Ask HN: Optical phase detection for detection/ranging replace Lidar?

2 pointsicanhackit1 comment

No background in this field. Can optical phase detection (of a high-enough resolution) be used for detection/ranging in place of a more complex system like LIDAR? I.e. a good-enough 3D map can be generated using an array of phase detection pixels?

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Phase can only be measured mod 2pi. You would need to modulate the light (carrier) with a code(s) and detect the reflection by correlation in range and azimuth, similar to radar. The classic book on radar is by Skolnik. Have fun.

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