Selective LIDAR Emitter Pulse Circuit for Reflective Surface Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
LIDAR devices face interference from retroreflectors and highly reflective surfaces, which can impede the generation of accurate 3D point cloud data and introduce ambiguity in data processing.
Innovation Solution
A pulser circuit is implemented in the LIDAR device, comprising light emitters connected in parallel with capacitors and discharge-control switches. This circuit allows for selective emission of light pulses by charging capacitors during a first period, discharging them during a second period, and emitting light through undischarged capacitors during a third period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If all light emitters are activated continuously, then the LIDAR device can scan the entire environment, but retroreflectors and highly reflective surfaces cause interference and data ambiguity
Solution Approach 1:
The light emitter array is divided into individually controllable segments (light emitters 124), allowing selective activation of specific segments based on environmental conditions. The controller 116 can disable light emitters directed at retroreflectors while maintaining operation of others, thus segmenting the scanning function to avoid interference while preserving overall coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which light emitters are active based on real-time detection of retroreflectors and highly reflective surfaces. The controller 116 modifies the operational state of light emitters 124 in response to environmental feedback, transitioning between static all-emitter activation and dynamic selective activation to maintain data reliability.
2Reliability
If light emitters are selectively disabled to avoid retroreflectors, then data accuracy improves, but the ability to scan certain portions of the environment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the light emitter array into individually controllable units, the system can disable only the specific light emitters 124 that would illuminate retroreflectors, while keeping other light emitters active to maintain comprehensive environmental coverage. This selective segmentation preserves scanning versatility in non-interfering directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different operational qualities to different parts of the light emitter array. Light emitters 124 pointing at retroreflectors are disabled (zero emission), while light emitters pointing at normal surfaces operate at full capacity, creating local quality variations that optimize both data accuracy and scanning coverage in different spatial zones.
3Ease of operation
If a pulser circuit with capacitors and switches is implemented, then selective light emission is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control functions for multiple light emitters 124 are merged into a single integrated pulser circuit 128 with shared capacitors 314 and switches 348. This consolidation achieves selective control of individual light emitters while reducing the total component count compared to having separate control circuits for each emitter, thus managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pulser circuit 128 implements multi-functional components that serve multiple purposes: capacitors 314 provide both energy storage and switching control, while switches 348 enable both selective light emitter activation and timing control. This universality reduces the need for dedicated components for each function, managing overall circuit complexity.
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 solution enables the LIDAR device to selectively emit light, avoiding highly reflective areas and reducing interference, thereby improving the accuracy of 3D point cloud data generation and data processing.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of capacitors, wherein each capacitor in the plurality of capacitors corresponds to a respective light emitter in the plurality of light emitters
Implementation Method 2
discharge one or more undischarged capacitors of the plurality of capacitors through one or more corresponding light emitters of the plurality of light emitters, thereby causing the one or more corresponding light emitters to emit respective pulses of light
Data Source
AI summary
An example circuit includes a plurality of light emitters connected in parallel between a first node and a second node. The circuit also includes a plurality of capacitors, with each capacitor corresponding to one of the light emitters, and a plurality of discharge-control switches, with each discharge-control switches corresponding to one of the capacitors. The circuit further includes a pulse-control switch connected to the plurality of light emitters. During a first period, the pulse-control switch restricts current flow, and each of the plurality of capacitors is charged via the first node. During a second period, one or more of the plurality of discharge-control switches allows current flow that discharges one or more corresponding capacitors. During a third period, the pulse-control switch allows current flow that discharges one or more undischarged capacitors of the plurality of capacitors through one or more corresponding light emitters.