Laser Detection And Ranging System Research Articles

Implementation of a pulse-type laser detection and ranging system based on heterodyne detection for long-range measurement with high repetition rate.

This paper presents the implementation of a pulse-type LAser Detection And Ranging (LADAR) system based on heterodyne detection for long-range measurement. A pulse-type LADAR based on an intensity direct-detection is certainly simple and mature, but it requires a high peak-power laser and a low-noise avalanche photodiode for long-range measurement, which restricts the scope of the application due to the weight, power consumption, and cost of the laser and the photodetector. In this work, heterodyne detection using a PIN photodiode is implemented to increase receiver sensitivity instead of using a low-noise avalanche photodiode. An optical phase-locked loop is adopted to generate an optical local oscillator signal for heterodyne detection. The proposed heterodyne detection scheme achieves a minimum detectable signal level of -52.6 dBm at a bandwidth of 1.2 GHz, and it is adopted in a pulse-type LADAR system for long-range measurement. The pulse-type LADAR system can measure a distance of 2.77 km at a repetition rate of 40 kHz, and it demonstrates great advantages for realizing real-time 3D imaging for long-range measurement with a high frame rate.

The Development of a 3D LADAR Simulator Based on a Fast Target Impulse Response Generation Approach

A new laser detection and ranging (LADAR) simulator has been developed, using MATLAB and its graphical user interface, to simulate direct detection time of flight LADAR systems, and to produce 3D simulated scanning images under a wide variety of conditions. This simulator models each stage from the laser source to data generation and can be considered as an efficient simulation tool to use when developing LADAR systems and their data processing algorithms. The novel approach proposed for this simulator is to generate the actual target impulse response. This approach is fast and able to deal with high scanning requirements without losing the fidelity that accompanies increments in speed. This leads to a more efficient LADAR simulator and opens up the possibility for simulating LADAR beam propagation more accurately by using a large number of laser footprint samples. The approach is to select only the parts of the target that lie in the laser beam angular field by mathematically deriving the required equations and calculating the target angular ranges. The performance of the new simulator has been evaluated under different scanning conditions, the results showing significant increments in processing speeds in comparison to conventional approaches, which are also used in this study as a point of comparison for the results. The results also show the simulator’s ability to simulate phenomena related to the scanning process, for example, type of noise, scanning resolution and laser beam width.

Switched 4-to-1 Transimpedance Combining Amplifier for Receiver Front-End Circuit of Static Unitary Detector-Based LADAR System

Laser detection and ranging (LADAR) systems are commonly used to acquire real-time three-dimensional (3D) images using the time-of-flight of a short laser pulse. A static unitary detector (STUD)-based LADAR system is a simple method for obtaining real-time high-resolution 3D images. In this study, a switched 4-to-1 transimpedance combining amplifier (TCA) is implemented as a receiver front-end readout integrated circuit for the STUD-based LADAR system. The 4-to-1 TCA is fabricated using a standard 0.18 μm complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, and it consists of four independent current buffers, a two-stage signal combiner, a balun, and an output buffer in one single integrated chip. In addition, there is a switch on each input current path to expand the region of interest with multiple photodetectors. The core of the TCA occupies an area of 92 μm × 68 μm, and the die size including I/O pads is 1000 μm × 840 μm. The power consumption of the fabricated chip is 17.8 mW for a supplied voltage of 1.8 V and a transimpedance gain of 67.5 dBΩ. The simulated bandwidth is 353 MHz in the presence of a 1 pF photodiode parasitic capacitance for each photosensitive cell.

Pixel multiplexing technique for real-time three-dimensional-imaging laser detection and ranging system using four linear-mode avalanche photodiodes.

The avalanche-photodiode-array (APD-array) laser detection and ranging (LADAR) system has been continually developed owing to its superiority of nonscanning, large field of view, high sensitivity, and high precision. However, how to achieve higher-efficient detection and better integration of the LADAR system for real-time three-dimensional (3D) imaging continues to be a problem. In this study, a novel LADAR system using four linear mode APDs (LmAPDs) is developed for high-efficient detection by adopting a modulation and multiplexing technique. Furthermore, an automatic control system for the array LADAR system is proposed and designed by applying the virtual instrumentation technique. The control system aims to achieve four functions: synchronization of laser emission and rotating platform, multi-channel synchronous data acquisition, real-time Ethernet upper monitoring, and real-time signal processing and 3D visualization. The structure and principle of the complete system are described in the paper. The experimental results demonstrate that the LADAR system is capable of achieving real-time 3D imaging on an omnidirectional rotating platform under the control of the virtual instrumentation system. The automatic imaging LADAR system utilized only 4 LmAPDs to achieve 256-pixel-per-frame detection with by employing 64-bit demodulator. Moreover, the lateral resolution is ∼15 cm and range accuracy is ∼4 cm root-mean-square error at a distance of ∼40 m.

