A new lidar signal processor using digital techniques to provide real time display
Abstract
An accurate high speed digital data acquisition system which records lidar data on magnetic tape is discussed. It features real-time processing of the data by means of a low cost dedicated processor. The system features dual-channel recording capability, and has two built-in gain-switching amplifiers, allowing the system to accurately record the entire return signal having a dynamic range in excess of 80 db. Dual differential inputs are used to provide excellent noise immunity. Spatial separations as small as 10 meters can be recorded and up to 10,000 returns can be averaged in the 24 bit x 2048 word output buffer memory. This stored data is available to the processor to provide a range corrected signal and a signal normalized for the change in atmospheric density as a function of height. Dual channel operation allows use with dual-wavelength and dual polarization lidars, and the system is sufficiently flexible to be used to record coherent Doppler radar returns.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report A
- Pub Date:
- September 1974
- Bibcode:
- 1974STIA...7528648F
- Keywords:
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- Data Acquisition;
- Digital Radar Systems;
- Display Devices;
- Optical Radar;
- Real Time Operation;
- Signal Processing;
- Data Recording;
- Data Storage;
- Digital Techniques;
- Doppler Radar;
- Low Cost;
- Magnetic Tapes;
- Optical Polarization;
- Instrumentation and Photography