Light Emitter Selection Circuit for Retroreflector-Aware LiDAR Pulsing
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Solution Overview
Problem
LIDAR devices face interference from retroreflective surfaces, which can flood light detectors and introduce ambiguity in 3D point cloud data interpretation, leading to biased data processing in edge detection and object detection operations.
Innovation Solution
A pulser circuit with a selector mechanism that selectively enables or disables light emitters to avoid illuminating retroreflective surfaces, using a pulse-control switch, discharge-control switches, and capacitors to control light emission, allowing precise control over light pulse power and emission timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all light emitters are activated to scan the environment, then the LIDAR device can gather comprehensive environmental data, but retroreflective surfaces cause interference that floods light detectors and introduces ambiguity in data interpretation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light emitter array into individually controllable units, allowing selective activation of specific emitters based on the detected environment. By controlling emitters in groups or individually through a selector mechanism, the system can avoid illuminating retroreflective surfaces while maintaining comprehensive scanning coverage of non-interfering areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of light emitter activation based on real-time environmental conditions. The selector mechanism adjusts which emitters are active during different time periods, transitioning between full activation and selective deactivation to adapt to changing environmental conditions and avoid retroreflector interference.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If light emitters are selectively disabled to avoid retroreflective surfaces, then interference is reduced, but the ability to scan certain portions of the environment is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the light emitter array into independently controllable units, the system can selectively disable only those emitters whose light paths would intersect retroreflective surfaces, while keeping other emitters active to maintain comprehensive environmental scanning coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality control by adjusting the activation state of specific light emitters based on their individual spatial relationships with retroreflective surfaces. Each emitter's activation is optimized for its specific location and scanning direction, maintaining overall system effectiveness while avoiding localized interference problems.
3Manufacturing precision
If the LIDAR device continuously scans all areas, then complete environmental mapping is achieved, but processing time increases and data interpretation becomes more complex due to retroreflector interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification of retroreflective surfaces and pre-determination of which light emitters to disable before scanning begins. This preliminary action prevents the generation of ambiguous data from retroreflector interference, reducing the need for complex post-processing and time-consuming data validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial scanning action by selectively activating only the necessary subset of light emitters required for comprehensive environmental mapping, rather than continuously activating all emitters. This reduces the total data volume requiring processing while maintaining complete environmental coverage.
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 effectively reduces interference from retroreflective surfaces, enhancing the accuracy of 3D point cloud data generation by selectively preventing light from being emitted towards highly reflective areas, thereby improving data interpretation and reducing ambiguity in LIDAR data processing.
Implementation Method 1
A pulser circuit with a selector mechanism that selectively enables or disables light emitters to avoid illuminating retroreflective surfaces, using a pulse-control switch, discharge-control switches, and capacitors to control light emission
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of light emitters emit light to an environment surrounding the device
Data Source
AI summary
An example circuit includes a plurality of light emitters connected in parallel between a first node and a second node. The circuit also includes a plurality of capacitors, with each capacitor corresponding to one of the light emitters, and a plurality of discharge-control switches, with each discharge-control switches corresponding to one of the capacitors. The circuit further includes a pulse-control switch connected to the plurality of light emitters. During a first period, the pulse-control switch restricts current flow, and each of the plurality of capacitors is charged via the first node. During a second period, one or more of the plurality of discharge-control switches allows current flow that discharges one or more corresponding capacitors. During a third period, the pulse-control switch allows current flow that discharges one or more undischarged capacitors of the plurality of capacitors through one or more corresponding light emitters.