High spatial resolution detection system and detection method based on noise-like pulses
Technical Field
The invention belongs to the field of laser ranging, and particularly relates to a high spatial resolution detection system and a detection method based on noise-like pulses.
Background
Laser, as a significant invention in the twentieth century, is continuously driving the front-end exploration of basic science. With the vigorous development of intelligent technology, the laser ranging technology plays an important role in the applications of automatic driving of automobiles, unmanned planes, robots, monitoring and the like; the laser ranging system senses the surrounding environment with its superior detection range, accuracy, spatial resolution and less restrictions on weather and lighting conditions, and is expected to be used for 3D imaging, object tracking, identification, and simultaneous localization and mapping.
Nowadays, laser ranging technology is widely used as a basic measurement means. For example, pulse time-of-flight ranging utilizes the characteristics of extremely short duration of laser pulse, relatively concentrated energy in time and large instantaneous power, and can realize measurement of longer distance under the condition that the average emitted laser power is less than 1 mW.
One of the ranging methods is a single-pulse time-of-flight laser ranging technique, which calculates the distance by measuring the time interval from the pulse transmission through the target and back to the photodetector. Although the conventional phase method can be used for distance measurement, i.e. the time interval is determined by measuring the phase difference between the transmitted high-frequency strong wave and the returned high-frequency strong wave, the pulse time-of-flight principle can be used for achieving very high measurement speed, because only one pulse, i.e. a single pulse, needs to be transmitted for measurement, and the distance measurement precision can reach the centimeter level.
An Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) technology is an application of pulse time-of-flight ranging, and is manufactured by adopting Rayleigh scattering and Fresnel reversal principles. By transmitting optical pulses into the fiber and then receiving the returned information at the OTDR port. When light pulses are transmitted within an optical fiber, scattering, reflection may occur due to the nature of the fiber itself, connectors, splices, bends, or other similar events. Some of the scatter and reflections will be returned to the OTDR. The useful information returned is measured by the detectors of the OTDR as time or curve segments at different positions in the fiber. The distance can be calculated by determining the speed of light in the glass material from the time it takes to transmit a signal to return a signal.
However, the pulse time-of-flight ranging also has some problems, and the dynamic range and accuracy of the measurement are limited to a certain extent, and the method is limited in the field requiring high-accuracy measurement.
In addition to the time-of-flight ranging, pulse code modulation is also a method for obtaining accurate ranging results, and the basic method is to convert an analog signal with continuous time and continuous values into a digital signal with discrete time and discrete values. Pulse code modulation is the process of sampling the analog signal, quantizing the amplitude of the sample and coding.
The popular explanation for pulse code modulation is: the analog-to-digital converter is used for acquiring and performing analog-to-digital conversion on an original signal at a certain frequency (sampling rate, such as 8 kHz) and a certain sampling bit depth (bit depth, such as 8 bits, 12 bits, 24 bits, and the like), and the obtained data is a corresponding digital signal. The sampled analog signal should contain all the information in the original signal, i.e. the original analog signal can be recovered without distortion.
However, pulse code modulation also has some problems, such as high cost, complex analog-to-digital conversion system, etc., and is difficult to be popularized in the field of laser ranging.
In addition, a random signal can be used as a ranging signal, which requires a random code generator and an electro-optical modulator, but the code rate and the modulation rate of the random code are limited by the bottleneck of electronic bandwidth, and the code length of the random signal is limited, so that a plurality of measurement results (namely, a false alarm problem in the ranging radar) can be generated for one target in long-distance measurement.
For the random signal, a noise-like pulse generated in a fiber laser can be used as a detection light source, and the advantages of non-periodicity and unpredictability are utilized to eliminate the interference which can exist in pulse and traditional laser ranging.
The noise-like pulse is equivalent to chaotic light and is characterized in that: a wider wave packet, wherein a femtosecond pulse structure with the pulse width and the pulse peak power changing randomly is arranged in the wave packet; a broad and smooth spectrum; low temporal coherence, the pulse width (packet width) of the noise-like pulses is generally determined by the pumping power and can vary from picoseconds to nanoseconds.
Because the noise-like pulse is a wave packet formed by gathering a plurality of randomly evolved ultrashort pulses, a detection result with high accuracy can be obtained by utilizing the signal light and the detection light through a cross-correlation technology. Compared with the autocorrelation graph of the traditional mode-locked pulse, the autocorrelation curve of the background-free intensity of the noise-like pulse only provides information of one pulse width, information of two pulse widths of the peak and information of the height ratio of the peak to the substrate.
