Smart three-dimensional imaging ladar using two Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a new method that is capable of obtaining a clear 3D image by the reduction of false alarms caused by noise in the stage of acquisition of raw time of flight (TOF) data. This method is implemented by intensity dividing a laser-return pulse into two Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (GmAPDs); an AND gate compares the arrival time of the electrical signals from the GmAPDs. Despite the fact that the energy of a laser-return pulse is decreased by half, the false alarm probability is drastically decreased because the noise distributed randomly in the time domain is filtered out. The experimental measurement is in agreement with the theoretical analysis. As a result, we can obtain a clear 3D image despite the high noise. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America