We report a frequency-multiplexing method for multi-beam photon-counting light detection and ranging (LiDAR), where only one single-pixel single-photon detector is employed to simultaneously detect the multi-beam echoes. In this frequency-multiplexing multi-beam LiDAR, each beam is from an independent laser source with different repetition rates and independent phases. As a result, the photon counts from different beams could be discriminated from each other due to the strong correlation between the laser pulses and their respective echo photons. A 16-beam LiDAR system was demonstrated in three-dimensional laser imaging with 16 pulsed laser diodes at 850 nm and one single-photon detector based on a Si-avalanche photodiode. This frequency-multiplexing method can greatly reduce the number of single-photon detectors in multi-beam LiDAR systems, which may be useful for low-cost and eye-safe LiDAR applications.

中文翻译：

---

频率复用光子计数多光束激光雷达

我们报告了一种用于多光束光子计数光检测和测距 (LiDAR) 的频率复用方法，其中仅使用一个单像素单光子探测器来同时检测多光束回波。在这种频率复用多光束激光雷达中，每束光束都来自具有不同重复率和独立相位的独立激光源。结果，由于激光脉冲与其各自的回波光子之间的强相关性，可以区分来自不同光束的光子计数。16 光束 LiDAR 系统在 3D 激光成像中展示，该系统具有 16 个 850 nm 脉冲激光二极管和一个基于硅雪崩光电二极管的单光子探测器。这种频率复用的方法可以大大减少多光束激光雷达系统中单光子探测器的数量，