LiDAR system comprising a single-photon detector
US10520591B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 7, 2017 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 24, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/89
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for developing a map of objects in a region surrounding a location is disclosed. The method includes interrogating the region along a detection axis with a series of optical pulses and detecting reflections of the optical pulses that originate at objects located along the detection axis. A multi-dimensional map of the region is developed by scanning the detection axis about the location in at least one dimension. The reflections are detected via a single-photon detector that is armed using a sub-gating scheme such that the single-photon detector selectively detects photons of reflections that originate only within each of a plurality of zones that collectively define the detection field. In some embodiments, the optical pulses have a wavelength within the range of 1350 nm to 1390 nm, which is a spectral range having a relatively high eye-safety threshold and a relatively low solar background.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.