Method and Device For Measuring Distance

A method of measuring a distance to a target, comprising:

• transmitting (702) an optical pulse (310) from a transmitter (302) towards the target (312);
• receiving (704), by a receiver channel (304), the optical pulse (310) reflected from the target (312);
• and
• measuring (706) a time interval between the transmission and detection of the optical pulse (310) at a predefined amplitude threshold level (110A, 110B),
• characterized by the method further comprising:
• determining (708) a time domain parameter from the detected optical pulse (310) at one or more amplitude threshold levels (110A, 110B);
• converting (710) the time domain parameter value into a correction value by a conversion model;
• correcting (712) a timing error in the measured time interval by the correction value;
• converting (714) the error-corrected time interval into a distance to the target (312).

An apparatus (300) for measuring a distance to a target (312), comprising:

• a transmitter (302) configured to transmit an optical pulse (310) towards the target (312);
• a receiver channel (304) configured to receive the optical pulse (310) reflected from the target (312);
• and
• a processor (306) configured to measure a time interval between the transmission and detection of the optical pulse (310) at a predefined amplitude threshold level (110A, 110B),
• characterized in that the processor (306) is further configured to:
• determine a time domain parameter from the detected optical pulse (310) at one or more amplitude threshold levels (110A, 110B);
• convert the time domain parameter value into a correction value by a conversion model;
• correct a timing error in the measured time interval by the correction value;
• and
• convert the error-corrected time interval into a distance to the target (312).