A LASER DETECTION AND RANGING (LIDAR) DEVICE

Abstract

Disclosed is a laser detection and ranging, or LiDAR, device, adapted to: detect pulses from an aperiodic pulse-train of successive pulses, wherein each pulse has a rank in the pulse-train, and wherein a pulse having a defined rank is separated from the pulse of next rank above by a predefined time interval, wherein the predefined time interval is associated with the defined rank, such that the pulse-train form a series of predefined time intervals, wherein the predefined time interval is a predefined delay function of the rank.

Claims

1. A laser detection and ranging device, comprising a transmitter assembly adapted to transmit an aperiodic pulse-train of successive pulses, and an optical detector configured to: detect pulses from the aperiodic pulse-train of successive pulses, wherein each pulse has a rank in the pulse-train, and wherein a pulse having a defined rank is separated from the pulse of next rank above by a predefined time interval, wherein the predefined time interval is associated with the defined rank, such that the pulse-train form a series of predefined time intervals, wherein the predefined time interval is a predefined delay function of said rank, detect a series of actual time intervals between detected pulses, compare the series of actual time intervals to the series of predefined time intervals, in order to: determine the rank of the detected pulses, and determine a delay of reception of a detected pulse, which is the addition of a time-of-flight and a function of the time-interval associated to the determined rank of the detected pulse, wherein the transmitter assembly comprises: an optical input for receiving a laser beam pulse, an optical transmitter configured for outputting the successive pulses forming part of a broadband laser beam pulse emitted along a direction, the optical input and the optical transmitter being optically connected, and an optical receiver configured to receive a reflection of the laser beam pulse from said direction, and a delay unit configured for delaying the pulses of the broadband laser beam pulse, such that the laser beam pulse is transformed into said pulse-train of successive pulses, such that the predefined time interval associated to the defined rank is an introduced delay, wherein the detected pulses are at least a part of the reflection of the laser beam pulse received by the optical receiver, and wherein the optical detector is further configured to detect an optical power of the detected pulses from said pulse-train, wherein the optical detector is optically connected to the optical receiver, wherein the delay unit comprises an optical fiber which is grated with a fiber Bragg grating.

2. (canceled)

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the predefined delay function is an exponential function of the rank.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the nonlinear delay function is an exponentially increasing function of the rank.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the ratio between a time interval associated with a defined rank, and a time interval associated with the next rank above is equal to a constant.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the laser detection and ranging device is a multispectral laser detection and ranging device.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein each pulse has a different wavelength within the pulse-train.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the wavelength of a pulse is a function of the rank of the pulse in the pulse-train.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the optical detector is a unique detector.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the laser beam pulse is a broadband laser beam pulse having a spectral range, the different wavelengths forming a wavelength comb selected in the spectral range.

11. (canceled)

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber Bragg grating is a superstructured Fiber Bragg Grating comprising a series of ranked successive fiber Bragg gratings, each spaced by a space interval, wherein a fiber Bragg grating is associated with a defined rank corresponding to the rank of a predefined time interval, and is configured to reflect the wavelength comb part of the broadband laser beam pulse corresponding to the pulse of defined rank.

13. The device according to claim 9, wherein the broadband laser beam pulse is a supercontinuum broadband laser beam pulse having a pulse duration comprised between 0.5 ns and 5 ns.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the broadband laser beam pulse has a spectral range comprised between 1000 m and 1700 nm.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein a pulse within the pulse-train has a filtered bandwidth which is the bandwidth of the spectral range of the broadband laser beam pulse divided by 4 or 5.

16. A method for operating a laser detection and ranging device, carried out in a device according to claim 1, the method comprising: generating an aperiodic pulse-train of successive pulses, wherein each pulse has a rank in the pulse-train, and wherein a pulse having a defined rank is separated from the pulse of next rank above by a predefined time interval, wherein the predefined time interval is associated with the defined rank, such that the pulse-train form a series of predefined time intervals, wherein the predefined time interval is a predefined delay function of said rank, detecting pulses from the aperiodic pulse-train, and detect a series of actual time intervals between detected pulses, compare the series of actual time intervals to the series of predefined time intervals, in order to: determine the rank of the detected pulses, and determine a time-of-flight of a detected pulse, as a function of the time-interval associated to the determined rank of the detected pulse.

