LiDAR Beam Intensity Profiling for Mixed-Reflectance Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LiDAR systems struggle to effectively detect objects with varying reflectances and reflective areas without causing saturation or overexposure effects, particularly when dealing with both weakly and highly reflective surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transmitting optical beams with defined intensity distributions, mapping beam profile segments onto adjacent receiving areas, and adjusting beam intensities to accommodate different reflective properties of objects, without altering transmission power or optics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single beam intensity is used for all receiving areas, then the device complexity is reduced, but the detection precision for objects with different reflectances deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different beam intensities to different spatial regions (beam profile sections) rather than using a uniform intensity across the entire beam. This allows each receiving area to be optimized for its specific detection task, with high-intensity sections for weakly reflective areas and low-intensity sections for highly reflective areas, thereby improving detection precision without requiring complex per-pixel intensity control
2Reliability
If high beam intensity is used to detect weakly reflective areas, then the detection capability for weakly reflective objects is improved, but saturation and overexposure occur on highly reflective areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the beam profile into multiple sections with different intensities, where specific sections are optimized for detecting weakly reflective areas without causing saturation on highly reflective areas. This spatial differentiation of beam intensity allows the system to simultaneously handle both weakly and highly reflective objects within the same field of view
Solution Approach 2:
The beam profile is segmented into multiple sections along the first spatial direction, with each section having a different intensity level. This segmentation allows the system to target specific regions with appropriate intensity levels, preventing saturation while maintaining detection capability across varying reflectance conditions
3Adaptability or versatility
If beam profile segments with different intensities are mapped onto adjacent receiving areas, then the dynamic range of the system is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the intensity parameter of the beam profile across different spatial sections, creating a multi-intensity beam structure. This parameter variation allows the system to adapt to different object reflectances and expand its dynamic range, while the intensity distribution is controlled through optical design rather than complex active modulation
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 allows for simultaneous detection of both weakly and highly reflective areas, enhancing the dynamic range of the LiDAR system by preventing saturation and overexposure, thereby improving object detection accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical beam is sent into at least one monitoring area with at least one transmitting device
Implementation Method 2
at least one optical beam reflected from at least one object present in the at least one monitoring area is received with at least one receiving area with at least one receiving device and converted into at least one received quantity
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a lidar system, in particular a lidar system for a vehicle, to a lidar system, and to a vehicle. In the method, at least one optical beam is transmitted into at least one monitored region by at least one transmission device, and at least one optical beam reflected on at least one object present in the at least one monitored region is received by at least one receiving region of at least one receiving device and is converted into at least one reception variable. At least one piece of object information relating to at least one object reflecting the optical beam is ascertained from at least one reception variable. At least one optical beam is transmitted with an intensity distribution (36) which is defined over the beam profile. At least two beam profile sections of the beam profile of the at least one optical beam are imaged onto at least two adjacent receiving regions, received by the respective receiving regions, and converted into respective reception variables. The at least one optical beam is transmitted into the at least two beam profile sections with different intensities (40a, 40b, 40c).