6.5 A 64×64-pixel digital silicon photomultiplier direct ToF sensor with 100Mphotons/s/pixel background rejection and imaging/altimeter mode with 0.14% precision up to 6km for spacecraft navigation and landing

Recent technology surveys identified flash light detection and ranging technology as the best choice for the navigation and landing of spacecrafts in extraplanetary missions, working from single-point altimeter to range-imaging camera mode. Among all available technologies for a 2D array of direct time-of-flight (DTOF) pixels, CMOS single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) represent the ideal candidate due to their rugged design and electronics integration. However, state-of-the-art SPAD imagers are not designed for operation over a wide variety of scenarios, including variable background light, very long to short range, or fast relative movement.