Single-Photon Structured Light (SPSL): High-Speed, High-Precision 3D Imaging

• 0:00 Introduction: SPSL addresses the tradeoffs between acquisition time, precision, and noise robustness in structured light 3D imaging. Existing methods struggle with dark objects, ambient light, and dynamic scenes.
• 0:44 SPADs: SPSL utilizes Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPADs), which detect individual photons. SPAD pixels output a binary value (1 if one or more photons are detected, 0 otherwise), resulting in binary images with negligible read noise.
• 1:42 System Components: The SPSL system comprises a SPAD camera (SwissSPAD2, 512x256 pixels) and a DMD-based projector (DLP6500, 1024x768 pixels) operating at high speeds (up to 20,000 Hz).
• 1:50 Coding Schemes: Novel coding schemes combining Gray codes and parity patterns provide robustness to photon noise. Hierarchical codes address distortions from projector defocus and other non-idealities.
• 2:24 Static Scene Reconstruction: SPSL demonstrates high precision on static scenes. Proposed coding schemes outperform simple repetition of conventional codes.
• 3:17 Low Albedo Performance: SPSL accurately reconstructs scenes with low reflectivity, such as a V-groove covered in Acktar metal velvet (0.1% reflectivity) and a car tire.
• 3:49 Dynamic Scene Capture: SPSL captures dynamic scenes with high speed, minimizing motion blur. Examples include a waving cloth and a jack-in-the-box toy.
• 4:19 High Frame Rate: SPSL operates at up to 2000 FPS, capturing details missed by slower sensors like the Kinect (30 FPS). The jack-in-the-box example highlights the ability to capture fine details during rapid motion.
• 4:45 Summary: SPSL combines high speed, high precision, and robustness to low-SNR conditions, enabling extreme 3D imaging in challenging environments.