Pulse Broadening Effects on Ranging Performance of a Laser Altimeter with Return-to-Zero Pseudorandom Noise Code Modulation

A laser altimeter using code modulation techniques receives a backscattered pulse wider than the transmitted rectangular pulse when scanning a rough or sloped target surface. This leads to degrading the ranging performance in terms of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and detection probability. Unlike the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Choi, M. (Author), Jo, J.H (Author), Lim, H.-C (Author), Park, E. (Author), Park, J.U (Author), Sung, K.-P (Author)
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:View Fulltext in Publisher
LEADER 02977nam a2200469Ia 4500
001 10.3390-s22093293
008 220510s2022 CNT 000 0 und d
020 |a 14248220 (ISSN) 
245 1 0 |a Pulse Broadening Effects on Ranging Performance of a Laser Altimeter with Return-to-Zero Pseudorandom Noise Code Modulation 
260 0 |b MDPI  |c 2022 
856 |z View Fulltext in Publisher  |u https://doi.org/10.3390/s22093293 
520 3 |a A laser altimeter using code modulation techniques receives a backscattered pulse wider than the transmitted rectangular pulse when scanning a rough or sloped target surface. This leads to degrading the ranging performance in terms of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and detection probability. Unlike the pulsed techniques, little work has focused on the pulse broadening effect of the code modulation techniques. In this study, mathematical models were derived to investigate the pulse broadening effect on the ranging performance of a return-to-zero pseudorandom noise (RZPN) laser altimeter. Considering that the impulse response can be approximated by a Gaussian function, the analytical waveform was derived using a new flat-topped multi-Gaussian beam (FMGB) model. The closed-form expressions were also analytically derived for a peak cross-correlation, SNR, and detection probability in terms of the pulse broadening effect. With the use of a three-dimensional model of asteroid Itokawa for practical surface profiles, the analytical expressions were validated by comparing to the results obtained from numerical simulations. It was also demonstrated that the pulse broadening effect dropped down the peak cross-correlation and then deteriorated the ranging performance. These analytical expressions will play an important role in not only designing a laser altimeter using the RZPN code modulation technique but also analyzing its ranging performance. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. 
650 0 4 |a Aneroid altimeters 
650 0 4 |a Code-modulation 
650 0 4 |a Codes (symbols) 
650 0 4 |a cross-correlation 
650 0 4 |a Cross-correlations 
650 0 4 |a flat-topped multi-Gaussian beam 
650 0 4 |a Flat-topped multi-Gaussian beam 
650 0 4 |a Gaussian distribution 
650 0 4 |a Impulse response 
650 0 4 |a laser altimeter 
650 0 4 |a Laser altimeter 
650 0 4 |a Meteorological instruments 
650 0 4 |a Modulation 
650 0 4 |a Modulation techniques 
650 0 4 |a Performance 
650 0 4 |a pseudorandom noise code 
650 0 4 |a Pseudorandom noise codes 
650 0 4 |a Pulse broadening 
650 0 4 |a pulse broadening effect 
650 0 4 |a Pulse broadening effect 
650 0 4 |a Radio altimeters 
650 0 4 |a Return-to-zero 
650 0 4 |a Signal to noise ratio 
700 1 |a Choi, M.  |e author 
700 1 |a Jo, J.H.  |e author 
700 1 |a Lim, H.-C.  |e author 
700 1 |a Park, E.  |e author 
700 1 |a Park, J.U.  |e author 
700 1 |a Sung, K.-P.  |e author 
773 |t Sensors