LiDAR Dual Transmitter Subsystems for Variable Resolution FOV
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LiDAR systems face challenges in capturing a large field-of-view (FOV) with high-resolution point clouds due to limitations in detector arrays and laser power, leading to reduced detection accuracy and range, making it difficult to achieve high-resolution scans over broad areas.
Innovation Solution
A LiDAR system with dual transmitter subsystems, one for a large FOV with low-resolution and another for a small FOV with high-resolution, using different light sources and scanning patterns to optimize photodetector usage and laser power, allowing for accurate object identification in critical areas while maintaining long-range detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of pixels in the photodetector array is increased to achieve higher point-cloud resolution, then the resolution improves, but the laser power received by each pixel decreases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the field-of-view into multiple zones with different resolution requirements. The photodetector array is segmented into corresponding regions, with higher resolution allocated to critical areas (e.g., horizon where objects appear smaller) and lower resolution to less critical areas. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high overall measurement precision without requiring uniformly high resolution across all pixels, thereby maintaining adequate laser power per pixel in each zone.
2Measurement precision
If the point-cloud resolution is increased from 0.1° to 0.01°, then the measurement precision improves, but the detection range decreases ten-fold
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different resolution qualities to different spatial regions based on their importance. Critical regions such as the horizon receive high resolution (0.01°) for accurate object identification, while other regions receive lower resolution (0.1°). This local quality approach ensures that high measurement precision is achieved where needed without sacrificing detection range across the entire field-of-view, as lower resolution zones can maintain longer detection ranges with the same laser power.
3Measurement precision
If conventional scanning LiDAR systems attempt to scan thirty-six million points to achieve a 120°×30° FOV with 0.01° resolution, then the measurement precision improves, but the scanning time exceeds the 100 ms period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the field-of-view and photodetector array into multiple zones with different resolution levels. By allocating high resolution (0.01°) only to critical regions and lower resolution (0.1°) to other regions, the total number of points to be scanned is dramatically reduced from thirty-six million to a manageable number that can be scanned within the 100 ms period, thereby maintaining high scanning speed while achieving sufficient measurement precision where needed.
4Productivity
If flash LiDAR systems use a wide diverging laser beam to illuminate the entire FOV, then the scanning speed improves, but the detector array lacks sufficient pixels to achieve high resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different resolution levels to different spatial zones. The flash illumination approach is maintained for speed, but the photodetector array is divided into regions with varying pixel densities and resolution requirements. Critical zones such as the horizon receive higher resolution treatment, while other zones use lower resolution, allowing the system to achieve high scanning speed while maintaining adequate measurement precision in critical areas without requiring a prohibitively large detector array.
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
Enables the generation of high-resolution point clouds for critical areas like the horizon while using reasonable photodetector size and laser power, improving autonomous navigation accuracy and safety without compromising detection range.
Implementation Method 1
at least one photodetector configured to detect light returned from the first FOV during the first optical sensing procedure and from the second FOV during the second optical sensing procedure
Implementation Method 2
measuring the reflected pulses with a sensor. Differences in laser light return times, wavelengths, and/or phases (also referred to as 'time-of-flight (ToF) measurements') can then be used to construct digital three-dimensional (3D) representations of the target
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the disclosure provide for a LiDAR system. The LiDAR system may generate a first FOV that is large and has rough resolution and a second FOV that is smaller and has a finer resolution. For an area of importance, such as along the horizon where pedestrians, vehicles, or other objects may be located, the second FOV with the finer resolution may be used. Using fine resolution for the area of importance may achieve a higher-degree of accuracy/safety in terms of autonomous navigation decision-making than if coarse resolution is used. Because the use of fine resolution is limited to a relatively small area, a reasonably sized photodetector and laser power may still be used to generate a long distance, high-resolution point-cloud.