WORKSHOP PAPER
Asynchronous Depth Sensing through Direct Time-of-Flight Flash LiDAR
Yiyang Liu1, Rongxuan Zhang1, Filip Taneski, Istvan Gyongy1, Robert K. Henderson1
1Institute for Integrated Micro and Nano Systems, School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Abstract

In this paper, we present a novel asynchronous depth-sensing approach utilizing direct Time-of-Flight (dToF) flash LiDAR technology based on Single Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPAD). Our method introduces an asynchronous peak detection mechanism that continuously monitors histogram formation within each pixel, enabling efficient, latency-minimized depth measurement without the constraints of traditional frame-based systems. An adaptive thresholding technique inspired by the Constant False Alarm Rate (CFAR) method is utilized for robust peak detection against ambient photon noise. Experimental validation demonstrates our method's ability to asynchronously report depth events, providing comparable accuracy to conventional methods with reduced latency and enhanced efficiency. Finally, we have proposed a SPAD receiver architecture that showcases the potential for practical hardware implementation in advanced LiDAR applications.
Year: 2025
Workshop: IISW
URL: https://doi.org/10.60928/ipia-faj7
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Keywords

3D ranging, light detection and ranging(LiDAR), single photon avalanche diode(SPAD), neuromorphic sensing,

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