Optical LiDAR Environment Emulation for Scalable ToF Testing

The patent creates a virtual copy of the real-world environment using computer-generated 3D models and ray tracing algorithms. This virtual environment replicates the optical properties, geometry, and lighting conditions of physical scenes, allowing LiDAR testing without requiring actual outdoor or large-scale physical test setups. The virtual copy maintains realism while enabling automated, scalable, and cost-effective testing.

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical test environment with a computational/optical simulation system. Instead of using physical objects and outdoor spaces, the system uses ray tracing algorithms to simulate light propagation, reflection, and detection. This substitution transforms a mechanically complex physical setup into a computationally manageable virtual environment that can be easily modified and scaled.

The patent implements a dynamic virtual environment where test conditions can be changed programmatically without physical reconfiguration. The system allows dynamic adjustment of scene geometry, object positions, lighting conditions, and environmental parameters through software control. This enables rapid switching between diverse test scenarios and facilitates automated testing sequences, greatly improving scalability and productivity while maintaining adaptability.

The patent creates a universal virtual testing platform that can simulate multiple different real-world environments and conditions within a single system. The same computational infrastructure can generate urban scenes, natural landscapes, indoor environments, and various weather conditions, making the testing system versatile and scalable across different LiDAR applications without requiring separate physical test facilities for each scenario.

The patent replaces physical test environments with virtual copies generated through computer graphics and ray tracing. These virtual environments maintain the geometric accuracy and optical properties needed for realistic LiDAR testing but require minimal physical resources. The entire test scene can be represented by digital models rather than physical constructions, dramatically reducing material requirements while preserving test validity.

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the test environment from physical to virtual. By representing the environment as computational data (3D models, material properties, lighting parameters) rather than physical objects, the system achieves the same test definition capability with vastly reduced resource consumption. This parameter change enables the environment to be stored, transmitted, and modified digitally rather than requiring physical construction and modification.