LIDAR Noise Compensation for Long-Range Distance Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LIDAR systems for autonomous vehicles face limitations in detecting objects at a distance due to eye safety regulations, which restrict the maximum illumination power, and struggle with environmental conditions like rain, fog, and snow, affecting their reliability in providing accurate data.
Innovation Solution
A LIDAR system that includes a processor to control light sources, receive signals from sensors both within and outside the light spot boundary, determine light noise, and compensate for noise to accurately measure distances, while also detecting and mitigating obstructions like snow or debris on the protective window.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the illumination power of LIDAR systems is increased to improve detection of far-away objects, then the detection distance and reliability are improved, but the eye safety regulations are violated causing thermal damage to the retina
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the LIDAR system adaptive to environmental conditions. The system dynamically adjusts its operation based on detected light noise levels from rain, fog, or snow, allowing it to optimize detection capability while maintaining eye safety. The processor continuously monitors environmental conditions and adjusts measurement parameters accordingly, rather than using a fixed high-power illumination approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using multiple sensors to detect environmental light noise conditions. These sensors act as intermediaries between the harsh environmental conditions and the main LIDAR detection system, providing information about rain, fog, or snow that allows the system to compensate for their effects without increasing illumination power to unsafe levels.
2Productivity
If environmental conditions like rain, fog, and snow are present, then the LIDAR system continues to operate, but light noise increases reducing measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using additional sensors to continuously monitor environmental light noise conditions caused by rain, fog, or snow. The processor receives feedback about these conditions and adjusts the LIDAR measurement process accordingly, compensating for the degraded signal quality without interrupting continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of environmental light noise into a detectable signal. By using additional sensors to measure the light noise caused by rain, fog, or snow, the system can compensate for these effects in the main LIDAR measurements, turning the previously detrimental environmental conditions into informative data that improves measurement accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to detect light noise and compensate for environmental conditions, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the additional sensors to serve multiple functions. The same sensors that detect light noise from environmental conditions also provide information about the overall lighting environment, which can be used for both compensation and for understanding the operational context of the LIDAR system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the environmental sensing function with the existing LIDAR system architecture. The additional sensors are integrated into the same processor and control system, allowing unified processing of both environmental condition data and LIDAR measurement data, thereby reducing the complexity that would arise from completely separate systems.
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
Enhances the reliability and accuracy of LIDAR systems in various environmental conditions by effectively compensating for light noise and detecting obstructions, thereby improving the detection of objects at a distance while ensuring eye safety.
Implementation Method 1
measuring distances to objects by illuminating objects with light and measuring the reflected pulses with a sensor
Implementation Method 2
measuring distances to objects by illuminating objects with light and measuring the reflected pulses with a sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A LIDAR system includes at least one processor configured to control at least one light source for projecting light toward a field of view and receive from at least one first sensor first signals associated with light projected by the at least one light source and reflected from an object in the field of view, wherein the light impinging on the at least one first sensor is in a form of a light spot having an outer boundary. The processor may further be configured to receive from at least one second sensor second signals associated with light noise, wherein the at least one second sensor is located outside the outer boundary; determine, based on the second signals received from the at least one second sensor, an indicator of a magnitude of the light noise; and determine, based on the indicator the first signals received from the at least one first sensor and, a distance to the object.