LiDAR Sensor with Overlapping Macropixels for Long-Range Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LiDAR sensors face challenges in detecting small objects at greater distances due to limited range and interference from background light, particularly in scenarios requiring enhanced detection capabilities for autonomous driving applications.
Innovation Solution
The LiDAR sensor employs a subdetector arrangement with overlapping macropixels, allowing for simultaneous detection and evaluation of secondary light using a processor unit that groups subdetectors into macropixels, enhancing detection range and accuracy by ensuring multiple points of an object are detected, and optimizing data processing to minimize interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional non-overlapping macropixel grouping is used, then data processing is simpler, but detection range and accuracy for small objects at greater distances is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The detector array is divided into multiple subdetectors that can be grouped into different macropixel configurations. Each macropixel represents a specific spatial region, and by segmenting the detection task into multiple overlapping macropixel groups, the system achieves both comprehensive coverage and reduced data processing requirements through selective evaluation.
2Reliability
If more subdetectors are used to detect small objects, then detection capability improves, but data volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple subdetectors are merged into macropixel groups where overlapping regions share common subdetectors. This merging strategy allows the system to detect small objects with high reliability by combining signals from multiple subdetectors, while simultaneously reducing total data volume by evaluating only selected macropixels rather than processing all individual subdetector signals separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The overlapping macropixel configuration enables each subdetector to serve multiple functions by participating in different macropixel groups. A single subdetector can contribute to multiple macropixel evaluations, allowing the system to achieve comprehensive detection coverage with reduced redundant data collection.
3Length of stationary object
If traditional LiDAR scanning is used, then simple hardware is required, but detection range for small objects is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from traditional point-by-point or line-by-line scanning to a two-dimensional macropixel grid evaluation approach. By organizing subdetectors into overlapping macropixel groups that cover different spatial regions simultaneously, the system extends detection range in both horizontal and vertical dimensions, enabling detection of small objects at greater distances without requiring mechanical scanning extensions.
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 design significantly extends the detection range of small objects, improves detection accuracy, and reduces data volume, enabling reliable detection of small objects at greater distances while minimizing interference from background light.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter unit with at least one laser source for generating and emitting primary light into the field of view
Implementation Method 2
receiving secondary light that has been reflected and/or scattered by an object
Implementation Method 3
receiving secondary light that has been reflected and/or scattered by an object
Implementation Method 4
The LiDAR sensor can be used to determine the distance between the LiDAR sensor and an object in its field of view, for example, based on the signal time-of-flight (TOF)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a LIDAR sensor (100) for detecting at least one object (504) in a field of view (506) and comprising a transmitting unit (101) having at least one laser source (102) for generating and emitting primary light (503) in the field of view (506); a receiving unit (103) having at least one detector unit (104) for receiving secondary light which was reflected and/or scattered in the field of view (506) by an object (504); and wherein the detector unit (104) comprises a sub-detector array (205) consisting of a plurality of sub-detectors (201i,j), arranged next to each other in a first extension direction (203) and/or one behind the other in a second extension direction (204); and a processor unit (108), which is designed to select a first group from a plurality of sub-detectors (201i,j) and to group them to form a first macro-pixel (202-1), and simultaneously to select at least one second group and to group them to form at least one second macro-pixel (202-2 to 202-5), wherein the first macro-pixel (202 1) and at least one of the second macro-pixels (202-2 to 202-5) comprise at least one of the same sub-detectors (201i,j).