LiDAR Receiving Chip for High-Resolution Grayscale Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LIDAR systems face challenges in generating high-resolution grayscale images without the need for additional cameras, which incur extra costs and can lead to angular misalignment issues between grayscale and point cloud data.
Innovation Solution
A receiving chip with a receiver array comprising open receivers, each containing N receiving units with at least two control switches and sharing a single output channel, employs a method to input a working voltage, allowing individual control of receiving units, enabling high-resolution grayscale image output by individually controlling receiving units within each open receiver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional cameras are used to capture grayscale images, then grayscale image acquisition capability is improved, but system cost increases and angular misalignment issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving units of the LIDAR system are designed to perform multiple functions: they can capture point cloud data through time-of-flight measurements and simultaneously capture grayscale images by accumulating ambient light signals. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate camera hardware, reducing system cost and avoiding angular misalignment between different sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the grayscale imaging function into the existing LIDAR receiving units by enabling them to accumulate ambient light signals alongside their primary point cloud detection function. This integration combines two previously separate functions (point cloud detection and grayscale imaging) into a single unified system, eliminating the need for additional cameras and their associated alignment complexities.
2Productivity
If multiple receiving units are activated simultaneously, then signal accumulation speed is improved, but output channel bottleneck increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving units are activated in a periodic or sequential manner rather than all simultaneously. Different receiving units are activated at different time periods to accumulate light signals, with each unit contributing to the final grayscale image through time-multiplexed accumulation. This periodic activation pattern allows multiple units to effectively contribute to signal accumulation while avoiding the bottleneck of simultaneous output channel requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a time dimension to the signal accumulation process. Instead of requiring multiple receiving units to output signals simultaneously through separate channels, the system accumulates signals from different receiving units at different time periods. This temporal dimensionality change transforms a spatial parallelism problem (multiple channels needed) into a temporal sequencing problem (multiple time slots used), effectively resolving the output channel bottleneck.
3Productivity
If all receiving units are activated for point cloud data acquisition, then point cloud acquisition efficiency is improved, but grayscale image resolution is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically configures the activation state of receiving units based on the current operational mode. When point cloud acquisition is the priority, all receiving units are activated for efficient point cloud data collection. When grayscale imaging is required, the system selectively activates specific receiving units to maintain high image resolution. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize performance for different operational requirements without compromising either function.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving units are segmented into different functional groups that can be independently activated. Some receiving units are designated for point cloud data acquisition while others are optimized for grayscale image capture. This segmentation allows the system to activate only the necessary subset of receiving units for each specific task, maintaining high efficiency for point cloud acquisition while preserving high resolution for grayscale imaging when needed.
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 solution achieves high-resolution grayscale images using ambient light, reusing existing LIDAR components, thus avoiding additional costs and angular misalignment, while maintaining efficient point cloud data acquisition.
Implementation Method 1
The N receiving units are photodetection elements... the m receiving units in the open receiver are configured to receive ambient light under the working voltage and output a first sampled signal
Data Source
AI summary
A receiving chip, a method for outputting grayscale data, and a LIDAR device are provided. The receiving chip includes a receiving array, a receiving driving module, and a signal processing module. The receiving array includes multiple open receivers, each containing N receiving units with at least two control switches. The receiving driving module is configured to input a working voltage to m receiving units (m<N) within at least one of the open receivers during each grayscale data acquisition process. The m receiving units are configured to receive ambient light under the working voltage and output a first sampled signal accumulated from the ambient light received by the mm units. The signal processing module processes the first sampled signal from each grayscale data acquisition process to obtain grayscale data.