Waveform centroid discrimination of return pulse weighting method in LIDAR system

Abstract

We demonstrate a new technique for the nanosecond return pulse waveform centroid timing method. The method has higher timing accuracy and wider applications due to the characteristic of that it can retain almost all the information of the return pulse. In this paper, the empirical model of transmitting signal and return pulse is built; and then the merits and demerits are discussed between the time-weighted method and the intensity weighted waveform centroid timing method. Under the MEMS scanning LIDAR system, the relationship between high-speed ADC sampling rate and waveform centroid timing accuracy is revealed. The measurement results show that when the ADC with a sampling frequency of 4 GHz is used in a short pulse LIDAR system, the comprehensive tining accuracy of the weighted waveform centroid timing method is approximately 300 ps. This method can improve the performance of the LIDAR system and may be of considerable value to both unmanned driving and intelligent service robot.