Design and performance of a fiber array coupled multi-channel photon counting, 3D imaging, airborne lidar system

Genghua Huang; Rong Shu; Libing Hou; Ming Li

doi:10.1117/12.2050191

9 June 2014 Design and performance of a fiber array coupled multi-channel photon counting, 3D imaging, airborne lidar system

Genghua Huang, Rong Shu, Libing Hou, Ming Li

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9080, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XIX; and Atmospheric Propagation XI; 90800F (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2050191
Event: SPIE Defense + Security, 2014, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

Photon counting lidar has an ultra-high sensitivity which can be hundreds even thousands of times higher than the linear detection lidar. It can significantly increase the system’s capability of detection rang and imaging density, saving size and power consumings in airborne or space-borne applications. Based on Geiger-mode Si avalanche photodiodes (Si-APD), a prototype photon counting lidar which used 8 APDs coupled with a 1×8-pixel fiber array has been made in June, 2011. The experiments with static objects showed that the photon counting lidar could operate in strong solar background with 0.04 receiving photoelectrons on average. Limited by less counting times in moving platforms, the probability of detection and the 3D imaging density would be lower than that in static platforms. In this paper, a latest fiber array coupled multi-channel photon counting, 3D imaging, airborne lidar system is introduced. The correlation range receiver algorithm of photon counting 3D imaging is improved for airborne signal photon events extraction and noise filter. The 3D imaging experiments in the helicopter shows that the false alarm rate is less than 6×10^-7, and the correct rate is better than 99.9% with 4 received photoelectrons and 0.7MHz system noise on average.

Citation Download Citation

Genghua Huang, Rong Shu, Libing Hou, and Ming Li "Design and performance of a fiber array coupled multi-channel photon counting, 3D imaging, airborne lidar system", Proc. SPIE 9080, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XIX; and Atmospheric Propagation XI, 90800F (9 June 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2050191

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available