LIDAR Surface Orientation via Pulse Duration Comparison

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Solution Overview

Problem

LIDAR systems in autonomous vehicles face limitations due to finite angular grid resolution and power constraints, leading to insufficient information about object boundaries, especially at large distances, where only a few laser pulses are reflected, making it difficult to estimate surface length and angle orientation accurately.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that transmit and receive light pulses with specific durations, allowing the processor to determine the orientation of a target surface by comparing the difference in pulse durations, enabling improved object detection and vehicle control in autonomous systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If pulsed transmission system is used to reduce energy consumption, then use of energy is improved, but signal to noise ratio deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidsignal to noise ratio

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic pulsed transmission of laser signals at optimized intervals, allowing the system to maintain low energy consumption while accumulating sufficient reflected signals over time to improve signal-to-noise ratio through temporal integration and processing gain

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously processes and integrates reflected signal data over multiple pulse cycles, maintaining effective detection capability despite individual pulses having low energy, thereby achieving both energy efficiency and reliable detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Use of energy by moving object

If LIDAR system operates at low power, then use of energy is improved, but processing gain deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidprocessing gain

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary correlation processing between transmitted and received signal patterns before final detection, enabling low-power operation to achieve adequate processing gain through pre-computed reference patterns and matched filtering techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses stored reference copies of transmitted pulse patterns to correlate with received signals, eliminating the need for high instantaneous power while maintaining processing gain through template matching and cumulative signal integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If angular grid resolution is increased to improve object boundary detection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject boundary detection accuracyVSAvoidangular grid resolution

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from spatial angular resolution to temporal resolution by using ultrafast pulsed transmission and measuring time-of-flight variations, achieving high object boundary detection accuracy through temporal dimension rather than angular segmentation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces mechanical angular scanning with high-speed temporal pulse sequencing, substituting physical angular grid structures with temporal pulse patterns that achieve equivalent or superior measurement precision without mechanical complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If laser pulse duration is decreased to improve spatial resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of information increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial resolutionVSAvoidreflected signal information

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes laser pulse parameters by using ultrafast short-duration pulses combined with high repetition rates, maintaining spatial resolution while compensating for information loss through increased sampling frequency and temporal integration of multiple pulses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enhances the robustness of autonomous vehicle control systems by providing more accurate object detection and orientation information, increasing customer satisfaction and system reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a transmitter for transmitting a light pulse wherein the light pulse has a first time duration, a receiver for receiving a reflected representation of the light pulse

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS10416679B2Method and apparatus for object surface estimation using reflections delay spread

Publication Date: 2019.09.17 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

The present application generally relates communications and hazard avoidance within a monitored driving environment. More specifically, the application teaches a system and method for improved target object detection in a vehicle equipped with a laser detection and ranging LIDAR system by transmitting a light pulse for a known duration and comparing a duration of the received pulse to the transmitted pulse in order to determine an orientation of a surface of a target.