FMCW laser range-finder with an avalanche photodiode working as an optoelectronic mixer

David Dupuy; Marc Lescure; Helene Tap-Beteille

doi:10.1117/12.453982

23 January 2002 FMCW laser range-finder with an avalanche photodiode working as an optoelectronic mixer

David Dupuy, Marc Lescure, Helene Tap-Beteille

Proceedings Volume 4546, Laser Radar: Ranging and Atmospheric Lidar Techniques III; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.453982
Event: International Symposium on Remote Sensing, 2001, Toulouse, France

Abstract

A Frequency Modulation Continuous Wave (FMCW) laser range- finder has been designed for distances from 1 m to 20 m with cooperative or diffusing targets. This range-finder is compared to a phase shift laser range-finder. A heterodyne photoreception method is studied. In order to reduce noise, the nonlinear current-voltage characteristic of the APD is used to obtain an optoelectronic mixer. The photocurrent gain is modulated by the VCO signal working as a local oscillator (LO). The optical and electrical LO injection methods are studied. The theoretical analysis using the Miller model and thermal effects are compared with the first experimental results. The electrical LO injection gives a better ratio-to-noise than the optical LO injection. For electrical injection, it is shown that the heterodyne conversion gain can reach the maximal theoretical value 0.5.

Citation Download Citation

David Dupuy, Marc Lescure, and Helene Tap-Beteille "FMCW laser range-finder with an avalanche photodiode working as an optoelectronic mixer", Proc. SPIE 4546, Laser Radar: Ranging and Atmospheric Lidar Techniques III, (23 January 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.453982

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