LiDAR Distance Imaging Through Multi-Frame Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LiDAR devices face challenges in achieving high resolution and accurate distance measurement due to the trade-off between beam diameter and S/N ratio, where reducing beam diameter increases component cost and size, and receiving light in units of pixels degrades effective resolution and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that emits light signals at predetermined intervals, adjusts scanning range and timing for each frame, and synthesizes multiple frames to generate a high-resolution distance image, utilizing a scanner and light receiver to enhance pixel resolution and accuracy without increasing device size or cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the beam diameter is decreased to increase distance measurement accuracy, then the resolution of the distance image is improved, but the aperture of the lens must be increased which increases the device size and component cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the distance measurement process into multiple frames, where each frame captures a portion of the beam profile. By segmenting the measurement into temporal frames rather than requiring a single large aperture, the system achieves high resolution without increasing physical device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from spatial resolution (requiring large aperture) to temporal resolution (using multiple frames). By measuring the beam profile across multiple time frames, the system achieves the same resolution improvement without increasing the physical aperture size.
2Measurement precision
If the pixel width is made smaller than the beam diameter to increase distance image resolution, then the resolution is improved, but the amount of received light for each pixel decreases which reduces the S/N ratio and measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple frames together to reconstruct the final distance image. By combining the information from multiple frames, each pixel receives sufficient light accumulation to maintain a high S/N ratio while still achieving high resolution through the temporal segmentation of the beam profile measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic scanning across multiple frames to capture the beam profile. This periodic action allows the system to accumulate light information over time while maintaining resolution, as each frame contributes to the overall signal strength through coherent integration.
3Reliability
If distance measurement is performed in units of multiple pixels according to beam diameter to increase S/N ratio, then the S/N ratio is improved, but the effective resolution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam profile measurement into multiple temporal frames rather than using multiple spatial pixels. This segmentation allows the system to maintain fine resolution by measuring the beam profile at different times, while accumulating sufficient signal strength across frames to achieve high S/N ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the resolution-S/N ratio trade-off by moving from spatial domain (multiple pixels) to temporal domain (multiple frames). This dimensional change allows the system to achieve both high resolution and high S/N ratio simultaneously, as time provides an additional degree of freedom for signal accumulation without sacrificing spatial detail.
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 improves pixel resolution and accuracy by effectively combining multiple frames, enhancing the measurable distance range and reducing detection errors, while maintaining a compact device design and cost efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a light source 3 that emits a light signal in a scanning manner at a predetermined time interval
Implementation Method 2
a light receiver 5 that receives a reflected light signal reflected on an object by irradiating the object with the light signal
Implementation Method 3
a scanner 4 that scans the emitted light pulses as beams along one or more scan directions to illuminate, for each orientation of the scanner with each of the plurality of beams, a respective light-source field of view
Implementation Method 4
a receiver configured to detect the light pulses scattered by one or more remote targets
Implementation Method 5
it is possible to increase the resolution of a distance image... performing the distance measurement
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
An image processing apparatus has a light source that emits a light signal at a predetermined time interval, a scanner capable of changing at least one of a scanning range or a scanning timing of the the light signal for each of frames, a light receiver that receives a reflected light signal reflected on an object by irradiating the object with the light signal, a distance image generator that generates a distance image for each of the frames based on the reflected light signal received by the light receiver, and an image synthesizer that synthesizes the distance images of a plurality of the frames to generate a high-resolution distance image.