A Hardware-Friendly Data Compression Algorithm for SPAD-Based d-ToF Systems

This study introduces a data compression algorithm for Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD)-based direct Time of Flight (dToF) systems, to reduce their memory requirements. The algorithm compresses most of the data at the pixel level, easing the readout process and providing higher frame rates. According to numerical simulations, with a maximum targeting range of 50 meters (m), the data compression algorithm can provide distance measurements up to 30 m with a relative error of 0.15 m under a challenging background illumination of 50 kilolux. The results show that the algorithm can compress 84.65 % of the data at the pixel level.