Depth Mapping Receiver Channels With Segmented Gain Stages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional depth mapping devices have limited operational flexibility, struggling to accurately sense objects within a narrow effective distance range, leading to noisy and inaccurate measurements for both close and far objects, which restricts their functionality and usability in applications like autonomous vehicle navigation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of multiple receiver channels with different effective sensing ranges, each configured to handle varying distances, allows for the generation of 3-dimensional point clouds that describe surface depth accurately across a broader range, using scanning mirrors to direct laser beams into patterns and sensors to process reflections for enhanced depth mapping capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If a depth mapping device is configured to sense far objects, then far object detection capability is improved, but close object sensing accuracy deteriorates (objects too close swamp the device resulting in noisy measurements)
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver channel is divided into multiple gain stages (first gain stage and second gain stage) that process reflected light signals with different amplification levels. The first gain stage processes signals from far objects with higher gain, while the second gain stage processes signals from close objects with lower gain, allowing accurate measurement across the entire distance range without saturation.
2Measurement precision
If a depth mapping device is configured to sense close objects, then close object sensing accuracy is improved, but far object detection capability deteriorates (far objects are intermittently sensed or not sensed at all)
Solution Approach 1:
The signal processing path is segmented into multiple gain stages where each stage handles specific signal strength ranges. The system switches between gain stages based on the detected signal level, ensuring that close objects are measured with high precision while far objects remain detectable through the high-gain stage.
3Device complexity
If a single receiver channel is used, then device complexity is reduced, but operational flexibility and effective distance range are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver channel implements dynamic gain switching between multiple gain stages based on the detected signal characteristics. This dynamic adjustment allows a single receiver channel to adapt to different object distances, providing the versatility of multiple channels while maintaining the simplicity of a single channel structure.
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
This approach significantly expands the effective sensing range of depth mapping devices, enabling accurate mapping of both close and far objects, thereby improving the functionality and usability of devices in applications such as autonomous vehicle navigation.
Implementation Method 1
at least one source of laser light configured to generate a laser beam
Implementation Method 2
at least one scanning mirror configured to reflect the laser beam
Implementation Method 3
receive first reflections of the laser beam from the surface and generate first timing data from the received first reflections
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods are described that provide for scanning surfaces and generating 3-dimensional point clouds that describe the depth of the measured surface at each point. In general, the devices and methods utilize. Specifically, the depth mapping devices and methods utilize multiple receiver channels, with each receiver channel configured to have a different effective sensing range. These multiple receiver channels together provide the depth mapping device with an increased overall effective sensing range. Thus, the depth mapping device can effectively map surfaces that are closer and/or farther than could be mapped using only one receiver channel.