Compared with the laser ranging methods, if the noise-like pulse is used as a light source for an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) for fiber fault detection, due to the chaos of the noise-like pulse, the noise-like pulse has strong anti-interference performance when used as a detection light source, and modulation and coding are not needed, so that the system is simple. In addition, the noise-like pulse is generated in the passive mode-locking fiber laser, the whole system is of an all-fiber structure, compared with a semiconductor light source, the all-fiber.
Disclosure of Invention
In view of the above defects or improvement requirements of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a high spatial resolution detection system and a detection method based on noise-like pulses, which can detect an object to be detected (e.g. an optical fiber to be detected) by using the noise-like pulses generated in a passive mode-locked fiber laser, and can obtain a detection result with higher precision in an optical time domain reflectometer technique and spatial optical distance measurement in the optical fiber, thereby solving the technical problem that the conventional technique cannot give consideration to both the measurement distance and the measurement precision. The invention uses the noise-like pulse generated in the passive mode-locking fiber laser as a measuring signal, is used for the optical time domain reflectometer technology and the space optical distance measurement in the optical fiber, is a precise measuring technology, and has the advantages that the noise-like pulse is used as a chaotic light source, the light intensity, the wavelength and the phase position of the chaotic light source are not stable on the time domain any more, but are similar to the random change of noise, the chaotic light source is a wave packet formed by gathering a plurality of randomly evolved ultrashort pulses, and the chaotic light source has the characteristics of high energy and low coherence. In addition, the invention also improves the internal components of each functional module, the connection relation among the components, the corresponding matching working mode and the like, adopts an all-fiber structure, and has the advantages of good light beam quality, strong anti-interference capability, simple and compact structure, low cost, simple and convenient adjustment, high efficiency, good stability and the like. The invention obtains accurate measurement results by utilizing the reference light pulse and the detection light pulse through a cross-correlation algorithm, and has high application value in the fields of laser radar, optical fiber sensing and the like.
To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a noise-like pulse detection system, which is characterized by comprising a pulse generation module (1), a pulse detection module (2) and a data processing module (3), wherein,
the pulse generation module (1) is used for generating noise-like pulses by using a passive mode-locked fiber laser, the passive mode-locked fiber laser comprises a first optical coupler (11), and the noise-like pulses are output as a detection light source through the first optical coupler (11);
the pulse detection module (2) is used for dividing the noise-like pulse serving as a detection light source into a detection light pulse and a reference light pulse through a second optical coupler (13), and inputting the detection light pulse into a target to be detected through an optical circulator (14) to implement detection;
the data processing module (3) is used for receiving the reference light pulse and the detection light pulse passing through the target to be detected through a first photoelectric detector (16) and a second photoelectric detector (17) respectively, the first photoelectric detector (16) and the second photoelectric detector (17) are used for converting light signals into electric signals, then the electric signals are collected through a data collecting device (18), and finally the electric signals are processed through a cross-correlation algorithm to obtain a detection result of the target.
As a further preferred aspect of the present invention, for the data processing module (3), the data acquisition device (18) performs denoising processing on the acquired electrical signals, and then performs processing by using a cross-correlation algorithm.
As a further preferable aspect of the present invention, the pulse generation module (1) includes a passive mode-locked fiber laser including an energy injection component (4), a mode-locked device (5), a first optical coupler (11), and an optical isolator (12) connected in series to form a loop.
As a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the energy injection module (4) includes a first pump source (6), a second pump source (7), a first wavelength division multiplexer (8), a second wavelength division multiplexer (9), and an erbium-doped fiber (10), wherein the first pump source (6) is connected to one end of the erbium-doped fiber (10) through the first wavelength division multiplexer (8), and the second pump source (7) is connected to the other end of the erbium-doped fiber (10) through the second wavelength division multiplexer (9), so as to couple the energy of the first pump source (6) and the second pump source (7) into the laser cavity of the passive mode-locked fiber laser.
As a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the pulse detection module (2) is connected to the pulse generation module (1) through the first optical coupler (11).
