A $64\times 64$-Pixel Flash LiDAR SPAD Imager with Distributed Pixel-to-Pixel Correlation for Background Rejection, Tunable Automatic Pixel Sensitivity and First-Last Event Detection Strategies for Space Applications

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems are enabling new applications in the field of spacecraft navigation, planetary exploration, as well as docking and landing operations. Wide time-of-flight (ToF) range, high speed and spatial resolution, tolerance to background (BG) noise, high dynamic range and radiation hardness represent some of key features to operate in this harsh environment. Among all technologies, direct ToF sensors based on CMOS single-photon avalanche diodes (SPAD) and time-to-digital converter (TDC) pixel arrays have gradually earned their place in 3D imaging due to their performance and system integrability [1]–[4].