InP-Based Single-Photon Detectors and Geiger-Mode APD Arrays for Quantum Communications Applications

To meet the increasing demand from quantum communications and other photon starved applications, we have developed various InP-based single-photon detectors, including discrete single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs), negative feedback avalanche diodes (NFADs), and Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode (GmAPD) arrays. A large quantity of InP SPADs have been fabricated. Out of 1000 devices with a 25-μm active area diameter, operated under gated mode at temperature of 233 K, with a pulse repetition rate of 1 MHz and pulse width of 1 ns, the average dark count rate and afterpulsing probability are 30 kHz and 8 × 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-5</sup> , respectively. Smaller (16-μm active area diameter) and larger (40-μm active area diameter) discrete devices have been fabricated as well, and their performances are presented along with the 25-μm diameter devices. NFAD devices can operate in free running mode and photon detection efficiency of 10-15% can be achieved without applying any hold-off time externally. When the temperature decreases from 240 to 160 K, the noise equivalent power (NEP) decreasesfrom1.9 × 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-16</sup> to 1.8 × 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-18</sup> WHz <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-1/2</sup> , with the activation energy being 0.2 eV. The very low NEP at 160 K makes NFAD devices an ideal choice for long distance, entanglement-based quantum key distributions. GmAPD arrays provide an enabling technology for many active optical applications, such as 3-D laser detection and ranging (LADAR) and photon starved optical communications. Both 32 × 32 and 128 × 32 GmAPD arrays have been fabricated with high performance and good uniformity. GmAPD focal plane arrays (FPAs) with framed readout mode have enabled very high-performance flash LADAR systems. GmAPD FPAs with asynchronous readout mode will enable high rate quantum key distributions and other quantum communications applications.

Geiger Mode로 동작하는 3차원 LADAR 광수신기 개발

본 논문에서는 3차원 영상 획득을 위한 LADAR(LAser Detection And Ranging)용 광수신기 모듈을 설계-제작하고 측정한 결과를 보고한다. 광수신기 모듈은 1 km 이상의 거리에서도 신호를 측정할 수 있도록 디지털모드(Geiger Mode)에서 동작하는 InGaAs APD(Avalanche Photodiode)로 설계하였으며, <TEX>$16{\pm}16$</TEX> FPA(Focal Plane Array)로 설계-제작하였다. 디지털모드(Geiger Mode)는 항복전압 이상의 영역에서 동작하여 작은 광에 대해 반응 할 수 있게 큰 증폭률을 가지게 된다. 1ns의 FWHM(Full Width at Half Maximum)을 갖는 펄스를 수광할 수 있고, 배열 크기는 <TEX>$16{\pm}16$</TEX>, Geiger Mode 동작 등의 특성을 만족하도록 광수신기를 구성하기 위해 ROIC(Read Out Integrated Circuit)를 자체적으로 설계-제작하였다. 제작된 광수신기 모듈은 원거리 표적정보 획득이 가능하며, PDE(Photon Detection Efficiency)는 28%, DCR(Dark Count Rate)은 140 kHz 이하의 특성을 보였으며, LADAR 시스템에서 3차원 영상을 획득하였다. 이는 <TEX>$16{\pm}16$</TEX> FPA APD를 이용한 광수신기에서 가장 우수한 특성을 나타낸 것이다. In this paper, we report the design, fabrication and characterization of the 3-Dimensional optical receiver for a Laser Detection And Ranging (LADAR) system. The optical receiver is composed of three parts; <TEX>$16{\pm}16$</TEX> Geiger Mode InGaAs Avalanche Photodiode (APD) array device operated at 1560 nm wavelength, Read Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC) measuring the Time-Of-Flight (TOF) of the return signal reflected from target objects, a package and cooler maintaining the proper operational condition of the detector and control electronics. We can confirm that the LADAR system can detect the signal from a target up to 1.2 km away, and it showed low Dark Count Rate (DCR) of less than 140 kHz, and higher than 28%-Photon Detection Efficiency (PDE). This is considered to be the best performance of the <TEX>$16{\pm}16$</TEX> FPA APD optical receiver for a LADAR system.

Improvement of range precision in laser detection and ranging system by using two Geiger mode avalanche photodiodes

In this paper, the improvement of range precision in a laser detection and ranging (LADAR) system by using two Geiger mode avalanche photodiodes (GmAPDs) is described. The LADAR system is implemented by using two GmAPDs with a beam splitter and applying comparative process to their ends. Then, the timing circuit receives the electrical signals only if each GmAPDs generates electrical signals simultaneously. Though this system decreases the energy of a laser-return pulse scattered from the target, it is effective in reducing the range precision. The experimental results showed that the average value of standard deviation of time of flights was improved from 61 mm to 37 mm when the pulse energy is 0.6 μJ. When the time bin width is 0.5 ns, the single-shot precision error of the LADAR system was also improved from 280 mm to 67 mm.

