Patent ID: 7907258

Claim:
A method of detecting a light pulse reflected on an object, comprising steps of: emitting a light pulse of known intensity and duration towards the object; detecting a reflection signal of the light pulse on the object during a first integration time, wherein, the detecting is carried out with at least one sensor with variable gain that amplifies the reflection signal; on detection during the first integration time, varying an amplification gain of the at least one sensor in a controlled manner so that the amplification gain at each instant of the first integration time is known; and determining a time of return of the reflection signal by evaluating the amplification gain of the reflection signal, wherein the process includes, prior to the emitting the light pulse, preliminary steps of, emitting a preliminary light pulse of known intensity and duration towards the object, and detecting a reflection signal of the preliminary light pulse on the object during a second integration time, with at least one gain sensor, able to amplify the reflection signal of the preliminary light pulse, with a gain being kept constant throughout the second integration time; and subsequent to the determining, calculating a ratio of the reflection signal of the light pulse to the reflection signal of the preliminary light pulse.