Patent ID: 6583863
Filing Date: 2003-06-24
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
An imaging apparatus, comprising:a photon source for emitting a pulse of photons at a target; a photon receiver having an array of geometrically arranged pixels, wherein the photon receiver receives photons reflected from the target, wherein the geometrically arranged pixels identify a plurality of photon arrival positions, and wherein the photon receiver is capable of detecting the photon arrival position of a single photon; a plurality of timing circuits coupled to the geometrically arranged pixels wherein the timing circuits determine photon reflection times of photons received by the photon receiver, wherein each timing circuit is capable of detecting the reflection time of a single photon; and an analyzer for receiving the reflection times and the photon arrival positions, wherein the analyzer determines geometric characteristics of the target by comparing photon arrival times to geometrically arranged photon arrival positions.