Lidar Detector Region Selection Based on Time of Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LIDAR devices process the entire detector surface for beam evaluation, leading to increased data and computational effort due to unknown beam positions, resulting in slower data processing and higher complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that select a specific area on the detector surface for evaluation based on the flight duration of the reflected beam, reducing the number of detector pixels to be evaluated and dynamically adjusting sensitivity to optimize detection across varying distances, thereby reducing data processing complexity and enhancing dynamic range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire detector surface is evaluated to process the received beam, then the detection coverage is improved, but the data processing complexity and computational effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The detector surface is divided into multiple regions, and only the region containing the beam hit position is selected for evaluation. This segmentation approach maintains detection coverage by ensuring the correct region is evaluated while reducing data processing complexity by excluding other regions from analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam hit position on the detector surface is predicted based on the flight duration before the actual evaluation takes place. This preliminary action allows the system to pre-identify which region to evaluate, thereby reducing the computational effort required during the evaluation phase while maintaining reliable detection coverage.
2Loss of information
If the entire detector surface is evaluated, then no beam position information is lost, but the amount of data to be processed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam hit position is predicted in advance using flight duration information, allowing the system to identify the specific region containing the beam position before evaluation. This prevents loss of beam position information while reducing the amount of data to be processed by focusing only on the relevant region.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical evaluation of the entire detector surface is replaced by a computational prediction of the beam hit position based on flight duration. This substitution allows the system to maintain accurate beam position information while significantly reducing the quantity of data that needs to be processed.
3Measurement precision
If multiple measurements are performed to iteratively narrow down the detector area, then the beam position is accurately identified, but the analysis time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam hit position is predicted in advance using flight duration information from a single measurement, eliminating the need for multiple iterative measurements. This preliminary prediction maintains measurement precision by accurately identifying the beam position while significantly reducing analysis time.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing multiple physical measurements to narrow down the beam position, the system uses a computational model that copies the relationship between flight duration and beam position to directly predict the hit location. This approach maintains precision while reducing the time required for analysis.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the detector evaluates all received beams across the entire surface, then the dynamic range is maintained, but the circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detector circuit is configured to evaluate only specific regions rather than the entire detector surface. This segmentation maintains the detection range by ensuring the correct region is analyzed while reducing circuit complexity by deactivating or excluding other regions from the evaluation process.
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 the amount of data to be processed, accelerates evaluation, and increases the dynamic range of the detector, ensuring optimal detection characteristics for both distant and close objects while minimizing false detections from ambient light.
Implementation Method 1
The time of flight of the beam from the time of generation to the time of detection can be measured and converted into a distance based on the speed of light of the beam
Implementation Method 2
The generated light beam can be deflected within a field of view using a mirror or a rotating structure
Implementation Method 3
Detectors in LIDAR devices typically consist of linear or planar matrices or arrays of numerous detector pixels
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for scanning a scanning angle and for evaluating a detector (4), wherein at least one beam (7) is produced by a beam source (6) in order to scan the scanning angle, at least one beam (9) reflected on an object (12) is received and deflected to a deflector surface (18) of the detector (4), a flight duration of the at least one reflected beam (9) is determined, the at least one received beam (11) is evaluated, wherein at least one region (22, 24, 26) of the detector surface (18) is selected in order to evaluate the at least one received beam (11) as a factor of the flight duration of the at least one received beam (11). The invention further relates to a LIDAR device for carrying out the method.