LiDAR Receiver Frontend Multiplexing for Low-Noise Amplifier Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional LiDAR systems require multiple amplifiers for each photodetector, leading to high power consumption, large footprints, and inconsistencies due to the difficulty in sharing amplifiers among multiple photodetectors, resulting in increased costs and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A low-noise amplifier is shared among multiple photodetectors, connected selectively via a multiplexing circuit to amplify individual electrical signals, reducing the number of amplifiers needed and minimizing power consumption and device size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple amplifiers are used for each photodetector, then signal amplification quality is maintained, but power consumption increases and device footprint enlarges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal amplification qualityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple photodetector channels are merged to share a single amplifier through the multiplexing circuit. The amplifier is time-shared among multiple photodetectors, with each photodetector sequentially connected to the amplifier via switching elements. This combining approach maintains signal amplification quality while reducing the total number of amplifiers needed, thereby lowering power consumption and device footprint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A single amplifier is designed to serve multiple photodetector channels universally. The amplifier performs the same signal amplification function for different photodetectors at different time intervals, controlled by the multiplexing circuit. This multi-functional usage eliminates the need for dedicated amplifiers for each photodetector, reducing overall system power consumption while maintaining performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple amplifiers are used for each photodetector, then signal amplification is ensured, but device footprint and material costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal amplificationVSAvoiddevice footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Use of energy by moving object

If amplifiers are shared among multiple photodetectors, then power consumption and device size are reduced, but noise increases due to switching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A multiplexing circuit with switching elements is introduced as an intermediary between photodetectors and the shared amplifier. The switching elements are designed to minimize noise during channel transitions, and the multiplexing circuit manages the sequential connection of photodetectors to the amplifier in a controlled manner. This intermediary structure enables amplifier sharing while managing noise from switching operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The multiplexing circuit implements periodic switching between different photodetector channels connected to the shared amplifier. By systematically cycling through each photodetector channel in sequence and maintaining stable connection periods, the system reduces transient noise effects while achieving power savings through amplifier sharing. The periodic action allows the amplifier to settle into stable operation for each channel before switching occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 significantly reduces the number of amplifiers required, lowering material costs and power consumption while maintaining a high signal-to-noise ratio, thus enhancing the efficiency and compactness of optical signal detection systems.

Implementation Method 1

a photodetector configured to detect the returned laser beam and convert the returned laser beam into an electrical signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11280888B2Low noise frontends for LiDAR receiver and methods for controlling the same comprising a multiplexing circuit for selectively connecting each photodetector to a shared amplifier

Publication Date: 2022.03.22 GUANGZHOU WOYA LAIDELING TECH CO LTD

AI summary

An optical signal detection system includes a plurality of photodetectors configured to detect optical signals reflected from an environment surrounding the optical signal detection system and convert the optical signals into electrical signals. The optical signal detection system also includes an amplifier coupled to the plurality of photodetectors. The amplifier is shared by the plurality of photodetectors and configured to generate an output signal by amplifying an individual electrical signal converted by a corresponding photodetector. The optical signal detection system further includes a multiplexing circuit configured to selectively establish a connection between one of the plurality of photodetectors and the amplifier to amply the electrical signal converted by that photodetector.