Repetitive Histogramming with Virtual Bins and Limited Memory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Active ranging systems, such as LiDAR, face challenges due to the increased memory requirements for creating histograms, which can make the chip impractically large.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and apparatus that utilize a limited number of physical bins to perform repetitive histogramming on a total number of virtual bins, either sequentially or in segments, to reduce memory requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a histogram is created in memory based on time events of an optical detector, then the travel time of transmitted laser signal can be determined, but the chip size becomes impractically large
Solution Approach 1:
The histogramming process is divided into multiple segments, with each segment processing a portion of the time events. The chip divides incoming time events into different groups and processes them through multiple histogramming stages, reducing the memory required at any single moment while maintaining overall measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs repetitive histogramming operations in periodic cycles. Multiple histograms are generated sequentially over time using the same physical memory resources, allowing the chip to process large numbers of virtual bins through repeated use of limited physical memory, thereby reducing the required chip size
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple histograms are performed on a large number of bins, then comprehensive time event analysis is achieved, but the memory requirements increase to an impractical size
Solution Approach 1:
The physical memory bins are designed to serve multiple virtual bin positions across different histogram operations. The same physical memory locations are reused for different virtual bins in different histogram segments, allowing one physical bin to represent multiple virtual bins through systematic mapping and reuse
Solution Approach 2:
After each histogram segment is processed, the memory is cleared and reused for the next segment. The system discards intermediate histogram results and recovers memory space for subsequent processing, enabling continuous operation with limited memory resources
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the present technology may provide methods and apparatus for repetitive histogramming. The apparatus may provide a limited number of physical bins to perform multiple histograms on a total number of virtual bins. The apparatus may provide a single physical bin that is used to sweep over the total number of virtual bins.