3D imaging via silicon-photonics-based LIDAR
3D imaging via silicon-photonics-based LIDAR
Accurate 3D imaging is essential for machines to map and interact with the physical world1,2. While numerous 3D imaging technologies exist, each addressing niche applications with varying degrees of success, none have achieved the breadth of applicability and impact that digital image sensors have achieved in the 2D imaging world3-10. A large-scale twodimensional array of coherent detector pixels operating as a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system could serve as a universal 3D imaging platform. Such a system would other high depth accuracy and immunity to interference from sunlight, as well as the ability to directly measure the velocity of moving objects11. However, due to difficulties in providing electrical and photonic connections to every pixel, previous systems have been restricted to fewer than 20 pixels12-15. Here, we demonstrate the first large-scale coherent detector array consisting of 512 (32×16) pixels, and its operation in a 3D imaging system. Leveraging recent advances in the monolithic integration of photonic and electronic circuits, a dense array of optical heterodyne detectors is combined with an integrated electronic readout architecture, enabling straightforward scaling to arbitrarily large arrays. Meanwhile, two-axis solid-state beam steering eliminates any tradeoff between field of view and range. Operating at the quantum noise limit16,17, our system achieves an accuracy of 3.1 mm at a distance of 75 meters using only 4 mW of light, an order of magnitude more accurate than existing solid-state systems at such ranges. Future reductions of pixel size using state-of-the-art components could yield resolutions in excess of 20 megapixels for arrays the size of a consumer camera sensor. This result paves the way for the development and proliferation of low cost, compact, and high-performance 3D imaging cameras, enabling new applications from robotics and autonomous navigation to augmented reality and healthcare.
3D imaging, focal plane array (FPA), frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW), light detection and ranging (LIDAR), silicon photonics
Nicolaescu, Remus
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Rogers, Christopher
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Piggott, Alexander Y.
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Thomson, David J.
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Opris, Ion E.
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Fortune, Steven A.
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Compston, Andrew J.
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Gondarenko, Alexander
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Meng, Fanfan
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Chen, Xia
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Reed, Graham T.
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5 March 2021
Nicolaescu, Remus
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Rogers, Christopher
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Piggott, Alexander Y.
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Thomson, David J.
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Opris, Ion E.
297c35e0-30e9-4866-aa1c-cda7dd1d0574
Fortune, Steven A.
9b2f2925-8f2c-4887-b81e-e4667f50da83
Compston, Andrew J.
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Gondarenko, Alexander
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Meng, Fanfan
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Chen, Xia
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Reed, Graham T.
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Nicolaescu, Remus, Rogers, Christopher, Piggott, Alexander Y., Thomson, David J., Opris, Ion E., Fortune, Steven A., Compston, Andrew J., Gondarenko, Alexander, Meng, Fanfan, Chen, Xia and Reed, Graham T.
(2021)
3D imaging via silicon-photonics-based LIDAR.
Reed, Graham T. and Knights, Andrew P.
(eds.)
In Silicon Photonics XVI.
vol. 11691,
SPIE.
12 pp
.
(doi:10.1117/12.2591284).
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
Accurate 3D imaging is essential for machines to map and interact with the physical world1,2. While numerous 3D imaging technologies exist, each addressing niche applications with varying degrees of success, none have achieved the breadth of applicability and impact that digital image sensors have achieved in the 2D imaging world3-10. A large-scale twodimensional array of coherent detector pixels operating as a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system could serve as a universal 3D imaging platform. Such a system would other high depth accuracy and immunity to interference from sunlight, as well as the ability to directly measure the velocity of moving objects11. However, due to difficulties in providing electrical and photonic connections to every pixel, previous systems have been restricted to fewer than 20 pixels12-15. Here, we demonstrate the first large-scale coherent detector array consisting of 512 (32×16) pixels, and its operation in a 3D imaging system. Leveraging recent advances in the monolithic integration of photonic and electronic circuits, a dense array of optical heterodyne detectors is combined with an integrated electronic readout architecture, enabling straightforward scaling to arbitrarily large arrays. Meanwhile, two-axis solid-state beam steering eliminates any tradeoff between field of view and range. Operating at the quantum noise limit16,17, our system achieves an accuracy of 3.1 mm at a distance of 75 meters using only 4 mW of light, an order of magnitude more accurate than existing solid-state systems at such ranges. Future reductions of pixel size using state-of-the-art components could yield resolutions in excess of 20 megapixels for arrays the size of a consumer camera sensor. This result paves the way for the development and proliferation of low cost, compact, and high-performance 3D imaging cameras, enabling new applications from robotics and autonomous navigation to augmented reality and healthcare.
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Published date: 5 March 2021
Venue - Dates:
Silicon Photonics XVI 2021, , Virtual, Online, United States, 2021-03-06 - 2021-03-11
Keywords:
3D imaging, focal plane array (FPA), frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW), light detection and ranging (LIDAR), silicon photonics
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 481741
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/481741
ISSN: 0277-786X
PURE UUID: 83e37aa0-c0c6-4cf2-b3e4-87374f2b1afa
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Date deposited: 07 Sep 2023 16:31
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:27
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Contributors
Author:
Remus Nicolaescu
Author:
Christopher Rogers
Author:
Alexander Y. Piggott
Author:
David J. Thomson
Author:
Ion E. Opris
Author:
Steven A. Fortune
Author:
Andrew J. Compston
Author:
Alexander Gondarenko
Author:
Fanfan Meng
Author:
Xia Chen
Author:
Graham T. Reed
Editor:
Graham T. Reed
Editor:
Andrew P. Knights
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