A 2D-SPAD Array and Read-Out AFE for Next-Generation Solid-State LiDAR

Ta, Tuan Thanh; Kubota, Hiroshi; Kokubun, K.; Sugimoto, Toshiki; Hirono, Masatoshi; Sengoku, Mitsuhiro; Katagiri, Hisaaki; Okuni, Hidenori; Kondo, Satoshi; Ohtsuka, Shinichi; Kwon, Hyejin; Sasaki, Katsutaka; Ota, Yutaka; Suzuki, Koji; Kimura, Kozo; Yoshioka, Kentaro; Sai, Akihide; Matsumoto, Nobu

doi:10.1109/vlsicircuits18222.2020.9162831

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Fig. 13 2 chip system proposed by [19] quirement and minimizes the hardware cost. [16] achieves 200 m distance measurement for the first time, owing to the ADC-based waveform accumulation and custom SPAD integration.…”

Section: -Chip Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since the RX scanning mechanisms are much larger than those of the TX due to the larger aperture ratio, this posed a significant challenge when downscaling the LiDAR size. [19] proposed an in-sensor scanning method in which RX raster scanning is performed within the 2D SPAD array (Fig. 13), thus eliminating the need for RX scanning machinery.…”

Section: D Spad Array Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…14). In addition, [19] uses an active quenching technique that resets the SPADs with transistors to shorten the quenching time. This enabled the reduction of SPADs per pixel and [19] achieved a higher resolution LiDAR system at less cost.…”

Section: D Spad Array Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Tutorial and Review of Automobile Direct ToF LiDAR SoCs: Evolution of Next-Generation LiDARs

Yoshioka

2022

IEICE Trans. Electron.

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LiDAR is a distance sensor that plays a key role in the realization of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). In this paper, we present a tutorial and review of automotive direct time of flight (dToF) LiDAR from the aspect of circuit systems. We discuss the breakthrough in ADAS LiDARs through comparison with the first-generation LiDAR systems, which were conventionally high-cost and had an immature performance. We define current high-performance and low-cost LiDARs as nextgeneration LiDAR systems, which have significantly improved the cost and performance by integrating the photodetector, the readout circuit, and the signal processing unit into a single SoC. This paper targets reader who is new to ADAS LiDARs and will cover the basic principles of LiDAR, also comparing with range methods other than dToF. In addition, we discuss the development of this area through the latest research examples such as the 2-chip approach, 2D SPAD array, and 3D integrated LiDARs.

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Section: -Chip Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: D Spad Array Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Tutorial and Review of Automobile Direct ToF LiDAR SoCs: Evolution of Next-Generation LiDARs

Yoshioka

2022

IEICE Trans. Electron.

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“…Short and well-defined dead-time is required in applications with high dynamic range (e.g., automotive Light Detection and Ranging -LiDAR [10]), high-count rate (e.g., Optical Wireless Communication -OWC [11], Quantum Key Distribution -QKD [12]), and high number of collected photons (e.g., fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy, optical time-domain reflectometry through Time-Correlate Single-Photon Counting -TCSPC [13]). In high dynamic range applications, short dead-times are important to increase the maximum count rate before saturation, but, at the same time, single-photon sensitivity is required for detecting very dim optical signals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To reduce the overall measurement time, high repetition rate lasers and detector with short dead-times are required. In [10] it is demonstrated that long dead-times are equivalent to a reduction of detection efficiency, proportionally to the laser repetition rate (i.e., the faster the repetition rate the higher the efficiency loss for a given dead-time), and consequently an increase of the measurement duration to achieve a given precision. In [17] fast TCSPC measurements are achieved by precisely matching the SPAD dead-time with the laser period, to avoid the so-called pile-up effect.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SPAD Pixel With Sub-NS Dead-Time for High-Count Rate Applications

Severini

Cusini

Berretta

et al. 2022

IEEE J. Select. Topics Quantum Electron.

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Single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) exploitation in high-flux applications is often hindered by the trade-off between the SPAD dead-time and afterpulsing probability. In this paper, we present the architecture and the experimental characterization of two chips including a novel SPAD sensing, and readout scheme designed to minimize dead-time (1.78 ns and 0.93 ns respectively) and afterpulsing probability (0.14% maximum). We have coupled this architecture with high-performance SPADs obtaining an extremely stable dead-time (6.44 ps rms jitter) that can be easily regulated through an external voltage. Thanks to its compact size, this novel pixel architecture can be easily integrated within high-resolution SPAD arrays for GHz applications.

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