1-bit sampling acquisition method for coherent Doppler wind lidar

Coherent Doppler wind lidar (CDWL) is a critical technology in wind measurement. However, the large volume of data generated during detection poses a significant challenge for data acquisition and processing systems. While 1-bit sampling using a comparator (CMP) has been proposed to reduce FPGA resource consumption, this approach generally leads to degradation of the carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) and a noticeable reduction in detection range. A novel approach, to our knowledge, termed the 1-bit sampling via analog-to-digital converter (ADC), is proposed in this paper. This method offers the potential to achieve comparable FPGA resource utilization while delivering improved CNR and an extended detection range relative to conventional CMP-based 1-bit sampling. To evaluate the proposed method, we designed and implemented a data acquisition module (DAQ) that supports three sampling modes: multi-bit ADC sampling, 1-bit ADC sampling, and 1-bit CMP sampling. Experimental validation was carried out using a 1.5 µm CDWL system. The results demonstrate that the proposed 1-bit ADC sampling achieves higher CNR performance and a longer detection range than 1-bit CMP sampling while achieving slightly lower detection range than multi-bit ADC sampling. It is anticipated that this work will provide valuable insights for the research community and contribute to the advancement of future CDWL systems.