As a further preference of the present invention, the first photodetector (16) is connected to the second optical coupler (13) for receiving the reference light pulse;
the second photoelectric detector (17) is connected with the optical circulator (14) and is used for receiving the detection light pulse passing through the target to be detected; the object to be measured is preferably an optical fiber (15) to be measured.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for noise-like pulse based detection, comprising the steps of:
(1) building a passive mode-locking fiber laser and enabling the passive mode-locking fiber laser to output noise-like pulses;
(2) dividing the noise-like pulse into a probe light pulse and a reference light pulse through a second optical coupler;
(3) inputting the detection light pulse into a target to be detected through an optical circulator;
(4) receiving the reference light pulse by a first photoelectric detector, receiving the detection light pulse reflected by the target to be detected by a second photoelectric detector, and converting the reference light pulse and the detection light pulse into electric signals;
(5) and acquiring data in the electric signal through data acquisition equipment, and further obtaining a detection result by adopting a cross-correlation algorithm.
In general, compared with the prior art, the above technical solution conceived by the present invention can achieve the following beneficial effects due to the adoption of the noise-like pulse generated in the passive mode-locked fiber laser as the probe optical signal:
1. the noise-like pulse is used as a detection signal, and the noise-like pulse is a wave packet with randomly evolved amplitude and phase and has strong anti-interference capability, so that the detection precision is high when the detection is carried out, and the detection precision is unrelated to the distance, so that the problem that the detection distance and the detection precision cannot be considered in the traditional technology can be solved.
2. The all-fiber structure has the advantages of good light beam quality, strong anti-interference capability, simple and compact structure, low cost, simple and convenient adjustment, high efficiency, good stability and the like. When OTDR ranging is carried out, noise-like noise can be efficiently coupled into the optical fiber to be measured to wait for measuring a target, and the loss is much smaller than that of a semiconductor laser used as a light source.
3. The noise-like pulse is used as the detection light, so that the cost is much lower than that of a method for uniquely encoding the ranging signal of each range finder, and the maintenance is easier.
4. The detection light pulse and the signal light pulse adopt a cross-correlation algorithm, and a narrow peak appears on an obtained detection curve through different time delays of two same signals, so that a detection result with high precision can be obtained.
The invention utilizes the noise-like pulse generated in the passive mode-locked fiber laser to realize the technology of the high-precision optical time domain reflectometer in the optical fiber; specifically, the invention utilizes a mode locking device to generate noise-like pulses in a passive mode locking fiber laser; dividing the output light pulse into reference light and detection light, and inputting the detection light into an optical fiber to be detected through an optical circulator; then, a photoelectric detector receives the reference light pulse and the detection light pulse reflected back by the single mode fiber to be detected, converts the reference light pulse and the detection light pulse into electric signals, and data are collected by data collection equipment; and finally, obtaining an accurate detection result by adopting a cross-correlation algorithm through a computer.
The invention constructs a pulse generation module by utilizing an energy injection part, a mode locking device, a first optical coupler and an optical isolator, and constructs a passive mode locking fiber laser for generating noise-like pulses; mode locking is realized through a mode locking device, and noise-like pulses are generated; and, the energy of the pump source can be coupled into the laser cavity (i.e. the ring cavity of the whole fiber laser) by using the energy injection component. The pulse detection module in the invention is composed of a second optical coupler, an optical circulator and a target to be detected (such as an optical fiber to be detected). The noise-like pulse emitted by the pulse generating module is divided into a reference light pulse and a detection light pulse by the second optical coupler, and the detection light pulse is input into the optical fiber to be detected by the optical circulator to implement detection. The method comprises the steps of collecting detected information by using data collection equipment, preferably carrying out denoising treatment, and obtaining a high-precision detection result of a target by using a cross-correlation algorithm; namely, the two photoelectric detectors receive the reference light pulse and the detection light pulse respectively, convert the reference light pulse and the detection light pulse into electric signals, and data acquisition is carried out by data acquisition equipment, and then a high-precision measurement result can be realized by a cross-correlation algorithm through a computer. The invention realizes the pulse cross-correlation distance measurement by using the noise-like pulse, and can obtain an accurate detection result.
Nowadays, OTDR ranging and space optical ranging are both semiconductor lasers, which are also the key points of attention of researchers, wherein the ranging by using chaotic light output by the semiconductor lasers is a very accurate measurement mode; the noise-like pulses output by the fiber laser have strong anti-interference capability in the transmission process due to the randomness of the amplitude and the phase, and when the noise-like pulses are applied to ranging, a cross-correlation algorithm is adopted, so that high detection precision can be obtained, and the problem that the detection distance and the detection precision cannot be considered in the traditional ranging is solved.
