LIDAR Signal Chirp Control Through Periodic Control Stages

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing LIDAR systems face challenges with large delay waveguides that occupy excessive space and cause signal loss, compromising the quality of frequency chirp in output signals, which is crucial for accurate distance and velocity measurements.

Innovation Solution

A LIDAR system with a frequency versus time pattern that includes a control stage and a data stage, where the bandwidth during control chirp segments is higher than during data chirp segments, allowing for improved signal quality and longer distance measurements without increasing waveguide length.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the length of delay waveguide is increased to improve the quality of monitoring and tuning the system output signal, then the quality of frequency chirp is improved, but the delay waveguide occupies an undesirably large percentage of the available space and produces undesirably high levels of signal loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of frequency chirpVSAvoidspace occupied by delay waveguide

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency versus time pattern is segmented into multiple distinct stages: a control stage with control chirp segments and a data stage with data chirp segments. This segmentation allows the system to perform monitoring/tuning functions during the control stage without requiring a long continuous delay waveguide, thereby reducing the space occupied while maintaining measurement precision through the structured multi-stage approach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic cycling between control chirp segments and data chirp segments. By repeatedly alternating between monitoring/tuning phases (control stage) and measurement phases (data stage), the system achieves sustained quality of frequency chirp monitoring without requiring a permanently long delay waveguide, thus reducing the required waveguide length and occupied space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Measurement precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of frequency chirpVSAvoidsignal loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the operation into control stage and data stage with distinct chirp segments, the system achieves effective monitoring and tuning during the control stage without requiring a long continuous waveguide that would cause excessive signal loss. The segmented approach maintains measurement precision while minimizing energy loss through reduced waveguide length

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The periodic alternation between control chirp segments and data chirp segments allows the system to perform monitoring/tuning functions intermittently during control stages, achieving sustained measurement precision without requiring continuous long waveguide exposure that would cause cumulative signal loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Area of stationary object

If the length of delay waveguide is reduced to decrease the occupied space and signal loss, then the physical footprint and signal loss are reduced, but the quality of the chirp of the system output signal drops

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace occupied by delay waveguideVSAvoidquality of frequency chirp

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing periodic control chirp segments followed by data chirp segments, the system maintains measurement precision through repeated monitoring and tuning cycles. This periodic action compensates for the reduced waveguide length by ensuring quality control is performed regularly during control stages, thereby maintaining chirp quality without requiring a long continuous waveguide

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters by implementing distinct control chirp segments with specific bandwidth characteristics during the control stage, followed by data chirp segments during the data stage. These parameter changes enable effective monitoring and tuning with shorter waveguides, maintaining measurement precision while reducing the required waveguide length and occupied space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250314769A1Control of signal chirp in lidar systems

Publication Date: 2025.10.09 SILC TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

The LIDAR system includes a light source that outputs an outgoing LIDAR signal. The LIDAR system is configured to transmit a system output signal that includes light from the outgoing LIDAR signal. The LIDAR system includes a light source controller configured to operate the light source such that the outgoing LIDAR signal has a frequency versus time pattern with a control stage and a data stage. The frequency versus time pattern during the data stage has multiple data chirp segments repeated in cycles. The frequency versus time pattern during the control stage has multiple control chirp segments repeated in cycles. Each of the control chirp segments is associated with one of the data chirp segments. A bandwidth of the outgoing LIDAR signal during at least a portion of the control chirp segments each being larger than the bandwidth of the outgoing LIDAR signal during the associated data chirp segment.