With the blooming of artificial intelligence technology, the distant sensing systems with an agile deployment, a high refreshing rate and a high precision are demanded to map the fast-changing environment in terms of 3D point cloud for autonomous vehicles and smart home products. Frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW), as a coherent detection method, shows a high precision, a high selectivity against ambient light, the intrinsic capability in speed sensing and eye-safety. However, FMCW usually needs a discrete Fourier transform to resolve the distance from the beating between the transmitted and received signals, leading to limitation on the acquisition rate and higher requirement in the frequency chirping span, speed, and linearity of the FMCW laser. Here we demonstrate an electro-optic comb-enabled absolute distance ranging technology with an acquisition rate up to 10 kHz and a precision better than 100 mm. We show that real-time distance resolving can be achieved with only two adjacent interference peaks among many peaks generated over one modulation frequency chirping period, boosting the acquisition rate of LiDAR system for ambiguity-free distance measurement.
We present a coherence scanning interferometer based on a mode-locked femtosecond laser, enabling precise pulse alignment for cross-correlation interferogram acquisition. However, Nyquist's law necessitates step lengths below 1/8 of the central wavelength, while area-array detectors face limitations in pixel density and frame rate due to communication throughput. To overcome these challenges, we propose downsampling methods that preserve interferometric contrast. The simultaneous exposure method maintains a stationary state for exposure at each sampling point, mitigating contrast loss from phase shifts. The phase compensation technique reduces carrier frequency through acousto-optic modulators, preserving high-contrast interference signals without altering the scanning mechanism. Leveraging our optimized frequency domain analysis algorithm, both methods achieved nm-level measurement accuracy with μm-level scanning intervals, facilitating efficient profilometry.
The mode-locked lasers based on nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) are applied in many fields such as optical communication, precision metrology and material processing due to simple structure, low cost and versatile states. In this paper, a compact Erbium-doped all-fiber mode-locked laser based on NPR is presented. The ring laser cavity consists of only a single in-line integrated device. The repetition of the laser is ~209MHz with 50 nm spectrum width and 236 fs pulse width. The laser can be utilized in the fields of precision measurement, optical sensing, optical communication, material processing and medical imaging.
Mode-locked fiber lasers based on nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) have been widely applied due to the simple setup, high performance and rich nonlinear dynamics. However, temperature, vibration, and stress can easily disrupt the optimized mode-locked state. To address this problem, automatic mode-locked lasers using different self-tuning algorithms are proposed in recent years. However, it is relatively difficult to verify and optimize the performance of self-tuning algorithm since the use of actual laser platforms, which hinders the development of intelligent mode-locked fiber laser. In this paper, we demonstrate a simulation platform for NPR mode-locked fiber lasers by using coupled Ginzburg–Landau equation and Jones matrix, which makes the optimization of intelligent self-tuning algorithm easier. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, genetic algorithm and human-like algorithm are implemented to prove the ability of comparing different self-tuning algorithms.
The single collimating lens-based dual-beam exposure system is a holographic exposure system that is suitable for fabricating long-period gratings. The interference wavefront aberration in this system requires optimization. We analyzed the coma of a single collimating lens-based dual-beam exposure system, and the linear relationships between the coma and the positions of the pinholes and substrate are obtained. Based on these relationships, we can eliminate the coma by adjusting the pinholes or substrate along the optical axis of the collimating lens. Consequently, the defocus aberration, astigmatism, low-order spherical aberration, and coma are all simultaneously optimized by adjusting the exposure system to meet the pinhole symmetry condition and coma optimization condition. Because the optimized interference wavefront aberration includes only high-order aberrations with low peak to valley values, a high-quality exposure wavefront can be obtained. Furthermore, a 5-μm period grating exposure system is constructed with a spherical collimating lens of 0.6λ spherical aberration. Through the optimization process, a low spacing error of ∼0.04λ within an aperture of 65 × 65 mm2 is achieved (the theoretical value is 0.002λ).
