Adaptive Ladar Receiver Pixel Control for Precision Ranging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ladar systems for computer vision face challenges such as high cost, large size, weight, and power requirements, limiting their effective use to costly applications with short ranges and narrow fields-of-view, especially in automobile computer vision and other fields like autonomous platforms and surveillance.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive ladar receiver system that selectively controls subsets of pixels in a photodetector array based on targeted range points, reducing noise, optimizing dynamic range, and mitigating scattering effects, combined with advanced optics and signal processing techniques to achieve improved range precision and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional ladar systems are used, then they can provide range measurement capability, but they suffer from high cost, large size, weight, and power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the photodetector array into multiple independently controllable regions or pixels, allowing selective activation of only those detector elements needed for the current measurement task. This segmentation enables the system to reduce power consumption by keeping inactive regions in a low-power state while maintaining full measurement capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which portions of the photodetector array are active based on real-time requirements. The adaptive control allows the receiver to switch between different operational modes (full array vs. selective regions) depending on signal strength, range requirements, and noise conditions, optimizing power usage while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If conventional ladar systems are used, then they can provide range measurement capability, but they have large size and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes unnecessary components from the conventional ladar system. By using selective pixel activation and adaptive receiving, the system eliminates the need for some mechanical scanning components and complex optical elements, thereby reducing overall system weight while maintaining range measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical scanning and beam steering mechanisms with electronic control of photodetector pixel selection. This substitution of mechanical systems with electronic control reduces moving parts, decreases system weight, and improves reliability while maintaining the ability to measure range across different fields of view.
3Measurement precision
If conventional ladar systems are used, then they can provide range measurement capability, but they have high cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the photodetector array universally functional by enabling each pixel to serve multiple purposes: detecting signals at different ranges, covering different angular positions, and operating in various power states. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized components, simplifying manufacturing and reducing cost while maintaining full measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (which pixels are active, their gain settings, integration times) rather than requiring physical hardware changes to adapt to different measurement conditions. This parameter-based adaptability allows a single, cost-effective design to replace multiple specialized systems that would otherwise be needed for different operating conditions.
4Reliability
If conventional ladar systems are used, then they can provide basic detection, but they have limited field-of-view and short effective range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds the dimension of spatial selectivity by enabling independent control of multiple photodetector pixels across the array. This allows the system to simultaneously monitor multiple angular positions and range zones, effectively expanding the field of view and effective range without sacrificing detection reliability in any specific direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of the detection environment to determine which regions require monitoring, then pre-activates only those necessary photodetector pixels before actual measurement begins. This preliminary action allows the system to quickly adapt to changing conditions and expand its effective field of view and range as needed while maintaining reliable detection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adaptive ladar receiver system achieves millimeter-scale accuracy and improved range precision, reducing noise and power consumption while enabling longer ranges and broader fields-of-view, making it suitable for diverse applications beyond traditional limitations.
Implementation Method 1
A location of the targeted range point is mapped to a sensor/pixel (or a specified subset of sensors/pixels) of a photodetector array, and the selected subset of sensors/pixels is caused to sense incident light that includes a reflection of the transmitted ladar pulse
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of an adaptive ladar receiver and associated method whereby the active pixels in a photodetector array used for reception of ladar pulse returns can be adaptively controlled based at least in part on where the ladar pulses were targeted. Additional embodiments disclose improved imaging optics for use by the receiver and further adaptive control techniques for selecting which pixels of the photodetector array are used for sensing incident light.