Configurable array of single-photon detectors

Abstract

A method for optical sensing includes directing a series of optical pulses toward a target scene and imaging optical radiation that is reflected from the target scene onto an array of single-photon detectors, which output electrical pulses in response to photons that are incident thereon. The electrical pulses output by the single photon detectors are counted in multiple different gating intervals that are synchronized with each of the optical pulses, including at least first and second gating intervals at different, respective delays relative to the optical pulses, while the delays are swept over a sequence of different delay times during the series of the optical pulses. A time of flight of the optical pulses is computed by comparing respective first and second counts of the electrical pulses that were accumulated in the first and second gating intervals over the series of the optical pulses.