Lidar System Using Digital Micromirror Device for Signal Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lidar systems face challenges in efficiently detecting and measuring distances to remote targets due to low return signal power, which limits their accuracy and range, especially in environments with high noise or scattering.
Innovation Solution
The lidar system employs a light source with a seed laser diode and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) or fiber-optic amplifier to produce high-power pulses, combined with a digital micromirror device (DMD) and detector array to enhance signal detection and processing, allowing for improved distance measurement accuracy and range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional lidar systems use standard light sources without amplification, then the system complexity remains low, but the return signal power is insufficient leading to limited accuracy and range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by amplifying the light signal before it is emitted toward the target. The semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) or fiber-optic amplifier pre-amplifies the laser diode output, ensuring that the transmitted beam has sufficient power to generate detectable return signals from remote targets, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining low system complexity and achieving high return signal power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (semiconductor optical amplifier or fiber-optic amplifier) between the laser diode and the beam delivery system. This intermediary amplifies the optical signal without requiring complex mechanical or electronic systems, thus improving return signal power while keeping the overall system complexity manageable.
2Measurement precision
If lidar systems use high-power light sources to improve detection capability, then the measurement accuracy and range improve, but the system becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical amplification systems with optical amplification using semiconductor optical amplifiers or fiber-optic amplifiers. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical beam steering and focusing mechanisms, thereby improving measurement precision through higher signal power while actually reducing system complexity compared to traditional mechanical approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the power parameter of the light source by introducing optical amplification stages. The laser diode output is amplified in the optical domain before emission, allowing the system to achieve high measurement precision through increased signal power without requiring complex mechanical or electronic control systems to manage the power delivery.
3Adaptability or versatility
If lidar systems operate in environments with high noise or scattering, then the operational versatility is maintained, but the detection accuracy deteriorates due to low return signal power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-amplifying the light signal before transmission to counteract the expected signal loss from noise and scattering in the environment. The optical amplifiers compensate for atmospheric attenuation and scattering losses in advance, ensuring that sufficient signal power reaches the detector even in challenging environmental conditions, thereby maintaining both versatility and detection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit a pulse of light and a scanner configured to direct the emitted pulse of light into a field of regard of the lidar system. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to receive a portion of the emitted pulse of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The receiver includes a digital micromirror device (DMD) that includes a two-dimensional array of electrically addressable micromirrors, where a portion of the micromirrors are configured to be set to an active-on state to direct the received pulse of light to a detector array. The detector array includes a two-dimensional array of detector elements, where the detector array is configured to detect the received pulse of light and produce an electrical signal corresponding to the received pulse of light.