Abstract: A method of detecting a light pulse reflected on an object, including 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 gain sensor 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.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a real time active imaging method that is accurate and simple, and able to give distance information concerning the observed objects. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of detecting a light pulse reflected on an object (O1, O2, O3), comprising the following steps: c) emitting a light pulse of known intensity and duration towards the object (O1, O2, O3), then d) detecting a reflection signal (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5) of the light pulse on the object (O1, O2, O3) during a determined integration time (?t), with at least one gain sensor able to amplify the reflection signal, wherein, on detection during the integration time (?t), the gain of the sensor or sensors is varied in a controlled manner in order to know the gain at each instant of the integration time (?t), and which also comprises the following step: i) determining the precise instant of return of the reflection signal by evaluating the amplification gain of the reflection signal.