Planar Imaging Sensor with Segmented Detection Windows for LiDAR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LiDAR sensors face challenges in detecting objects at a distance due to the degradation of Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) with increasing distance, as the intensity of reflected light decreases significantly, making it difficult to detect far-away objects effectively.
Innovation Solution
A planar imaging sensor system with multiple photo detectors divided into groups, each having distinct detection windows, allowing for the detection of light reflected from different distances using a single sensor system, where the number and duration of detection windows are configured to optimize SNR by employing more detectors for longer distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single detection window is used for all photo detectors, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision degrades for distant objects due to low light intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The photo detectors are divided into multiple groups, with each group assigned to a specific detection window. This segmentation allows the sensor to optimize detection for different time intervals, improving measurement precision for distant objects by dedicating specific detector groups to capture weak reflected light signals during appropriate time windows.
Solution Approach 2:
Different groups of photo detectors are assigned different detection windows based on their optimal performance characteristics. This local quality approach ensures that each detector group operates in its optimal detection regime, with nearer detectors capturing early reflections and farther detectors capturing later reflections, thereby improving overall detection precision across varying distances.
2Reliability
If multiple measurements are collected over time from the same measurement point, then the signal-to-noise ratio improves, but the productivity decreases due to time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor employs multiple detection windows that operate in parallel, with each window capturing reflections from different time intervals. This periodic action allows the system to collect multiple measurements simultaneously across different time periods rather than sequentially, improving the signal-to-noise ratio through multiple measurements while maintaining high productivity by avoiding time-consuming sequential scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from temporal sequential measurement to spatial parallel measurement by distributing multiple detection windows across different photo detector groups. This dimensional change allows simultaneous collection of multiple measurements across the detector array, achieving both improved signal-to-noise ratio and maintained detection speed.
3Reliability
If multiple sensors are used to collect measurements over spatial area, then the signal-to-noise ratio improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple detection windows are merged into a single sensor system, with each detection window assigned to specific photo detector groups. This merging achieves the signal-to-noise ratio improvement of multiple sensors while avoiding the complexity increase by integrating all detection functions into one unified sensor array rather than requiring multiple separate sensor systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The single sensor system is designed with multi-functionality, where different groups of photo detectors within the same sensor can perform different detection functions corresponding to different detection windows. This universality allows one sensor system to accomplish what would traditionally require multiple specialized sensors, improving signal-to-noise ratio without increasing device complexity.
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 configuration enhances the sensitivity and noise tolerance of the sensor system, enabling the detection of light reflected from various distances, thereby improving the SNR and allowing for the detection of objects that were previously difficult to detect due to low light intensity.
Implementation Method 1
A planar imaging sensor comprises a plurality of photo detectors, wherein the plurality of photo detectors are divided into at least a first group and a second group
Data Source
AI summary
A planar imaging sensor is provided. The planar imaging sensor includes a plurality of photo detectors divided into at least a first group of photo detectors and a second group of photo detectors, the first group of photo detectors having a first detection window and the second group of photo detectors having a second detection window, wherein the second detection window is configured to start later in time than the first detection window.