Solid-State LiDAR Synchronization for Depth and Color Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LIDAR systems, particularly rotating and flash LIDAR systems, face challenges in power consumption, complexity, and the inability to capture high-resolution color images with accurate distance measurements, limiting their effectiveness in applications such as obstacle detection and navigation.
Innovation Solution
A stationary, solid-state LIDAR system that synchronizes a light transmission module with a light sensing module, using an emitter array and a time-of-flight sensor array to perform time-of-flight measurements while also capturing ambient light with an image sensor array, allowing for efficient power use and high-resolution color imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a rotating LIDAR system is used to capture 3D depth images, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase due to mechanical moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotating column with a stationary solid-state LIDAR sensor that uses electronic scanning. The emitter array and sensor array are arranged in a planar configuration, eliminating moving parts while maintaining the ability to scan and capture depth information through electronic control of light emission and detection sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The LIDAR sensor is divided into multiple emitters and sensors arranged in arrays, allowing parallel processing of multiple measurement beams. This segmentation enables the system to capture depth information across multiple directions simultaneously, maintaining measurement precision without requiring mechanical rotation.
2Device complexity
If a flash LIDAR system is used to capture 3D depth images, then device complexity is reduced by eliminating moving parts, but power consumption increases since all emitters are activated at once
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic scanning action where emitters are activated in sequential groups rather than all at once. The emitter array is divided into multiple groups that are activated in sequence, creating a scanning pattern that reduces instantaneous power consumption while maintaining the ability to capture complete scene information.
Solution Approach 2:
The emitter array is segmented into multiple independently controllable groups. This allows the system to activate only the necessary subset of emitters for each scanning phase, reducing overall power consumption compared to activating all emitters simultaneously as in traditional flash LIDAR systems.
3Measurement precision
If existing LIDAR systems are used for ranging purposes, then distance measurement capability is achieved, but the ability to capture high-resolution color images is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single stationary LIDAR sensor system. The same emitter array and sensor array are used for both time-of-flight depth measurement and capturing visible light images. The sensor can operate in different modes (depth measurement, image capture, or both simultaneously) without requiring separate systems, thus preserving color image information while maintaining distance measurement capability.
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 system achieves low power consumption, improved accuracy, and enhanced situational awareness by capturing high-resolution color images alongside distance measurements, outperforming existing systems in terms of resolution, reliability, size, integration, and appearance.
Implementation Method 1
a time-of-flight sensor array configured to detect emitted light reflected back from objects in the field
Implementation Method 2
detect emitted light reflected back from objects in the field
Implementation Method 3
an image sensor array configured to detect ambient light in the field
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments describe an electronically scanning optical system including an emitter array configured to emit light into a field, a time of flight (TOF) sensor array configured to detect emitted light reflected back from the field, an image sensor array configured to detect ambient light in the field, where a field of view of the emitter array corresponds to a field of view of the TOF sensor array and at least a subset of a field of view of the image sensor array. The optical system further including an emitter controller configured to activate a subset of the plurality of light emitters at a time, a TOF sensor controller configured to synchronize the readout of individual TOF photosensors concurrently with the firing of corresponding light emitters, and an image sensor controller configured to capture an image that is representative of the field during the emission cycle.