17. The device according to claim 13, wherein each of the laser beam pulse exhibits a bandwidth of 300 nm and the broadband laser beam pulse has a spectral range comprised between 1400-1700 nm, which is an optimum configuration for eye-safety and low-cost detection.

18. The device of claim 5, wherein the ratio between a time interval associated with a defined rank, and a time interval associated with the next rank above is 2.

19. The device according to claim 4, wherein the ratio between a time interval associated with a defined rank, and a time interval associated with the next rank above is equal to a constant.

20. The device according to claim 3, wherein the laser detection and ranging device is a multispectral laser detection and ranging device.

21. The device according to claim 4, wherein the laser detection and ranging device is a multispectral laser detection and ranging device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0097] Other features, details and advantages will be shown in the following detailed description and on the figures, on which:

[0098] FIG. 1 is a functional schematics of a spectral delay unit in temporal space and in spectral space.

[0099] FIG. 2 is a functional schematic of a superstructure FBG and of its functioning as a spectral delay unit on the spectral space.

[0100] FIG. 3 is an optical functional schematic of a multispectral LiDAR device according to a first embodiment, wherein a spectral delay unit comprising a superstructured FBG is arranged on the transmitter side.

[0101] FIG. 4 is a schematic of the FIG. 3 with illustrations of spectral space at the different step of propagation of an initial broadband pulse.

[0102] FIG. 5 is an optical functional schematic view of a multispectral LiDAR device according to a second embodiment, wherein a spectral delay line comprising a superstructured FBG is also arranged on the transmitter side, but the detection on the receiver side is performed in free optical space.

[0103] FIG. 6 is an optical functional schematic view of a multispectral LiDAR device according to a third embodiment, wherein a spectral delay line comprising a superstructured FBG is arranged on the receiver side.

[0104] FIG. 7 is an optical functional schematic view of a multispectral LiDAR device according to a fourth embodiment.

[0105] FIG. 8 is an optical functional schematic view of a multispectral LiDAR device according to a fifth embodiment.

[0106] FIG. 9 is a schematic of a spectral delay unit according to a variant, which comprises a tunable filter.

[0107] FIG. 10 is a schematic of a spectral delay unit according to another variant, which operates on free optical space.

[0108] FIG. 11 is an illustration of a free-space alternative to the use of a spectral delay unit.

[0109] FIG. 12 represents a simulation of a signal of generated pulse-train.

[0110] FIG. 13 represents a simulation of a signal of generated pulse-train with variable time interval values between successive pulses.

[0111] FIG. 14 represents simulations of transmitted and returned pulses over the time.

[0112] FIG. 15 represents histograms of error in measuring the time of flight TOF of the pulses at several SNR values, using single pulse and pulse train.

[0113] FIG. 16 represents graphs of the simulation of different characteristics of the signal of a single pulse.

[0114] FIG. 17 represents graphs of the simulation of different characteristics of the signal of a pulse-train.

[0115] FIG. 18 represents a schematic of a received periodic pulse-train wherein pulses are missing.

[0116] FIG. 19 represents an aperiodic pulse-train.

[0117] FIG. 20 represents histograms of error in measuring the time of flight of pulse-train at several SNR values, for comparing periodic pulse-train and aperiodic pulse train

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0118] Figures and the following detailed description contain, essentially, some exact elements. They can be used to enhance understanding the invention and, also, to define the invention if necessary.

[0119] For the sake of conciseness, the elements which are similar or equivalent through the description will be described with reference to the same reference numbers.

[0120] An advantage of the LiDAR as disclosed is to ease the discrimination of spectral information with a unique optical sensor.

[0121] To achieve this aim, a LiDAR as disclosed may be configured to transform an emitted broadband laser beam pulse 1 into a pulse-train. Preferably, the broadband laser beam pulse 1 is a supercontinuum. The broadband laser beam pulse 1 is intended to be projected by the LiDAR on an obstacle to detect, whereas the pulse-train is intended to be received on the unique optical sensor.

[0122] Spectral Delaying of a Broadband Pulse

[0123] Such a LiDAR may comprise a spectral delay unit 4 as represented on FIG. 1.

[0124] One can see on the left side of FIG. 1 a representation, in the temporal space 3, of the emitted broadband laser beam pulse 1. As represented in the spectral space 7, the emitted broadband laser beam pulse 1 has a spectral range 2.

