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5 August 2021 Toward snapshot correction of 3D flash LiDAR imagers
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Abstract

We present methods enabling rapid non-uniformity and range walk error correction of 3D flash LiDAR imagers that exhibit electronic crosstalk caused by simultaneously triggering too many detectors. This additional electronic crosstalk is referred to as simultaneous ranging crosstalk noise (SRCN). Using a method in which the 3D flash LiDAR imager views a checkerboard target downrange, the SRCN is largely mitigated. Additionally, processing techniques for computing the non-uniformity correction (NUC) and range walk error correction are described; these include an in-situ thermally compensated dark-frame non-uniformity correction, image processing and filtering techniques for the creation of a photo-response non-uniformity correction, and characterization and correction of the range walk error using data collected across the full focal plane array without the need for sampling or windowing. These methods result in the ability to correct noisy test validation data to a range precision of 8.04 cm and a range accuracy of 1.73 cm and to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the intensity return by 15 to 49 dB. Visualization of a 3D scene corrected by this process is additionally presented.

CC BY: © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.
Andrew Reinhardt, Cullen P. Bradley, Anna Hecht, and Paul F. McManamon "Toward snapshot correction of 3D flash LiDAR imagers," Optical Engineering 60(8), 083101 (5 August 2021). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.60.8.083101
Received: 19 April 2021; Accepted: 21 July 2021; Published: 5 August 2021
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CITATIONS
Cited by 1 scholarly publication.
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KEYWORDS
3D image processing

Imaging systems

LIDAR

Nonuniformity corrections

3D acquisition

Image filtering

Photons

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