Development and analysis of a photon-counting three-dimensional imaging laser detection and ranging (LADAR) system

In this paper, a photon-counting three-dimensional imaging laser detection and ranging (LADAR) system that uses a Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode (GAPD) of relatively short dead time (45 ns) is described. A passively Q-switched microchip laser is used as a laser source and a compact peripheral component interconnect system, which includes a time-to-digital converter (TDC), is set up for fast signal processing. The combination of a GAPD with short dead time and a TDC with a multistop function enables the system to operate in a single-hit or a multihit mode during the acquisition of time-of-flight data. The software for the three-dimensional visualization and an algorithm for the removal of noise are developed. For the photon-counting LADAR system, we establish a theoretical model of target-detection and false-alarm probabilities in both the single-hit and multihit modes with a Poisson statistic; this model provides the prediction of the performance of the system and a technique for the acquisition of a noise image with a GAPD. Both the noise image and the three-dimensional image of a scene acquired by the photon-counting LADAR system during the day are presented.

Three-dimensional LADAR range estimation using expectation maximization

Laser detection and ranging (LADAR) systems can be used to provide 2-D and 3-D images of scenes. Generally, 2-D images possess superior spatial resolution but without range data due to the density of their focal plane arrays. A 3-D LADAR system can produce range-to-target data at each pixel but lacks the 2-D system's superior spatial resolution. We develop an algorithm using an expectation maximization approach to estimate both 3-D LADAR range and the bias associated with a 3-D LADAR system. The algorithm we develop demonstrates both spatial and range resolution improvement over standard interpolation techniques using both real and simulated 3-D and 2-D LADAR data.

Cramer–Rao lower bound on range error for LADARs with Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes

The Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) on range error is calculated for laser detection and ranging (LADAR) systems using Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (GMAPDs) to detect reflected laser pulses. For the cases considered, the GMAPD range error CRLB is greater than the CRLB for a photon-counting device. It is also shown that the GMAPD range error CRLB is minimized when the mean energy in the received laser pulse is finite. Given typical LADAR system parameters, a Gaussian-envelope received pulse, and a noise detection rate of less than 4 MHz, the GMAPD range error CRLB is minimized when the quantum efficiency times the mean number of received laser pulse photons is between 2.2 and 2.3.

Design and analysis of In 0.53Ga 0.47As/InP symmetric gain optoelectronic mixers

A symmetric gain optoelectronic mixer based on an indium gallium arsenide (In 0.53Ga 0.47As)/indium phosphide (InP) symmetric heterojunction phototransistor structure is being investigated for chirped-AM laser detection and ranging (LADAR) systems operating in the “eye-safe” 1.55 μm wavelength range. Signal processing of a chirped-AM LADAR system is simplified if the photodetector in the receiver is used as an optoelectronic mixer (OEM). Adding gain to the OEM allows the following transimpedance amplifier’s gain to be reduced, increasing bandwidth and improving the system’s noise performance. A symmetric gain optoelectronic mixer based on a symmetric phototransistor structure using an indium gallium arsenide narrow bandgap base and indium phosphide emitter/collector layers is proposed. The devices are simulated with the Synopsis TCAD Sentaurus tools. The effects of base–emitter interface layers, base thickness and the doping densities of the base and emitters on the device performance are investigated. AC and DC simulation results are compared with a device model. Improved responsivity and lower dark current are predicted for the optimized InGaAs/InP device over previously reported devices with indium aluminum arsenide emitter/collector layers.

Verification of a 3-D terrain mapping LADAR on various materials in different environments

A field validation of a laser detection and ranging (LADAR) system was conducted by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Vicksburg, Mississippi. The LADAR system, a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) LADAR system custom-modified by Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI), was tested for accuracy in measuring terrain geometry. A verification method was developed to compare the LADAR dataset to a ground-truth dataset that consisted of total station measurements. Three control points were measured and used to align the two datasets. The influence of slopes, surface materials, light, fog, and dust were investigated. The study revealed that slopes only affected measurements when the terrain was obscured from the LADAR system, and ambient light conditions did not significantly affect the LADAR measurements. The accuracy of the LADAR system, which was equipped with fog correction, was adversely affected by particles suspended in air, such as fog or dust. Also, in some cases the material type had an effect on the accuracy of the LADAR measurements.

Characterization of a 1/spl times/32 element metal-semiconductor-metal optoelectronic mixer array for FM/cw LADAR

We characterize a 1/spl times/32 element metal-semiconductor-metal photodetector (MSM-PD) array utilized for optoelectronic mixing in an incoherent, amplitude-modulated laser detection and ranging (LADAR) system. The MSM-PDs that make up the one-dimensional array internally detect and down-convert light signals that are amplitude modulated at ultrahigh frequency (UHF). Range information is contained in the low-frequency mixing product derived by mixing a reference UHF chirp with a detected, time-delayed UHF chirp. When utilized in the LADAR system, the MSM-PDs eliminate the need for wideband transimpedance amplifiers in the LADAR receiver. This, in turn, reduces both the cost and complexity of the system. The breadboard LADAR architecture and components are described, and fundamental measurements and imagery taken from the LADAR, using these unique MSM-PDs, are also presented.