Phase Noise Correction in Multi-Frequency Mode Lidar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Indirect Time-of-Flight Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) systems face challenges in reducing noise, which leads to integer ambiguity and incorrect distance range calculations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a flash LIDAR apparatus with an emitter array and a detector array, coupled with an electronic circuit that processes detection signals to generate a combined vector based on phase data, allowing for the identification of a target's distance range by averaging phase data in phase space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If phase data is averaged in phase space using combined vectors, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but device complexity increases due to additional electronic circuit processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms phase data processing from direct distance calculation into a two-dimensional phase space vector operation. By representing phase measurements as vectors with real and imaginary components and performing vector addition in this phase space domain, the system achieves more accurate distance range calculations while resolving integer ambiguities that plague traditional scalar averaging methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces combined vectors as an intermediary representation between raw phase measurements and final distance calculations. These vectors serve as a mediating data structure that preserves phase information while enabling noise reduction through vector averaging, ultimately leading to more reliable distance measurements without requiring complex post-processing algorithms.
2Reliability
If multiple detection signals are processed to generate combined vectors, then noise reduction improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs vector combination operations on detection signals before converting them to final distance measurements. By pre-combining the real and imaginary components of multiple detection signals into a single combined vector, the system reduces the computational burden of subsequent processing steps and minimizes the overall processing time required to achieve noise-reduced measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional signal filtering and averaging mechanisms with complex vector addition in phase space. This substitution enables parallel processing of multiple detection signals through simple arithmetic operations on vector components, achieving superior noise reduction without the computational overhead of iterative filtering algorithms or Fourier transform-based methods.
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 reduces noise and integer ambiguity, providing more accurate distance range calculations with lower standard deviations and improved reliability in LIDAR systems.
Implementation Method 1
the time required for the signal to travel to and from an object results in a phase shift that is proportional to the distance traveled
Implementation Method 2
modulating the amplitude of the emitted signal and measuring the phase delay or phase shift (more generally referred to herein as the phase) of the echo signal
Implementation Method 3
one or more light detector elements (including semiconductor photodetectors, such as photodiodes, including avalanche photodiodes and single-photon avalanche detectors (SPADs); generally referred to herein as detectors)
Data Source
AI summary
A LIDAR apparatus includes an emitter array having a plurality of emitter pixels configured to emit optical signals, a detector array having a plurality of detector pixels configured to output detection signals responsive to light incident thereon, and a circuit that is coupled to the detector array. The circuit is configured to perform operations including receiving the detection signals output from the detector array, where each of the detection signals includes component measurements defining a respective phase vector, generating a combined vector based on the component measurements of a plurality of the detection signals, and identifying a distance range of a target from which the optical signals were reflected based on an angle of the combined vector. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.