Long-range time-of-flight scanning sensor based on high-speed time-correlated single-photon counting

We describe a scanning time-of-flight system which uses the time-correlated single-photon counting technique to produce three-dimensional depth images of distant, noncooperative surfaces when these targets are illuminated by a kHz to MHz repetition rate pulsed laser source. The data for the scene ar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied optics. Optical technology and biomedical optics 2009-11, Vol.48 (32), p.6241
Main Authors: McCarthy, Aongus, Collins, Robert J, Krichel, Nils J, Fernández, Verónica, Wallace, Andrew M, Buller, Gerald S
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We describe a scanning time-of-flight system which uses the time-correlated single-photon counting technique to produce three-dimensional depth images of distant, noncooperative surfaces when these targets are illuminated by a kHz to MHz repetition rate pulsed laser source. The data for the scene are acquired using a scanning optical system and an individual single-photon detector. Depth images have been successfully acquired with centimeter xyz resolution, in daylight conditions, for low-signature targets in field trials at distances of up to 325 m using an output illumination with an average optical power of less than 50 microW.
ISSN:2155-3165
DOI:10.1364/ao.48.006241