Ranging performance of a SWIR laser rangefinder using a free-running InGaAs/InP single-photon avalanche diode detector

Jorge Garcia-Armenta; Aongus McCarthy; Andrew Farrell; Mark Silver; Gerald S. Buller

doi:10.1117/12.3033133

16 November 2024 Ranging performance of a SWIR laser rangefinder using a free-running InGaAs/InP single-photon avalanche diode detector

Jorge Garcia-Armenta, Aongus McCarthy, Andrew Farrell, Mark Silver, Gerald S. Buller

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume PC13204, Emerging Imaging and Sensing Technologies for Security and Defence IX; PC1320404 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3033133
Event: Security + Defence, 2024, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

We demonstrate the use of a free-running InGaAs/InP single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) as the detector for a laser rangefinder (LRF). The bi-static LRF employs a laser with a wavelength of 1550 nm coupled to the transmit channel, and a receive channel fibre-coupled to the SPAD detector. The range measurement is based on the Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting (TCSPC) technique with the Time-of-Flight (ToF) of the transmitted pulses being stored in a timing histogram. This has a time window of 134 µs, allowing a full detection range of up to ~ 20 km, with a distance resolution of ~ 30 cm. Due to its single-photon detection capabilities, the LRF can obtain long-range measurements in sub-second acquisition times using pulse energies as low as nano-Joules, requiring an average of 9 detected photons per target to achieve over 99% success rate. Here, we present the false alarm rate analysis of the SPAD detector based LRF. We also provide examples of range measurements of non-calibrated targets at distances of up to 18.9 km, using periodic pulses, as well as pseudo-random pulse patterns with a maximum average optical power of 9.8 mW and pulse energies between 3 nJ and 1.3 μJ.

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Citation Download Citation

Jorge Garcia-Armenta, Aongus McCarthy, Andrew Farrell, Mark Silver, and Gerald S. Buller "Ranging performance of a SWIR laser rangefinder using a free-running InGaAs/InP single-photon avalanche diode detector", Proc. SPIE PC13204, Emerging Imaging and Sensing Technologies for Security and Defence IX, PC1320404 (16 November 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3033133

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KEYWORDS

Sensors

Single photon avalanche diodes

Single photon detectors

Laser range finders

Ranging

Semiconductor lasers

Short wave infrared radiation

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