In summary, the invention provides a method for measuring distance by using a cross-correlation algorithm of noise-like pulses for the first time, and correspondingly provides a distance measuring method and a distance measuring system, which can obtain high detection precision. The invention replaces chaotic light generated by a semiconductor laser in the prior art by the noise-like signal generated in the fiber laser, and can realize the advantages of simple structure, full fiber structure, convenient debugging and the like.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a general block diagram of the system.
Fig. 2 is a pulse generation module.
Fig. 3 is a pulse detection module.
Fig. 4 is a data processing module.
Fig. 5 is a system diagram.
The meanings of the reference symbols in the figures are as follows:
1 is the pulse generation module, 2 is the pulse detection module, 3 is the data processing module, 4 is the energy injection part (can the energy injection subassembly), 5 is the mode locking device, 6 is first pump source, 7 is the second pump source, 8 is first wavelength division multiplexer, 9 is the second wavelength division multiplexer, 10 is erbium-doped fiber, 11 is first optical coupler, 12 is optical isolator, 13 is the second optical coupler, 14 is the optical circulator, 15 is the optic fibre that awaits measuring, 16 is first photoelectric detector, 17 is the second photoelectric detector, 18 is data acquisition equipment.
Detailed Description
In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more apparent, the present invention is described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention. In addition, the technical features involved in the embodiments of the present invention described below may be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.
The invention provides a high spatial resolution detection technology based on noise-like pulses, and a target to be detected is taken as an optical fiber 15 to be detected as an example and is described in detail below. The invention relates to a high spatial resolution detection technology based on noise-like pulses, which comprises the following specific implementation processes:
the equipment and devices required in the implementation process are as follows: two 980nm pump sources, two 980/1550nm wavelength division multiplexers, an erbium-doped optical fiber, a mode locking device, an optical isolator and a light splitting ratio of 70: 30, a splitting ratio of 50: 50 second optical coupler, an optical fiber to be tested, two high-speed photoelectric detectors, an optical circulator and a high-speed oscilloscope with the sampling rate of 100GS/s, wherein the high-speed oscilloscope is used as data acquisition equipment (18).
In the pulse generating module (as shown in fig. 2), in the energy injection part (4), two wavelength division multiplexers (8) and (9) are respectively provided with a 980nm transmission port and two 1550nm transmission ports, the 980nm ports of the two wavelength division multiplexers (8) and (9) are respectively connected with two 980nm pump sources (6) and (7), and the erbium-doped optical fiber (10) is connected between the two wavelength division multiplexers (8) and (9).
Further, the mode locking device (5), the first optical coupler (11) and the optical isolator (12) are connected in the positions shown in fig. 2.
A passive mode-locking fiber laser is set up, and during working, noise-like pulses are generated by the mode-locking device and used for subsequent detection.
In the pulse detection module (as shown in fig. 3), two output ports of the second optical coupler (13) are respectively connected with the optical circulator (14) and the first photodetector (16), and the ratio of the output port to the input port is 50: the splitting ratio of 50, 50% of noise-like pulse is input into the optical circulator (14) as detection light pulse, then enters into the optical fiber (15) to be detected, and is input into the second photoelectric detector (17) through the optical circulator (14) after detection is finished; the other 50% of the noise-like pulses are input as reference light pulses into the first photodetector (16).
In the data processing module (as shown in fig. 4, the data processing module may include a computer in addition to the photodetector and the data acquisition device), the two photodetectors convert the received optical signals into electrical signals, and acquire data via the data acquisition device (18), and a processor such as a computer acquires accurate detection results through a cross-correlation algorithm.
In view of the test result, a step of removing noise is added to the data processing module, for example, an Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) method may be adopted to process the received signal, filter out noise factors therein, and obtain a more accurate detection result.
The functional components used in the present invention are commercially available, and can be constructed by themselves by methods known in the art. The cross-correlation algorithm used in the present invention can directly use the cross-correlation algorithm in the prior art (e.g., "laser chaotic signal correlation method ranging research", royal yun cai et al, shenzhen university science and technology edition, vol 27, vol 4).
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the invention, and that any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the scope of the present invention.