Laser Emission Circuit Calibration for Uniform LiDAR Optical Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
In LiDAR systems, non-uniform laser beam emission due to manufacturing process errors leads to varying luminous power among lasers, causing distortion in point cloud images and reduced detection accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A calibration apparatus and method that includes a detection module to measure optical power and a control module to adjust control signals for each laser, ensuring each laser emits at a target optical power, thereby establishing a mapping relationship between lasers and their control signals to achieve uniform optical power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple lasers are used in a laser beam emission circuit, then the LiDAR system can achieve broader field of view and improved detection coverage, but manufacturing process errors cause non-uniform luminous power among the lasers, reducing detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the drive current parameters for each individual laser diode to compensate for manufacturing variations. By changing the electrical parameters (current) supplied to each laser, the optical output power is normalized across all lasers in the array, resolving the non-uniformity issue while maintaining the multi-laser configuration for broad field of view coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements individualized calibration and control for each laser diode in the array. Instead of treating all lasers uniformly, the system applies local adjustments to each laser's drive current based on its specific characteristics, ensuring that each laser contributes uniformly to the overall detection accuracy while maintaining the benefits of having multiple lasers for extended field of view
2Measurement precision
If individual control signals are adjusted for each laser to achieve uniform optical power, then detection accuracy is improved, but the system complexity increases due to the need for calibration apparatus and mapping relationships
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs calibration of each laser diode's drive current in advance during the manufacturing or initialization phase. The calibration results (optimal current values for each laser) are stored in a lookup table or mapping relationship. During actual operation, the pre-determined control signals are directly applied without requiring real-time calibration, thus improving detection accuracy while avoiding continuous system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a mapping relationship or lookup table that stores the calibrated control signal parameters for each laser diode. This copied information (the mapping data) allows the system to quickly retrieve and apply the correct control signals during operation without repeating the complex calibration process, thereby maintaining high detection accuracy while reducing operational complexity
Data Source
AI summary
This application relates to a calibration apparatus, a laser beam emission circuit and an electronic device. The calibration apparatus is applied to the laser beam emission circuit, where the laser beam emission circuit includes N lasers, and the calibration apparatus includes: a detection module, configured to detect optical power of an ith laser; and a control module, configured to adjust an ith control signal based on a detection result of the detection module. The control module is further configured to establish a mapping relationship between the ith laser and the ith control signal when the ith optical power is equal to the target optical power.