LIDAR Photodetector Pre-Blinding for Short-Range Return Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Avalanche photodetectors in LIDAR systems experience temporary blindness due to internal reflections, leading to inability to detect objects within short range, as the recovery period from avalanche events can exceed the time light takes to exit the system, causing missed detection of nearby objects.
Innovation Solution
Pre-blinding the photodetector by forcing it to avalanche with external light from a source like an LED before the main light pulse is emitted, ensuring the detector is in recovery mode when internal reflections occur, thus avoiding premature avalanching and ensuring it can detect return light from nearby objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If avalanche photodetectors are used to detect light returns in LIDAR systems, then detection sensitivity is improved, but the photodetector becomes temporarily blinded by internal reflections, causing missed detection of nearby objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forcing the photodetector to avalanche in advance using a light source before the main light pulse is emitted. This pre-blinding ensures that the photodetector is in recovery mode when internal reflections occur, preventing premature avalanching and ensuring the detector is ready to detect return light from nearby objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using a light source to force the photodetector into avalanche mode before the harmful internal reflections can cause premature avalanching. This counter-action neutralizes the harmful effect of internal reflections by ensuring the photodetector is already in recovery mode when they occur.
2Reliability
If the photodetector recovery period is extended to ensure full recovery from avalanche events, then detection reliability is improved, but the time available to detect nearby objects is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forcing the photodetector to avalanche in advance using a light source before the main light pulse is emitted. This pre-blinding ensures that the photodetector is in recovery mode when internal reflections occur, preventing premature avalanching and ensuring the detector is ready to detect return light from nearby objects.
3Device complexity
If the LIDAR system uses a coaxial beam path to reduce component count, then device complexity is reduced, but internal reflections increase, causing photodetector blinding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies blessing in disguise by converting the harmful internal reflections into a beneficial timing reference. By forcing the photodetector to avalanche in advance using a light source, the system ensures that internal reflections occur during the photodetector's recovery period when it is already blinded, thereby preventing these reflections from causing premature avalanching and extending the effective detection window.
4Speed
If the photodetector responds immediately to all light inputs, then response speed is improved, but internal reflections cause premature avalanching, reducing effective detection range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forcing the photodetector to avalanche in advance using a light source before the main light pulse is emitted. This pre-blinding ensures that the photodetector is in recovery mode when internal reflections occur, preventing premature avalanching and ensuring the detector is ready to detect return light from nearby objects.
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 method prevents the photodetector from being blinded by internal reflections, allowing it to accurately detect objects within short range by ensuring it is in recovery mode before the light pulse exits the system, thereby enhancing the LIDAR system's ability to detect objects close to the LIDAR system.
Implementation Method 1
The photodetectors may be implemented in a LIDAR system that may emit light into an environment and may subsequently detect any light returning to the LIDAR system (for example, through the emitted light reflecting from an object in the environment) using the photodetectors
Implementation Method 2
which may produce a large signal upon the reception of a relatively small amount of photonic energy
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for a systems and methods for pre-blinding light detectors. An example method may include sending, by a processor of a LIDAR system and at a first time, a signal to a light source of the LIDAR system, the signal causing the light source to provide a light input to a photodetector of the LIDAR system, wherein the light input to the photodetector causes the photodetector to initiate a recovery period. The example method may also include emitting, by a laser of the LIDAR system, a first light pulse into an environment at a second time. The example method may also include receiving, by the photodetector, return light associated with the first light pulse from an object in the environment, the return light reaching the photodetector at a third time, the third time being after the photodetector has ended the recovery period.