Phase tracking using a Kalman filter based on probability density distribution in frequency-scanning interferometry

Abstract

Frequency-scanning interferometry (FSI) utilizing external cavity diode lasers (ECDL) stands out as a potent technique for absolute distance measurement. Nevertheless, the inherent scanning nonlinearity of ECDL and phase noise pose a challenge, as it can compromise the accuracy of phase extraction from interference signals, thereby reducing the measurement accuracy of FSI. In this study, we propose a composite algorithm aimed at mitigating non-orthogonal errors by integrating the least-squares and Heydemann correction technique. Furthermore, we employ Kalman filtering for precise phase tracking. We introduce a parameter selection strategy based on the statistical distribution of instantaneous frequency to achieve the fusion estimation of phase observation values and theoretical models, which starts a new perspective for the application of multi-dimensional data fusion in FSI measurement. Through simulation and experimental validation, the efficacy of this approach is confirmed. The experimental results show promising outcomes: with an average phase error of 0.12%, a standard deviation of less than 1.7 µm in absolute distance measurement, and an average positioning accuracy error of 0.29 µm.