Fast-scanning speed single-photon counting LiDAR based on front focal length modulation

This Letter presents a method for fast-scanning speed LiDAR based on front focal length modulation in the transmitter, which compensates for the influence of the laser divergence angle on the scanning speed at close range of the long-range LiDAR. According to the thin lens equation for Gaussian beams, the laser divergence angle is affected by the distance from the lens to the object (the waist of the laser beam). The scanning speed of the LiDAR is correlated to the laser divergence angle during LiDAR operation, and the scanning speed can be improved by expanding the laser divergence angle by enlarging the front focal length of the transmitter. Through experimental analysis, the laser dispersion angle modulation of LiDAR can improve the scanning speed under the premise of guaranteeing the target detection performance in close-range detection.