Time-of-Flight Selective Flash LiDAR Illumination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Time-of-flight selective flash LiDAR systems used in autonomous vehicles face challenges in providing sufficient illumination intensity for reliable object detection at distances beyond 200 meters, leading to incomplete environmental data capture due to power-limited emitters.
Innovation Solution
A time-of-flight selective flash LiDAR system with a sensor control device that adjusts the illumination field's solid angle extension based on distance, using a larger solid angle for closer ranges and a narrower angle for farther ranges, ensuring high information density and accurate object classification, with adaptive optics and multiple light sources for dynamic illumination control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If power-limited emitters are used to ensure eye safety, then compliance with safety standards is achieved, but illumination intensity becomes insufficient for reliable object detection at distances beyond 200 meters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the illumination field's solid angle extension variable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts the solid angle based on distance: using a larger solid angle for closer ranges to illuminate more area, and a narrower solid angle for farther ranges to concentrate illumination intensity. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between eye safety constraints and sufficient illumination intensity for distant object detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying different illumination characteristics to different spatial regions. Closer measuring surfaces receive illumination with a larger solid angle extension for broader coverage, while farther measuring surfaces receive illumination with a narrower solid angle extension for higher intensity concentration. This localized differentiation allows the system to maintain eye safety overall while providing sufficient intensity where needed for distant detection.
2Device complexity
If a fixed solid angle illumination field is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but information density varies unevenly across different distances
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamics to adjust the illumination field's solid angle extension based on the distance to measuring surfaces. By making the solid angle variable rather than fixed, the system achieves more uniform information density across different distances while maintaining relatively simple system architecture through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the sensor control device determines the solid angle extension based on the distance to measuring surfaces. This feedback loop ensures that the illumination field adapts appropriately to maintain consistent information density across varying ranges, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and information uniformity.
3Illumination intensity
If sequential object tracking methods are used to concentrate illumination on limited areas, then illumination intensity is improved for specific targets, but complete environmental data capture is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating illumination characteristics based on distance zones rather than sequentially tracking single objects. Multiple measuring surfaces at different distances are simultaneously illuminated with appropriately tailored solid angles, ensuring both high intensity for distant targets and comprehensive environmental coverage without sequential limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements universality by making the illumination field capable of serving multiple functions simultaneously: it provides concentrated intensity for distant objects while also maintaining broader coverage for closer environmental monitoring. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for sequential tracking and enables complete environmental data capture across all ranges.
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 enhances object detection accuracy and simplifies data processing by providing high information density over a large area, improving object classification and collision avoidance capabilities in autonomous navigation.
Implementation Method 1
an emitter (3.1, 3.2, 3.3) for emitting pulsed illumination radiation (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) into an object space (5)
Implementation Method 2
a sensor control device (10.1, 10.2) for the time-of-flight selection
Implementation Method 3
the back-reflected radiation (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) is detected separately from a first measuring surface (11.1, 11.2) and a second measuring surface (12.1, 12.2)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a time-of-flight selective flash LiDAR system comprising an emitter for emitting pulsed illumination radiation into an object space; a detection unit with an image sensor for detecting the radiation reflected back from the object space; and a sensor control device for time-of-flight selection, wherein the sensor control device is configured such that the back-reflected radiation is detected separately from a first measuring surface and a second measuring surface and wherein the second measuring surface is located at a greater distance from the detection unit than the first measuring surface. The invention is characterized in that there is an illumination field control arrangement which is synchronized in time with the sensor control device and is configured in such a way that the illumination radiation generates a first illumination field with a first solid angle extension on the first measuring surface and a second illumination field with a second solid angle extension on the second measuring surface, and the first solid angle extension is greater than the second solid angle extension.