[0125] The emitted broadband laser beam pulse 1 is introduced inside the spectral delay unit 4 through a delay input 5.

[0126] The spectral delay unit 4 is configured for delaying the emitted broadband laser beam pulse 1 as a function of the wavelength, within a wavelength comb selected in the spectral range 2. Such a wavelength comb is represented (in the spectral space 7) on the right side of FIG. 1.

[0127] Therefore, the broadband laser beam pulse 1 is transformed by the spectral delay unit 4 into a pulse-train wherein each pulse in the train is at a different wavelength of the wavelength comb. The pulse-train is represented (in the temporal space 3) on the right side of FIG. 1.

[0128] The pulse-train is then transmitted through a delay output 6 of the spectral delay unit 4.

[0129] In the example, the number of pulses of the pulse train, i.e. of wavelength channels, is N=8 channels. Each pulse has a rank k, where k is selected from 1 to N=8.

[0130] The pulse of rank k is delayed from the pulse of previous rank from the time interval Δt (which can also be written as: “DELTA_t”). On the example, the time interval Δt is a constant.

[0131] The pulse of rank k is filtered to correspond to the wavelength λ.sub.k (which can also be written as: “lambda_k”).

[0132] As an example, the number of channels represented on FIG. 1 is N=8, but any other number N of channels may be provided in general.

[0133] Aperiodic Pulse-Train

[0134] FIG. 18 represents a schematic of a transmitted pulse-train 100 of pulses ranked from 1 to 5, represented on a time axis. The time interval Δt between two pulses is a constant. In other words, the pulse-train is periodic.

[0135] Each pulse is a channel for information (for instance, a different wavelength per pulse, or a different polarization per pulse, etc). FIG. 18 further represents a schematic of a reflected pulse-train 101, also represented on a time axis, wherein the reflected pulse-train 101 is the reflection of the transmitted periodic pulse-train 100, which is reflected by the obstacle 102 (pictured by a tree).

[0136] One can see on the schematics that two pulses are missing from the reflected pulse-train 101 (because of absorption by the obstacle 102). For instance, when each pulse has a different wavelength λ.sub.k of rank k within a spectral range, some pulses are absorbed by the obstacle 102 as a function of the spectral absorption of the obstacle 102. As one can see on the drawn schematic graph 103, the missing pulses are due to spectral absorption by the obstacle 102, which is noticeable on the pictured reflected spectrum R of the pulse-train 100 which corresponds to the reflected pulse-train 101.

[0137] These missing pulses in a periodic pulse-train create an ambiguity on the reception side: which pulses are missing? In the current example, two options should be contemplated: either the pulses ranked 1 and 4 are missing, or the pulses ranked 3 and 5 are missing.

[0138] In other words, determining the time of flight TOF of a pulse-train, each pulse having a different spectral channel, can be difficult at low SNR levels. Especially, in the case where the reflectivity of the obstacle 102 at the first or the last wavelength band is very low, the delay error would be an error increment of the delay in pulse-train spacing.

[0139] In order to avoid occurrences of such ambiguities, one can introduce an aperiodic pulse-train

[0140] For instance, an aperiodic pulse-train may comprise pulses which are arranged with exponentially increasing or decreasing time intervals Δt.sub.k (which may also be written “Δt_k”).

[0141] For instance, the time interval series follows a geometric progression, wherein a formula describing the relation between the time interval Δt.sub.k associated with rank k and the time interval Δt.sub.k+1 associated with rank k+1 is written as follows: Δt.sub.k+1=q×Δt.sub.k, wherein q is the common ratio.

[0142] Such an aperiodic pulse-train is represented on FIG. 19. As illustrated, the represented aperiodic pulse-train follows a geometric progression wherein the common ration q is equal to the integral number 2. In other words, the time interval Δt.sub.k between the successive pulses is doubled at each rank increment.

[0143] It is understood that the pulse-train could be arranged in reverse order: the time interval Δt.sub.k between two successive pulses of the transmitted pulse-train could be divided by two.

[0144] Therefore, it is possible to determine the rank of missing pulse, or pulse which has a low reflectance, and to recover the correct time of flight information.

