Polarization-Sensitive LiDAR for Ghost Reflection Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
LiDAR systems often produce inaccurate distance measurements due to light reflections creating 'ghost' images from multiple surfaces, leading to reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
A polarization sensitive LiDAR system that uses a group of light emitters emitting beams with varying polarization patterns, combined with a receiver and analyzer to determine characteristic differences between emitted and reflected light patterns to distinguish real objects from ghost reflections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional LiDAR systems use standard light emission and detection, then the system structure is simple, but ghost reflections occur and measurement reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the polarization parameter of the emitted light beams to create a distinctive polarization pattern. By encoding polarization information into the light beams, the system can distinguish between direct reflections from real objects and ghost reflections, thereby improving measurement reliability without fundamentally changing the system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a polarization pattern that acts as a signature or fingerprint for real objects. By analyzing the polarization characteristics of reflected light, the system copies the polarization signature to identify authentic objects versus ghost images, enhancing reliability through pattern recognition rather than structural complexity
2Measurement precision
If LiDAR systems illuminate objects with standard light, then energy consumption is low, but distance measurement precision deteriorates due to ghost images
Solution Approach 1:
The system modifies the polarization parameter of the light beams to encode identification information. This allows the system to distinguish between real objects and ghost reflections more effectively, improving distance measurement precision while using the same energy consumption levels as conventional LiDAR systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If light is emitted toward multiple surfaces, then the field of view is wide, but ghost reflections increase and measurement reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies polarization modulation to the light beams emitted toward multiple surfaces. By creating a distinctive polarization pattern, the system maintains a wide field of view while enabling reliable distinction between real objects and ghost reflections, thus preserving adaptability and improving reliability simultaneously
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 the reliability of LiDAR systems by accurately distinguishing between real objects and ghost reflections, improving measurement precision.
Implementation Method 1
The light emitters are configured to form a beam polarization pattern
Implementation Method 2
a receiver to receive light reflected from the object
Data Source
AI summary
A method of analyzing data includes analyzing characteristics of beams of reflected light received by a sensor system with the beams of the reflected light correspond to beams of light directed toward an object, then determining, using the characteristic of an intensity pattern of the beams of the reflected light, whether a reflection position is a position of the object or not. If the characteristic of the intensity pattern is continuity of the intensity pattern, the reflection position is not the position of the object. The beams of emitted light have substantially the same intensity. Analyzing characteristics of beams of reflected light further includes either analyzing a substantially similarity of a polarization of a received light with an expected polarization, or determining whether a depolarization ratio of the received light is near zero. The received light is the reflected light received by the sensor system.