A laser detection and ranging (lidar) device

A laser detection and ranging device, comprising a transmitter assembly adapted to transmit an aperiodic pulse-train of successive pulses, and an optical detector configured to:

• detect pulses from the aperiodic pulse-train of successive pulses, wherein each pulse has a rank in the pulse-train, and wherein a pulse having a defined rank is separated from the pulse of next rank above by a predefined time interval, wherein the predefined time interval is associated with the defined rank, such that the pulse-train form a series of predefined time intervals, wherein the predefined time interval is a predefined delay function of said rank,
• detect a series of actual time intervals between detected pulses,
• compare the series of actual time intervals to the series of predefined time intervals, in order to:
• determine the rank of the detected pulses, and
• determine a delay of reception of a detected pulse, which is the addition of a time-of-flight and a function of the time-interval associated to the determined rank of the detected pulse,
• wherein the transmitter assembly comprises:
• an optical input for receiving a laser beam pulse,
• an optical transmitter configured for outputting the successive pulses forming part of a broadband laser beam pulse emitted along a direction, the optical input and the optical transmitter being optically connected, and
• an optical receiver configured to receive a reflection of the laser beam pulse from said direction, and
• a delay unit configured for delaying the pulses of the broadband laser beam pulse, such that the laser beam pulse is transformed into said pulse-train of successive pulses, such that the predefined time interval associated to the defined rank is an introduced delay,
• wherein the detected pulses are at least a part of the reflection of the laser beam pulse received by the optical receiver, and wherein the optical detector is further configured to detect an optical power of the detected pulses from said pulse-train, wherein the optical detector is optically connected to the optical receiver,
• wherein the delay unit comprises an optical fiber which is grated with a fiber Bragg grating.