The optical frequency comb (OFC) is an emerging laser light source, which has laid the foundation for high resolution, high sensitivity, wide bandwidth and fast measurement. Angular velocity measurement as an important direction in the field of measurement has been paid attention. Nowadays, fibre optic gyroscope (FOG) is usually used to measure angular velocity. The Sagnac effect is the theoretical basis of FOG. Therefore, it is especially important to verify whether the FOG has Sagnac effect. Through theoretical derivation, when the FOG is used as a light source in combination with Sagnac interferometer and the Sagnac interferometer rotates at different angular velocities, the trigonometric function reflects the mutual transformation of the intensity of the light emitted by the interferometer and angular velocities, and the corresponds nonlinear relationship. This proves that FOG has Sagnac effect. When repetition frequency of FOG is locked ,this system can be used to measure angular velocity. In the experiment, we use 1km single-mode fiber as the rotating part of Sagnac interferometer, and measure the light intensity value at 20 different angular velocities. Measuring 10 times at each angular velocity for the mean value, which are used to fit the trigonometric function curve. The results show that the correlation coefficient of the fitting curve is greater than 0.99, and standard deviations of the measurement points are less than 0.06V. The corresponding angle error values at different angular velocities are converted into the distance errors, which are less than 0.032um.
KEYWORDS: Signal to noise ratio, Spectroscopy, Distortion, Frequency combs, Control systems, Computer simulations, Interferometers, Fourier transforms, Visible radiation, Ultrafast phenomena
Dual-comb spectroscopy is an emerging spectral detection technology with high resolution, high sensitivity, broad bandwidth and fast detection speed. By using a pair of coherent optical frequency combs, asynchronous light sampling is realized and pico-scale theoretical resolution can be achieved without mechanical scanning components. However, coherence between dual combs suffers from the frequency jitter, which causes distortion of spectral information. Furthermore, since jitter noise components in the experiment are complex, widely sourced, and difficult to control. It is impractical to study the effects of a specific jitter noise and observe how jitter correction algorithm works through an actual dual-comb spectroscopy experimental system. To solve this problem, a simulation method is proposed for dualcomb spectroscopy with jitter noise to verify the effectiveness of data processing algorithm. Two Gaussian random jitter sequence with a standard deviation of 0.16fs are generated as time jitter for dual-comb spectroscopy simulation system. The simulation results show that the time jitter causes the calculated spectral center wavelength δν to have a random jitter of standard deviation of ~40GHz. The time-domain averaging method and the frequency-domain averaging method are applied to the data obtained from the simulation system. Through 100 time-domain averaging, there is no visible compensation effect on the deviation of calculated spectral center wavelength, and the SNR becomes worse as the average number increases. On the contrary, 100 frequency-domain averaging reduces the standard deviation of the spectral center wavelength deviation to ~2.6GHz and can obtain 10 times the SNR of 100 time-domain averaging.
KEYWORDS: Data processing, Clocks, Logic, Distance measurement, Data acquisition, Data transmission, Signal detection, Sensors, Femtosecond phenomena, Field programmable gate arrays
Absolute distance measurement with dual femtosecond comb lasers has advantages of wide-range, high-accuracy and fast speed. It combines time-of-flight and interferometric measurement. The novelty of ranging method leads to new challenges in designing the data acquisition and processing hardware system. Currently there are no available real-time data processing system for dual-comb ranging. This paper introduces our recent progress on designing and implementing such a platform. Our platform mainly contains four different function modules. First, a clock module that accept a 250MHz maximum reference clock input was introduced to generate the sample clock for A/D converter, and the module’s output clock can be delayed up to 20ns with a resolution of 714ps. Second, a high-speed data acquisition module with a 14-bit resolution and a 125 MSPS maximum sample rate was designed to convert the analog laser pulse signal to digital signal. Third, we built a real-time data processing module that allows an input of 16-bit data in the FPGA to calculate the distance from the digital signal within 83us. Finally, a data transmission module based on a 128MB DDR SDRAM and USB2.0 was added so that we can easily debug the platform in the PC. The performance of our system is evaluated in real-time. The test bench consists of two femtosecond laser sources, an optical fiber interferometer and our data processing system. The repetition frequencies of the two combs are around 50MHz, with frequency difference of 2.5kHz. The center wavelength of laser pulses is 1560nm. The target distance is from 0m to 3m. The experimental results show that our system can output measurement results at the rate of 2500 pts/s, and the measurement deviation is less than 10um.
