Analog and photon counting signal gluing for atmospheric lidar in cloudy weather

The effective gluing of analog and photon counting signal is critical for enhancing the detection capability of lidar systems. This paper investigates the overall process of signal gluing and proposes a new gluing algorithm. The algorithm introduces a sliding window and decision criteria to automatically identify and select the most appropriate linear fitting interval, addressing the issue of decreased signal gluing performance under cloudy weather conditions. Additionally, a nonlinear correction method based on photon response pulse width is proposed to extend the linear fitting interval. Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed gluing algorithm achieves high accuracy and stability, and the correction method offers stronger correction capabilities compared to traditional methods. The combination of the two methods can address signal gluing under complex and variable cloudy weather conditions.