[0145] FIG. 20 represents histograms of error in simulations of time of flight (TOF) estimation relative to sampling period, at various signal to noise ratios (SNR), in the two compared situations: [0146] periodic pulse-train 34, wherein each pulse is separated from the next pulse by a constant time interval Δt. In other words, the pulses are equi-spaced. and [0147] aperiodic pulse-train 35, wherein each pulse is separated from the next pulse by a doubled time interval. In other words, the pulses are exponentially spaced. The simulations have been performed by setting a value of reflectance of the pulse of rank 1 to be 1%, and to set random values of reflectance for the pulses of other rank.

[0148] Below the value of the SNR on each histogram, a first value represents the Hitrate of periodic pulse-train 34, above a second value which represents the Hitrate of the aperiodic pulse-train 35.

[0149] The aperiodic pulse-train 35 performs better at all SNR values.

[0150] More generally, the pulses of the transmitted pulse train can be arranged in time in such a way that the time interval between any two pulses in the train is unique in that pulse train.

[0151] The spectral delay unit 4 of the LiDAR devices may be configured to specifically delay a pulse of determined rank by a time interval associated to the specific rank. For instance, in an advantageous embodiment of the disclosure, the spectral delay unit 4 is an optical fiber of kind superstructured fiber Bragg grating (FBG) 14, as represented on FIG. 2.

[0152] Superstructure Fiber Bragg Gratings

[0153] The superstructured FBG 14 is formed by an optical fiber which is grated by a series of successive ranked FBG of rank k. A FBG is spaced from the FBG of next rank above by a space interval ΔL_k (which can also be written as: “DELTA_L_k”).

[0154] Although the space interval ΔL_k is a nonlinear function of the rank k, in the following, and for the only sake of simplicity, figures will show constant time intervals instead of aperiodic pulse-train. One will understand that, in the following, the Superstructure Fiber

[0155] Bragg Gratings are precisely grated with non-constant space interval ΔL_k.

[0156] On FIG. 2, and above each corresponding representation of FBG of rank k, a spectrum T of the transmitted light and a spectrum R of the reflected light are represented. The arrows represent the direction of propagation of the light: transmitted from left to right, and reflected from right to left.

[0157] As one can see, each FBG of rank k is tuned for a different wavelength λ.sub.k, such as to reflect a narrow spectral band of light centered on the wavelength λ.sub.k within the spectral range 2. On the example of the FIG. 2, only the gratings of the rank k=1, rank k=2 and rank k=N are represented.

[0158] At each FBG of rank k, only a pulse of rank k is reflected, and the rest of the light is transmitted to the FBG of next rank.

[0159] Therefore, the reflected narrowband light pulses will be separated in time, due to the time it takes for light to travel twice the distance between successive FBGs. Namely, the time interval Δt_k between two successive pulses is equal to twice the space interval ΔL_k, multiplied by n/c, wherein n is the refractive index of the optical fiber, and c is the speed of the light in void. For instance, with an index of n=1.5 and a space interval ΔL_k equal to 30 cm, one get a time interval Δt_k equal to 3 ns.

[0160] Hence, the space interval ΔL_k is a function of the time interval Δt_k. More precisely, one can calculate the space interval ΔL_k (which can also be written “dL_k”) for a rank k as follows: dL_k=(1/2)×(c/n)×dT_k,

[0161] c being the speed of light, n the refractive index, and the factor 2 corresponding to the fact that the light propagates back after the reflection on the fiber bragg grating of rank k.

[0162] Thus, the initial broadband laser beam pulse 1 is divided into the series of narrowband light pulses. This is advantageous because it allows spectral discrimination by resolving the pulses with a single fast detector.

[0163] Preferably, but optionally, the FBGs are arranged as on FIG. 2, i.e. such that the selected wavelength λ.sub.k of a pulse of rank k is an available wavelength of the wavelength comb next to the pulse of immediate previous rank.

[0164] In this embodiment, the delay input 5 and the delay output 6 of the are the very same end of the superstructured FBG 14 optical fiber.

[0165] Examples of LiDAR Devices with a Spectral Delay Unit

[0166] As represented on FIGS. 3 to 8, it is provided examples of multispectral LiDAR devices taking advantage of the above-described superstructured FBG 14.

