High-resolution long-range 3D single-photon imaging with a compact SPAD array

TL;DR

This paper presents a compact 3D single-photon imaging system that combines high-resolution spatial modulation with parallel detection, enabling detailed long-range 3D imaging at 670 meters.

Contribution

The work introduces a novel high-resolution long-range 3D imaging method using a small SPAD array and digital micromirror device, extending spatial sampling beyond the detector's native format.

Findings

Achieved 3D reconstruction at 670 m distance.

Realized an effective spatial resolution of 256x256.

Validated the system's capability for high-resolution long-range imaging.

Abstract

High-resolution three-dimensional imaging under photon-starved conditions remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate a high-resolution long-range 3D single-photon imaging system based on a digital micromirror device (DMD) and a compact 64 multiply 64 single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array. By combining high-resolution spatial modulation with parallel time-resolved detection, the system extends the effective spatial sampling beyond the native detector format while preserving depth information through time-of-flight measurement. In outdoor experiments at a stand-off distance of 670 m, we achieved 3D reconstruction of natural targets with an effective spatial resolution of 256 multiply 256. These results validate the proposed method as an effective approach for high-resolution long-range 3D single-photon imaging using compact SPAD arrays.