Photon Counting LIDAR Based on True Random Coding

• Main Authors: Yang Yu, Bo Liu, Zhen Chen, Kangjian Hua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
• Series: Sensors
• Subjects: LIDAR; photon counting; true random coding
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/11/3331

In this paper, a true random coding photon counting LIDAR is described, in which a Gm-APD (Geiger mode avalanche photodiode) acts as the true random sequence signal generator. The true random coding method not only improves the anti-crosstalk capability of the system, but also greatly reduces the 1-bit missed detection caused by the limited Gm-APD count rate. The experiment verifies the feasibility of the true random sequence used in a photon counting LIDAR ranging system, and a simple and intuitive evaluation model of true random sequence autocorrelation is proposed. Finally, the influence of system parameters (mean echo photon number, mean pulse count density, sequence length, mean noise count) on detection probability is explored. In general, this paper proves that the true random code photon counting LIDAR is an effective target detection method, and provides a new idea for the research of an anti-crosstalk LIDAR system.