[0167] Each represented multispectral LiDAR device comprises: [0168] a supercontinuum laser source 17 for emitting the broadband laser beam pulse 1 into an optical input 8 of the LiDAR device, [0169] an optical transmitter 11 configured for outputting light on an obstacle 102 to detect, and [0170] an optical receiver 9 configured to receive a reflection of the outputted light from the obstacle 102, and [0171] an optical detector 16 configured to detect a time-of-flight and an optical power of the reflection, [0172] an superstructured FBG 14 line for transforming the broadband laser beam pulse 1 into the pulse-train as explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, [0173] an optical circulator 13 having at least two ports in order to connect at least some of the previous elements through optical fiber.

[0174] More specifically, on FIG. 3, the superstructured FBG 14 line is arranged on the emitting side of the represented multispectral LiDAR device 10.

[0175] A first port of the optical circulator 13 is fiber-coupled with the optical input 8, a second port is fiber-coupled to the superstructured FBG 14 line, the third port is fiber-coupled with a scanning module 12, and the fourth port is fiber-coupled with the optical detector 16. The arrows 15 represent the propagation of light inside the optical circulator 13.

[0176] The scanning module 12 comprises both the optical transmitter 11 and the optical receiver 9.

[0177] Advantageously, introducing the delays in the signal prior that the signal arrives to the scanning module 12 for scanning the obstacle 102 is practical, because the supercontinuum laser source 17 is already emitting inside an optical fiber.

[0178] For instance, the supercontinuum laser source 17 can be a solid-state laser source.

[0179] FIG. 4 represents the same multispectral LiDAR device 10 as FIG. 3, additionally to the spectrum of the light at each step of the propagation from the supercontinuum source 17.

[0180] The spectrum 20 is a schematic of the train of monochromatic pulses generated and emitted by the multispectral LiDAR device 10 at the output of the scanning module 12. The spectrum 21 is a schematic of the reflected train of monochromatic pulses received by the multispectral LiDAR device 10.

[0181] Namely, one can compare the spectrum 20 of the pulse-train to the spectrum 21 of the pulse-train reflected by the obstacle 102: depending on the wavelength channel, the light of the corresponding pulse is more or less absorbed by the obstacle 102.

[0182] The optical detector 19 receives the reflected train of pulses and distinctly detects an optical power for each peak, therefore for each wavelength. Therefore, the single optical detector 19 enables acquiring spectral information about the obstacle 102.

[0183] For instance, the optical detector 19 is a single sensor comprising an avalanche photodiode (APD) electrically connected to a digitizer having a sample rate of 3 GS/s, and to Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA).

[0184] Some computation may be programmed to recover the time-of-flight of a pulse (for instance a monochromatic pulse), and thus the distance of a part of the obstacle 102 which is reflective to the pulse (for instance the monochromatic pulse). For instance, the computation comprises Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) based cross correlation.

[0185] The amplitude of the optical power of each detected peak is compared with the spectrum of the emitted broadband laser pulse.

[0186] This step may require multiple stages and a demultiplexer. For instance, in a 1st stage, one can use a fast transimpedance amplifier, and in further stages, a demultiplexer into N slower (integrating) amplifiers.

[0187] In a variant represented on FIG. 5, the superstructured FBG 14 line is also arranged on the emitting side of the represented multispectral LiDAR device 110, for the same advantages as already stated.

[0188] A difference with the multispectral LiDAR device 10 of FIG. 3 is that the third port of the optical circulator 13 is directly fiber-coupled to the optical transmitter 11. In this embodiment, the optical receiver 9 may be a free optical space lens which focus the received light onto the optical detector 16.

[0189] In a variant represented on FIG. 6, by contrast with the two examples of multispectral LiDAR devices above-described, the superstructured FBG 14 line is arranged on the receiving side of the represented multispectral LiDAR device 111. Introducing the delays on the receiver side is equivalent from an optics perspective, since the delays are introduced by passive components.

[0190] Hence, a difference with the multispectral LiDAR device 10 of FIG. 3 is that the optical transmitter 11 directly project the light from the supercontinuum laser source 17 on the obstacle 102. In such a configuration, the supercontinuum laser source 17 is not fiber-coupled to the optical circulator 13 but instead, directly fiber-coupled to the optical transmitter 11.

[0191] In this embodiment, the optical receiver 9 may be a free optical space lens which focus the received light inside an optical fiber which is fiber-coupled to a first port of the optical circulator 13. The second port is fiber-coupled to the superstructured FBG 14 and the third port is fiber-coupled to the optical detector 16.

