LiDAR Scan Reduction via Position-Adaptive Window Adjuster

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Solution Overview

Problem

LiDAR systems consume excessive power due to scanning entire physical areas, even when the user is only present in a specific subspace, leading to unnecessary power expenditure and reduced battery life in battery-powered base stations.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a LiDAR scan reduction system where the base station adjusts its scan parameters based on the mobile unit's position, focusing the scan on a subspace of interest, reducing the scanned area and scan time, and using a window adjuster to modify the vertical and horizontal duty cycles dynamically.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the LiDAR base station scans the entire physical area, then complete environmental mapping is achieved, but power consumption increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemapping accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the scan region dynamic and location-specific. Instead of uniformly scanning the entire physical area, the system adjusts the scan region to focus only on the subspace where the mobile unit is currently located. This localized scanning approach maintains mapping accuracy for the relevant area while significantly reducing power consumption by excluding unnecessary regions from the scan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the scan region adaptable and changeable based on real-time mobile unit position. The scan parameters including horizontal and vertical angles are dynamically adjusted according to the mobile unit's location, allowing the system to transition from static full-area scanning to dynamic subspace scanning, thereby optimizing the balance between mapping completeness and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Area of stationary object

If the LiDAR base station scans the entire physical area, then complete environmental coverage is achieved, but battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescan coverage areaVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the extraction principle by removing unnecessary portions of the scan area from the scanning process. By extracting only the relevant subspace where the mobile unit is located and excluding the rest of the physical area, the system reduces the scan coverage to the minimum necessary area, thereby extending battery life without compromising the quality of mapping in the area of interest.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by performing scanning only on the necessary subspace rather than the entire physical area. This partial scanning approach covers only the region containing the mobile unit, which is sufficient for the application's purposes, while avoiding the excessive action of scanning unrelated areas, thus conserving battery power and extending operational duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the scan region is reduced to a subspace, then power consumption is reduced, but mapping completeness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidmapping completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by continuously monitoring the mobile unit's position and using this information to adjust the scan region dynamically. The base station receives position data from the mobile unit and responds by adjusting the horizontal and vertical scan angles to maintain the mobile unit within the scan region. This feedback loop ensures that the scan coverage adapts to the mobile unit's movements, preserving mapping completeness in the relevant subspace while maintaining energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 significantly reduces power consumption and extends the battery life of LiDAR base stations by optimizing scanning to only the area where the user is present, maintaining accurate mapping while minimizing power usage.

Implementation Method 1

The laser light is reflected off objects in the environment and received at the station, which uses the wavelengths and times of receipt of the reflected light to map the environment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is a surveying technology that uses pulses of laser light to determine distances

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS11815629B2LiDAR scan reduction

Publication Date: 2023.11.14 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods to reduce a scan for identifying physical objects are disclosed. An example system includes a light source to broadcast a light signal, a window adjuster to set a scan parameter for the light signal, and a transceiver to receive communication indicative of a physical position of a mobile unit. In the example system, the window adjuster is to adjust the scan parameter based on the physical position.