An Interval-Peak-Based Algorithm for Range Image Reconstruction of GM-APD Lidar

GM-APD lidar has single-photon sensitivity, so that it can obtain 3D information of distant targets. On the other hand, the laser echo of targets is easily drowned by noise. In order to solve this problem, an interval-peak-based algorithm for range image reconstruction is proposed in this paper. Firstly, in the photon counts histogram, the x-axis is divided into small intervals and the peak value of each interval is taken. This step weakens the bad characteristic caused by the trigger probability. Secondly, according to the data feature, the trigger probability ratio coefficient and the neighborhood correlation coefficient are obtainned. Finally, the range image can be extracted by the peak method after the peak value of each interval is multiplied with this two coefficients. It is verified by the experimental data that when the SNR of target echo data is 0.022, the recovery ratio of the proposed algorithm can reach 80%, which is 25% higher than the matching filter algorithm. The proposed algorithm has a good application prospect in the range image reconstruction of GM-APD lidar.