[0192] In general, the optical transmitter 11 or the optical receiver 9 may be either fiber coupled or operating in free space. Detection can be either in bi-static or monostatic configuration.

[0193] In a variant represented on FIG. 7, some other modifications have been brought to the arrangement of the LiDAR device 111 of FIG. 6. Namely, instead of the optical receiver 9, it is the optical transmitter 11 which may be a free optical space lens. Further, the optical detector 16 also operates on free space.

[0194] In a variant represented on FIG. 8, some modifications have been brought to the arrangement of the LiDAR device 10 of FIG. 3. Namely, the second port is fiber-coupled to the scanning module 12 and the third port is fiber-coupled with the superstructured

[0195] FBG 14 line, which is the permuted configuration as on FIG. 3.

[0196] For the sake of comprehension, the spectrum and temporal envelope of the signal transmitted on the obstacle 102 is schematized on the FIGS. 3 to 8, in order to make it clear when the signal transmitted on the obstacle 102 is the initial broadband laser pulse 1 or the pulse-train.

[0197] The various LiDAR devices above described enable the returning light to be detected and spectrally discriminated using a single optical detector 16 and fast digitizer. In addition, detecting the distance using a pulse train will be more robust than with a single pulse using frequency domain-based methods.

[0198] Variants of Spectral Delay Unit 4

[0199] In the description hereinabove, the spectral delay unit 4 was a superstructure FBG 14. In general, other technologies may be employed to obtain the result of both spatially and spectrally divide a single incoming broadband pulse. Similarly to the various LiDAR devices above described, said technologies may be provided either on the transmitter side or on the receiver side of the LiDAR devices.

[0200] For instance, the spectral delay unit 4 may comprise a spectral bandpass filter such as the tunable filter 18, as represented on FIG. 9. The broadband incoming light at the left is filtered to get a wavelength-specific pulse at the right of the Figure. The tunable filter 18 may be tuned to a successive wavelength after each time interval, in order to produce the pulse-train.

[0201] The tunable filter 18 may be arranged either to transform the light transmitted to the obstacle 102 into a pulse-train, or to transform the light received from the obstacle 102.

[0202] Advantageously, a single detector can be used, which leads to a simpler system, and enables a higher Signal/Noise Ratio (SNR) than filtering the light through an array. Moreover, the tunable filter 18 is easy to optically align on the optical axis (namely when fiber-coupled).

[0203] One can remark that, compared to a tunable filter 18, the superstructure FBG 14 is advantageous. Indeed, the superstructure FBG 14 does not require to operate mechanical movements and enable to increase the number of spectral channels per supercontinuum pulse from 1 spectral channel to any number N.

[0204] For instance, the spectral delay unit 4 may be a free-space spectral delay line 24. In general, a free-space spectral delay line 24 may include a supercontinuum source, a set of filters which divide the beam into different paths each at different wavelength range and having different path length, and a beam combiner.

[0205] An example of free-space spectral delay line 24 is represented on FIG. 10. The broadband incoming laser pulse 1 is transmitted through successive notch filters of rank k, which are each configured to transmit all but a different specific wavelength. The part of the pulse which is not transmitted is reflected to a specific direction by a wavelength-specific mirror in free optical space, then re-directed to a unique direction by use of another mirror, such that all the wavelength channels are re-collected and transmitted to the single direction.

[0206] Thanks to this configuration, one can get different path lengths 19, which cause delays between spectral channels. At the delay output 6, the outgoing pulses each have a wavelength separated in time, without the use of an optical circulator 13.

[0207] For the sake of comparison, FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative to the use of a spectral delay unit 4. In this alternative, in order to spatially discriminate the wavelength channels, no delay is introduced. Instead, the reflected broadband laser pulse 1 is transmitted in optical free space to a dispersive element 22, such as a grating or a prism. The dispersed light is detected to an array of detectors 23, each detector being dedicated to a wavelength which is deviated to it by dispersion.

[0208] The spectral delay unit 4 is very advantageous compared to this alternative. For instance, the spectral delay unit 4 is less complex because it only requires a single detector. Moreover, array detectors generally have a factor of 10 lower SNR than corresponding single detectors. Array detectors multiply the costs compared to a single detector. Further, components in array detectors may be fragile compared for instance to a superstructure FBG 14.