KEYWORDS: Ranging, Field programmable gate arrays, Clocks, Signal detection, Detection and tracking algorithms, Interference (communication), Signal processing, Data storage, Data processing, Distance measurement
Absolute distance measurement using dual femtosecond comb lasers can achieve higher accuracy and faster measurement speed, which makes it more and more attractive. The data processing flow consists of four steps: interference peak detection, fast Fourier transform (FFT), phase fitting and compensation of index of refraction. A realtime data processing system based on Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) for dual-comb ranging has been newly developed. The design and implementation of the interference peak detection algorithm by FPGA and Verilog language is introduced in this paper, which is viewed as the most complicated part and an important guarantee for system precision and reliability. An adaptive sliding window for scanning is used to detect peaks. In the process of detection, the algorithm stores 16 sample data as a detection unit and calculates the average of each unit. The average result is used to determine the vertical center height of the sliding window. The algorithm estimates the noise intensity of each detection unit, and then calculates the average of the noise strength of successive 128 units. The noise average is used to calculate the signal to noise ratio of the current working environment, which is used to adjust the height of the sliding window. This adaptive sliding window helps to eliminate fake peaks caused by noise. The whole design is based on the way of pipeline, which can improves the real-time throughput of the overall peak detection module. Its execution speed is up to 140MHz in the FPGA, and the peak can be detected in 16 clock cycle when it appears.
Optical Frequency combs can be used as a tool for fully controlling the phase and frequency information of light waves, i.e., “optical synthesizer”. It provides powerful tools not only in frequency metrology as “ultraprecise frequency ruler” but also in broad area since light wave can be used to its full extent with an extremely wide dynamic range. Frequency-traceable length measurement using frequency combs provides direct realization of the definition of meter, remote calibration using a GPS technology, and precise measurements of wide range of lengths by taking advantage of high dynamic range in frequency measurements. In this paper, ultrahigh-precision length metrology using fiber-based optical frequency combs are presented. By precisely controlling the frequency and phase of the combs, self-correction of air refractive index and noise cancellation in fiber path in interferometer are demonstrated. Heterodyne interferometry of 61- m path-length based on two-color optical frequency combs is developed for air-refractive-index correction. Measured two-color optical-path-differences agreed with calculations with 10−11 for 10-hour. Corrected distance variation agreed with thermal expansion of base-plate. A fiber-based optical frequency comb interferometer with 168-m-length reference path was stabilized to nm-level with fiber noise cancellation technique using a single frequency CW laser. Extremely wide range interferometric fringe scanning of 3.3-m path length
A method using a pair of femtosecond frequency combs can realize ranging at a high precision of 1μm by Fourier Processing. In simulation of this system based on Matlab/Simulink, it is found that the choosing of repeating frequencies has great impact on frequency of the sampled signals, which influences the ranging precision a lot. The sampled signals are analyzed and classified into three types, which can be judgment criteria in system setting. Filter at Nyquist frequency is advised to decrease the edge effect of FFT, and a supplement means of cutting in data processing is proposed to improve precision.
Interactive technologies have been greatly developed in recent years, especially in projection field. However, at present,
most interactive projection systems are based on special designed interactive pens or whiteboards, which is inconvenient
and limits the improvement of user experience.
In this paper, we introduced our recent progress on theoretically modeling a real-time interactive projection system. The
system permits the user to easily operate or draw on the projection screen directly by fingers without any other auxiliary
equipment. The projector projects infrared striping patterns onto the screen and the CCD captures the deformational
image. We resolve the finger’s position and track its movement by processing the deformational image in real-time. A
new way to determine whether the finger touches the screen is proposed. The first deformational fringe on the fingertip
and the first fringe at the finger shadow are the same one. The correspondence is obtained, so the location parameters can
be decided by triangulation. The simulation results are given, and errors are analyzed.
KEYWORDS: Signal detection, Sensors, Femtosecond frequency combs, Distance measurement, Linear filtering, Ranging, Femtosecond phenomena, Computer simulations, Field programmable gate arrays, Signal processing
Absolute distance measurement is essential in large-scale equipment manufacturing and scientific projects. Nowadays,
sophisticated equipment manufacture demands for high-precision ranging with a high speed. Several raging methods
utilizing the wide spectral range and stable frequency intervals of femtosecond frequency comb laser can achieve a high
precision, but most of such systems suffer from relative low speed.
Fortunately, the ranging method based on a pair of femtosecond frequency comb lasers can potentially resolve such
problem. Combining time-of-flight and interferometry method, the measurement can accomplish rapid raging in a
measurement period of 0.2ms, and achieve higher precision by interferometry after averaging of many periods.
We performed a simulation of this method in Matlab/Simulink. The precision can achieve ~10nm in ideal simulation
environment. By error analysis we estimated the data processing system, and gave the appropriate parameters of detector
and A/D sampling. It comes to a conclusion that detector with relative long response time of ~7nm or about can be
adopted, and fast Fourier transformation (FFT) of 16384 points contributes to higher precision. With such parameters, it
is possible to realize real-time raging performed on field-programmable gate array (FPGA) with high precision.
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