Long-range depth imaging using a single-photon detector array and non-local data fusion

Chan, S., Halimi, A., Zhu, F., Gyongy, I., Henderson, R. K., Bowman, R., McLaughlin, S., Buller, G. S. and Leach, J. (2019) Long-range depth imaging using a single-photon detector array and non-local data fusion. Scientific Reports, 9, 8075. (doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44316-x) (PMID:31147564) (PMCID:PMC6542841)

Abstract

The ability to measure and record high-resolution depth images at long stand-off distances is important for a wide range of applications, including connected and automotive vehicles, defense and security, and agriculture and mining. In LIDAR (light detection and ranging) applications, single-photon sensitive detection is an emerging approach, offering high sensitivity to light and picosecond temporal resolution, and consequently excellent surface-to-surface resolution. The use of large format CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) single-photon detector arrays provides high spatial resolution and allows the timing information to be acquired simultaneously across many pixels. In this work, we combine state-of-the-art single-photon detector array technology with non-local data fusion to generate high resolution three-dimensional depth information of long-range targets. The system is based on a visible pulsed illumination system at a wavelength of 670 nm and a 240 × 320 array sensor, achieving sub-centimeter precision in all three spatial dimensions at a distance of 150 meters. The non-local data fusion combines information from an optical image with sparse sampling of the single-photon array data, providing accurate depth information at low signature regions of the target.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC, UK) through the Quantum Technology Hub in Quantum Enhanced Imaging (EP/M01326X/1), by the European Research Council TOTALPHOTON grant through the EU’s Seventh Framework Program (FP/2007–2013)/ERC GA 339747, by the UK Royal Academy of Engineering under the Research Fellowship Scheme (RF/201718/17128), by the Royal Society (URF\R1\180153) and by the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory’s Defense and Security Accelerator (DASA).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Bowman, Dr Richard and Leach, Mr Jonathan
• Authors: Chan, S., Halimi, A., Zhu, F., Gyongy, I., Henderson, R. K., Bowman, R., McLaughlin, S., Buller, G. S., and Leach, J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Scientific Reports
• Publisher: Nature Research
• ISSN: 2045-2322
• ISSN (Online): 2045-2322
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Scientific Reports 9: 8075
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
190841		UK Quantum Technology Hub in Enhanced Quantum Imaging	Miles Padgett	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/M01326X/1	P&S - Physics & Astronomy