LIDAR DEVICE WITH SPATIAL LIGHT MODULATORS

The invention relates to a multichannel Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) device (4) with a dense array (1) of equal spatial light modulator elements (M, M1, M2) such as a digital micromirror device. The modulator array (1) is arranged in a focal plane of a receiving optics (20) between the receiving optics (20) of a receiver unit (29) and detectors (2, 2i, 2a-c). Each spatial light modulator element (M, M1, M2) individually provides a first spatial modulation state (1a) and a second spatial modulation state (1b), the two states differing in light redirection. Only in the first modulation state (1) light (10) from the receiving optics (20) is redirected via a respective modulator element (M, M1) in a targeted manner towards a detector (2, 2a-c). The receiver unit (29) comprises a dense array (3) of juxtaposed optical wedges (3i, 3a-c) in between the modulator array (1) and the detectors (2, 2i, 2a-c). Each wedge (3i, 3a-c) covers a different area (Ai, A1-A3) of the modulator array (1) and the refractive planes of the wedges (3a-c) are differently oriented, such that light coming from the modulator array (1) of modulator elements (M, M1) in the first modulation state (1a) is refracted area-wise in different refraction directions by the wedge array (3). The detectors (2a-c) are spatially separated from each according to a respective refraction direction (11i, 11a-c) each such that light of a respective modulator area (Ai, A1-A3) is receivable by a respective detector (2i, 2a-c).