[0209] Simulation Results

[0210] For documentary references, and with reference to FIGS. 12 to 17, there is provided some simulation results demonstrating various advantages and feasibility of a multispectral LiDAR operating with a spectral delay unit 4 configured to introduce a variable time interval between a pulse and the pulse of next rank.

[0211] FIG. 12 represents a simulation of a signal S (arbitrary unit) over the time T (s). The plain line represents the ADP response to single pulses. The round markers represent the digitized signal. The dotted line represents the envelope.

[0212] The simulated pulse-train and single pulse where generated with the following hypothesis: the APD bandwidth is 1 GHz, the digitizer sampling rate is 1 GS/s, the delay between the 1st and the 2nd spectral channel is 3 ns, and each successive time interval is 10% longer than the previous time interval. In other words, the common ratio q is equal to 1.1. For single pulse the first pulse of the train was used.

[0213] FIG. 13 represents another simulation of the signal S (arbitrary unit) over the time T (s). One can see that the results improve when increasing the successive time intervals between successive pulses in the train from 10% to 25%.

[0214] FIG. 14 represents simulations of transmitted and returned pulses over the time T (ns).

[0215] On the left, the simulations correspond to transmitted signals. There is printed for reference an ideal pulse train 25, and ideal single pulse 26. There is also printed simulations of a noisy pulse train 27, and of a noisy single pulse 28. The simulation above is performed with assumption that the SNR is equal to 10, whereas the simulation below is performed with assumption that the SNR is equal to 2. One can see that even with a lower SNR (SNR=2), the noisy single pulse 28, respectively the noisy pulse train 27, are almost perfectly superposed to the ideal pulse train 25, respectively ideal single pulse 26.

[0216] On the right, the simulations correspond to returned signals corresponding to the simulated transmitted signals: the simulation above is performed with assumption that the SNR is equal to 10, whereas the simulation below is performed with assumption that the SNR is equal to 2.

[0217] In addition to the ideal pulse train 25, and ideal single pulse 26, there are printed simulation of noisy reflected weighted pulse train 29 and noisy reflected weighted pulse train 30.

[0218] For a SNR equal to 10, the simulated noisy reflected pulses are corresponding to the temporal position of their simulated ideal counterparts, and the power peak is well defined for each of them.

[0219] By comparison, for a lower SNR, equal of 2, the simulated noisy reflected weighted pulse train 29 is more difficult to interpret as different well-defined peaks.

[0220] The simulation hereinabove described have been performed under the following assumptions: a random gaussian noise is added to the spectrum with standard deviation of expected pulse amplitude/SNR, for the expected pulse amplitude: each pulse is weighed by a random reflectance value between 0.10 and 0.9 with the expected value of 0.5. For each SNR and pulse type (train vs single) combo, 10 000 simulated traces were generated.

[0221] FIG. 15 represents histograms of error in measuring the time of flight of the pulses at several SNR values, using single pulse and pulse train. The histogram represents repartitions on an axis 33 of error in TOF estimate relative to sampling period. Below the value of the SNR on each histogram, a first value represents the Hitrate of single pulse, above a second value which represents the Hitrate of the pulse-train. The assumptions made are following: [0222] Unit—sampling period (1 ns in this case). [0223] The time of flight estimate is always more accurate with pulse train.

[0224] At SNR<5 errors corresponding to integer times the delay in the spectral channels can be seen. Most likely the performance can be optimized by modifying the spectral channel delays and/or increasing sampling rate.

[0225] FIG. 16 represents graphs of the simulation of the signals S of a single pulse: [0226] transmitted signal T and reflected signal R, [0227] FFTs of the signal S: absolute values of a—FFT(R, n), b—conj [FFT(T, n)], and c—the product of the above, [0228] the phase ϕ (which can also be written: “PHI”) of the above FFTs, and [0229] the Cross correlation X : d—real part of the ifft of the product above ; e—max.

[0230] The assumption is a SNR=10. Zooms on the graphs are represented, which are indicated by a magnifying glass icon and arrows.

[0231] FIG. 17 represents same graphs as FIG. 16, for the simulation of the signals S of the pulse-train.

[0232] The foregoing discussion disclosed and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.