High range resolution spectral-scanning LiDAR based on optical frequency domain reflectometry

Spectral scanning, which utilizes the dispersive effect of light, is a simple and robust method for solid-state beam steering in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) applications. Powered by a tunable laser source, optical frequency-domain reflectometry (OFDR) is a high-precision measurement scheme that is inherently compatible with spectral scanning. Here, we propose a spectral-scanning LiDAR based on OFDR technology and demonstrate that, by connecting the measured spectral reflectivity and group delay of the targets with the dispersion equation, their cloud point data can be obtained. Moreover, compared to the spectral-scanning LiDAR based on the frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) ranging method, our proposed LiDAR scheme offers a more than tenfold improvement in range resolution with a large number of angular pixels. This enhancement enables high-resolution 3D imaging along both the angular and range axes.