Pixel-Gated LiDAR Echo Accumulation for Eye-Safe Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LiDAR systems face challenges in detecting small objects at long distances while ensuring human eye safety and achieving high signal-to-noise ratio.
Innovation Solution
A LiDAR system with a transmitting device and detection units comprising arrays of pixels, each pixel being independently gated and addressable, that superimposes echo electrical signals from multiple detections to improve signal-to-noise ratio and angular resolution, using a rotating mirror for horizontal field of view and vertical alignment of detection units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple light transmission and detection are performed in a short period to improve signal-to-noise ratio, then the signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but human eye safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The detection unit is divided into multiple independently controllable detection elements (pixels), each capable of independent gating and addressing. This segmentation allows selective activation of specific pixels for multiple detection cycles, enabling signal accumulation while controlling overall pulse exposure to maintain eye safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of detection elements through independent gating mechanisms. Each pixel can be individually activated or deactivated based on detection requirements, allowing flexible control of detection timing and duration to balance signal accumulation with safety constraints.
2Measurement precision
If optical angular resolution is improved to detect small objects, then detection capability for small objects is improved, but field-of-view coverage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The detection unit is segmented into multiple pixels arranged in an array, with each pixel covering a specific angular sector. This segmentation enables the system to achieve high angular resolution through individual pixel measurement while maintaining broad field-of-view coverage through the collective measurement of all pixels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-point detection to array-based detection, adding the dimension of spatial distribution across multiple pixels. This allows simultaneous achievement of high angular resolution (through individual pixel precision) and broad field-of-view (through multi-pixel 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
Enhances detection capability for small objects at long distances with improved signal-to-noise ratio and compliance with human eye safety standards by superimposing echo signals from multiple detections.
Implementation Method 1
each pixel can respond to an echo of the detection light beam reflected by the object and convert the echo into an electrical signal
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a LiDAR, which includes a transmitting device configured to transmit a detection light beam for detecting an object, a detection device including a plurality of detection units, each detection unit including an array of pixels, a control device coupled to the transmitting device and the detection device and configured to control the transmitting device to transmit the detection light beam, and correspondingly control one of the detection units to perform detection, and a data processing device coupled to the detection device and configured to, for at least one of the pixels, determine an echo electrical signal based on an electrical signal generated from the pixel and electrical signals generated from other pixels in the same detection unit by the transmitting device consecutively transmitting the detection light beams a plurality of times, and determine information about the object based on the echo electrical signal.