Lower Power Linearization of Lidar Signals

Example embodiments relate to a lower power linearization of lidar signals. An example embodiment includes a method that includes receiving a sample value output by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in a processing unit of a lidar system. The ADC may be configured to digitize an optical signal that is compressed by a gain amplifier. The compression may be based on a transfer function comprising one or more linear portions. The method also includes comparing the sample value to one or more threshold values. The one or more threshold values may correspond respectively to the one or more linear portions. The method further includes selecting, for the sample value and based on the comparing, an inverse gain and an associated intercept. The method additionally includes linearizing the sample value based on the selected inverse gain and the associated intercept.