LiDAR Received Power Calculator | Link Budget Formula

This document explains how to calculate the received power (Pr) at a LiDAR sensor using the LiDAR link budget formula. It provides the relevant equation and a calculator for determining Pr based on transmitted power, receiver area, backscatter coefficient and range.

Example:

Input:

• Transmitted Power (Pt) in Watt: 1
• Receiver area (Ar) in m^2: 0.01
• Backscatter Coefficient (Beta) in m^-1 sr^-1: 1e-6
• Range in meters: 1000

Output:

• Received Power (Pr) in mW: 1e-11

LiDAR Received Power Formula

• Following the LiDAR equation, the received power (Pr) can be calculated as:

where:

• Pt = Transmitted Power (W)
• Ar = Receiver Aperture Area (m^2)
• Beta = Backscatter Coefficient (m^-1 sr^-1)
• R = Range to Target (m)

Applications/Benefits of LiDAR Received Power Calculation

• Sensor Design: Calculating received power helps engineers design LiDAR systems with sufficient sensitivity and range for applications like autonomous vehicles and remote sensing.
• Performance Analysis: Understanding received power allows for performance analysis of LiDAR systems under different environmental conditions, such as fog, rain or dust.
• Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) Estimation: Received power calculations are essential for estimating the SNR of LiDAR returns, which impacts the accuracy and reliability of distance measurements.
• Range Estimation: By calculating received power, you can estimate the maximum range of a LiDAR system for a given target reflectivity and atmospheric conditions.
• System Optimization: LiDAR received power calculations can guide the optimization of system parameters,

References for further study

• “LiDAR Link Budget Analysis” - An in-depth article explaining the components of the LiDAR link budget and how to calculate received power.
• “LiDAR System Design Considerations” - A comprehensive overview of factors to consider when designing LiDAR systems, including received power and its impact on performance.