IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,710,534
Granted Patent B2
US 12,710,534 · App. 17/782,711 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Lidar with photon-resolving detector

Inventors: Alexander Dunning (Keynsham, GB); Gianluca Boso (Carouge, CH); Felix Bussieres (Vessy, CH)
Assignee: ID QUANTIQUE SA
G01S17/18G01S7/4873G01S17/931
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,710,534
App. No.
17/782,711
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a lidar ( 1000 ) comprising an emitter ( 1100 ) and a receiver ( 1200 ), wherein the receiver ( 1200 ) comprises a discrete amplification photon detector ( 1210 ), wherein the receiver ( 1200 ) comprises a discriminator ( 1220 ), wherein the discriminator ( 1220 ) has an input connected to an output signal of the discrete amplification photon detector ( 1210 ), and wherein the discriminator ( 1220 ) is configured to output a signal indicating that the output signal of the discrete amplification photon detector ( 1210 ) is higher than a predetermined threshold.

Claims (23)

1 . A lidar ( 1000 , 2000 , 3000 ) comprising an emitter ( 1100 , 5100 ) and a receiver ( 1200 , 3200 ),

wherein the receiver ( 1200 , 3200 ) comprises a discrete amplification photon detector ( 1210 , 4210 ),

wherein the receiver ( 1200 , 3200 ) comprises a discriminator ( 1220 ),

wherein the discriminator ( 1220 ) has an input connected to an output signal of the discrete amplification photon detector ( 1210 , 4210 ),

wherein the discriminator ( 1220 ) is configured to output a signal indicating that the output signal of the discrete amplification photon detector ( 1210 , 4210 ) is higher than a predetermined threshold,

wherein the predetermined threshold is dynamic, as a function of an input, and

wherein the input comprises a moving speed of the lidar.

2 . The lidar ( 1000 , 2000 , 3000 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the input also comprises a value of the output signal of the discrete amplification photon detector ( 1210 , 4210 ), averaged across a predetermined time.

3 . The lidar ( 1000 , 2000 , 3000 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the discriminator ( 1220 ) is configured to determine a time corresponding to a maximum value of the output signal.

4 . The lidar ( 1000 , 2000 , 3000 ) according to claim 1 ,

further comprising a controller ( 2300 ) for controlling at least an emission of the emitter ( 1100 , 5100 ),

wherein the controller ( 2300 ) controls the emitter ( 1100 ) so as to emit a random, or pseudo-random, or predetermined pulse sequence.

5 . The lidar ( 1000 , 2000 , 3000 ) according to claim 1 wherein the receiver ( 1200 , 3200 ) is configured to detect light having a wavelength in a range from 950 nm to 1700 nm.

6 . The lidar ( 3000 ) according to claim 1

wherein the receiver ( 3200 ) comprises optics ( 3230 ), wherein the optics ( 3230 ) comprise a filter for filtering light having a frequency lower than 950 nm and/or higher than 1700 nm.

7 . The lidar according to claim 5 ,

wherein the receiver is configured to detect light having a wavelength of 1550 nm.

8 . The lidar according to claim 6 ,

wherein the receiver comprises optics, wherein the filter for filtering light has a frequency lower than 1500 nm.

9 . The lidar according to claim 6 ,

wherein the receiver comprises optics, wherein the filter for filtering light has a frequency higher than 1600 nm.