the laser radar system, respectively.

Citation Download Citation

Min Seok Oh, Tae Hoon Kim, Sung Eun Jo, and Hong Jin Kong "Techniques for improved performances of direct-detection three-dimensional imaging laser radar system using Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode", Proc. SPIE 8033, Advanced Photon Counting Techniques V, 80330E (12 May 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884816

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