Real-time hardware background subtraction using an adjustable gain balance amplified photodetector

Galen D. Cauble; David T. Wayne

doi:10.1117/12.2063330

7 October 2014 Real-time hardware background subtraction using an adjustable gain balance amplified photodetector

Galen D. Cauble, David T. Wayne

Proceedings Volume 9224, Laser Communication and Propagation through the Atmosphere and Oceans III; 922410 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2063330
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2014, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The growth of optical communication has created a need to correctly characterize the atmospheric channel. The measurement of turbulence, due to its ability to drastically effect signal quality, is an important part of this characterization and can be partially accomplished via calculation of the scintillation index. However, proper calculation of the scintillation index requires that the background (specifically the diffuse solar background) be accurately subtracted from the transmitted signal. While there are many methods to remove this background we introduce a hardware based method which seeks to overcome the weaknesses of traditional approaches while adding its own strengths. The corrected signal is allowed a greater dynamic range and atmospheric background variations are accounted for during transmission. We begin by discussing the scintillation index and traditional means of background subtraction followed with an introduction of our proposed optical design. We provide details of the experimental setup, data collection over a maritime location in San Diego, and analysis. Finally, we compare scintillation index calculations using our new method and a traditional method of background subtraction. Our results ranked our method favorably alongside common methods of background subtraction.

Citation Download Citation

Galen D. Cauble and David T. Wayne "Real-time hardware background subtraction using an adjustable gain balance amplified photodetector", Proc. SPIE 9224, Laser Communication and Propagation through the Atmosphere and Oceans III, 922410 (7 October 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2063330

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KEYWORDS

Scintillation

Sensors

Signal detection

Calibration

Electronic filtering

Transmitters

Turbulence

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