Three-Dimensional Imaging via Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) imaging under the condition of weak light and low signal-to-noise ratio is a challenging task. In this paper, a 3D imaging scheme based on time-correlated single-photon counting technology is proposed and demonstrated. The 3D imaging scheme, which is composed of a pulsed laser, a scanning mirror, single-photon detectors, and a time-correlated single-photon counting module, employs time-correlated single-photon counting technology for 3D LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). Aided by the range-gated technology, experiments show that the proposed scheme can image the object when the signal-to-noise ratio is decreased to −13 dB and improve the structural similarity index of imaging results by 10 times. Then we prove the proposed scheme can image the object in three dimensions with a lateral imaging resolution of 512 × 512 and an axial resolution of 4.2 mm in 6.7 s. At last, a high-resolution 3D reconstruction of an object is also achieved by using the photometric stereo algorithm.

Computational Photon Counting Using Multithreshold Peak Detection for Fast Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

“…M any optical technologies rely on time-resolved photon counting such as time of flight (ToF) imaging, 1 light detection and ranging (LiDAR), 2 and optical microscopy. Specifically, multiphoton fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) often uses time-resolved photon counting to compute and spatially map fluorescence lifetime.…”

Estimation of breast height diameter and trunk curvature with linear and single-photon LiDARs

“…The current terrestrial LiDARs are still based on linear mode APD limiting their operation in harsh conditions as the pulse detection threshold is in the order of hundreds of photons (Ullrich andPfennigbauer 2016, Mandlburger et al 2019). Because of higher singlephoton sensitivity, higher dynamic range, and higher temporal resolution, the SPAD LiDAR can detect partly obstructed targets by means of time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) in which the actual distance to target is based on a histogram defining the temporal distribution of the reflected photons (Henriksson et al 2016, Fu et al 2020). However, the low 3D image acquisition rate hinders application of SPAD LiDARs as single-pixel devices typically require data collection time of several minutes (Henriksson et al 2016) and the latest SPAD array sensors tens of seconds (Morimoto et al (2020).…”