Multipulse LIDAR Adaptive Subdetector Grouping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Multipulse LIDAR systems face a reduction in lateral resolution due to the need for summing measurements over a large angular range, resulting in a 'smearing' of the detector signal, while requiring less laser power, which limits their effectiveness in object detection.
Innovation Solution
A multipulse LIDAR system with a transmitting device generating a temporal sequence of single laser pulses, a receiving device with a linear or matrix-like subdetector system, and a control device that adapts the position of subdetectors to form macropixels, optimizing measuring energy and time for improved signal-to-noise ratio and maintaining high lateral resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If multiple low-power laser pulses are used to sample each point, then laser power requirement is reduced, but lateral resolution deteriorates due to signal smearing over large angular range
Solution Approach 1:
The detection surface is divided into multiple subdetectors arranged in a linear or matrix-like configuration. Each subdetector captures a specific angular segment of the reflected laser beam, allowing the system to maintain high lateral resolution while using multiple low-power pulses by properly segmenting and assigning signals from different angular positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension on the detection surface by arranging subdetectors in a linear or matrix-like structure. This allows the system to resolve angular information spatially across the detection surface, transforming the problem from a single-point measurement into a distributed spatial measurement that maintains resolution while using multiple pulses.
2Device complexity
If subdetectors are fixed in position, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to adapt to pixel shifting during scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic association between subdetectors and macropixels during the scanning process. As the laser beam scans and pixels shift position on the detection surface, the control device dynamically reassigns which subdetectors belong to which macropixel, maintaining measurement precision without requiring physical movement of the subdetectors themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the logical parameter of subdetector assignment rather than physical position. The control device modifies which subdetectors are grouped into which macropixel based on the current scanning position and pixel shift, allowing adaptation to dynamic conditions while keeping the physical detector configuration fixed.
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
The system achieves high lateral resolution comparable to single-pulse LIDAR systems while using low laser power, enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio and optimizing energy use through adaptive subdetector grouping and regrouping.
Implementation Method 1
the light radiation that is emitted by a laser source of the LIDAR system being reflected or scattered on objects in the surroundings
Implementation Method 2
the light radiation that is emitted by a laser source of the LIDAR system being reflected or scattered on objects in the surroundings
Implementation Method 3
LIDAR systems are used, among other things, for detecting objects in the surroundings of vehicles
Implementation Method 4
the relative position of a detected object in relation to the vehicle is ascertained via the corresponding angle of the laser beam and the distance information ascertained with the aid of propagation time measurement of the single laser pulses
Data Source
AI summary
A multipulse LIDAR system, including: a transmitting device for generating a transmission laser beam from a temporal sequence of single laser pulses; a receiving device with a detection surface, including a subdetector system made up of multiple subdetectors, for receiving the transmission laser beam that is reflected/scattered on objects in an observation area, the receiving device imaging a sampling point on the detection surface in the form of a pixel; a scanning device generating a scanning movement for successive sampling of the observation area along multiple sampling points situated in succession, the scanning movement to image a pixel on the detection surface, in each case shifted along the subdetector system; and a control device for determining distance information of the sampling points based on propagation times of the particular single laser pulses, the control device grouping subdetectors to form a macropixel individually associated with the particular pixel, for shared evaluation.