Improvement spatial resolution of frequency modulated continuous wave laser ranging system by splicing equal optical frequency interval sampled signal

Abstract

A dual interferometry FMCW laser ranging system is presented. The auxiliary interferometer for generating the clock pulses at equally spaced optical frequencies is incorporated into the main interferometer to simplify the system configuration and to compensate the tuning linearity of the laser source. The need of widely tunable laser limits the practical application of the FMCW laser ranging for precision industrial measurement. Splicing sampled signal method is proposed to break though the tuning range of the laser source limitation against the special resolution. In the experiments, 50 μm range resolution at 8.7 m is demonstrated, and this resolution is maintained over the entire measuring range. The measuring range depending on the power and coherence length of the source can reach more than 20 m. The system structure is simple, and the requirement on the tuning range of laser source is reduced in this system.