Guided Flash LiDAR Range Gating for Power and Bin Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lidar systems face challenges in achieving a high dynamic range while minimizing power consumption and improving image resolution, as they often operate in strobing mode due to limited memory capacity, requiring sequential data accumulation over multiple time windows.
Innovation Solution
The system limits photon accumulation to a specific range of bins corresponding to a predetermined object distance, reducing data storage and power consumption, and adjusts emitter power and SPAD sensitivity based on object proximity, allowing for improved resolution by narrowing data collection ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the system accumulates photon data over the entire distance range using strobing mode, then the dynamic range is increased, but the power consumption increases and the resolution of each bin decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the distance range for photon accumulation based on predicted object positions. Instead of using a fixed full-range accumulation, the accumulation range is adaptively modified to match expected object locations, reducing unnecessary data collection in regions where no objects are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial accumulation by limiting photon counting to only the necessary portion of the distance range where objects are expected. This partial action approach collects sufficient data for the required measurement range while avoiding the excessive action of accumulating data across the entire possible distance spectrum.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system accumulates photon data over the entire distance range, then the dynamic range is increased, but the resolution of each bin decreases due to limited memory capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically modifies the accumulation range to concentrate memory resources on regions of interest. By adjusting the start and end distance parameters based on object predictions, the system maintains high bin resolution within the active range while still achieving extended dynamic range through multiple accumulation cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality enhancement by concentrating measurement precision (bin resolution) in the specific distance ranges where objects are expected. Instead of uniformly distributing limited memory capacity across the entire distance range, the system optimizes resolution locally in regions of interest while accepting lower resolution or no measurement in regions where no objects are present.
3Quantity of substance
If the system uses a limited memory block for in-pixel histogramming, then the histogramming capacity is increased, but the system must operate in strobing mode which increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic range modification to reduce the number of strobing operations needed. By adjusting the accumulation range based on object predictions, the system can achieve full dynamic range coverage with fewer histogramming cycles, thereby reducing the complexity associated with multiple strobing operations while maintaining high histogramming capacity.
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 reduces power usage and enhances image resolution by limiting data storage and adjusting emitter power and sensitivity, thereby optimizing lidar performance.
Implementation Method 1
one or more emitter elements (including one or more light emitting devices or lasers) that output optical signals
Implementation Method 2
one or more sensor elements that output detection signals in response to incident light
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatus that can save power and provide improved lidar images. An example can save power by limiting received photon accumulation to a range of bins corresponding to a range of distances where a position of an object has been predetermined. By not accumulating or binning photon data over an entire range, the amount of data stored each laser cycle can be reduced, and other power saving measures can be realized. By limiting a range over which photon data is accumulated, the resolution of each bin can be increased, thereby improving a resulting lidar image. The position of an object can be predetermined using a stereo camera that can be coupled to, or included as part of, a lidar system. The stereo camera can acquire a pair of images offset by a spacing, and from the pair of images can generate stereo depth estimates. The depth estimates can be mapped to corresponding lidar pixels. The depth estimates can be converted to time intervals, which can be provided to the lidar system. The lidar system can use this to narrow the range over which photon data is collected for one or more pixels.