Rotational Imaging Sensor Clock Synchronization for Drift Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicle sensors face challenges in maintaining data quality and alignment, particularly with high photodetector sensitivity requiring precise alignment of components and emission lasers, which is difficult to achieve and leads to positional drift in view angles during rotational scanning.
Innovation Solution
A method of controlling a rotational imaging device to synchronize its movement with a system clock, maintaining a constant or near-constant azimuthal angle, and segmenting data acquisition into regions to optimize processing and minimize positional drift, using DSP optimization and histogramming techniques to improve data resolution and reduce processing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If photodetector sensitivity is increased to detect faint signals from distant objects, then detection capability is improved, but alignment precision requirements between components and laser emission increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a rotational imaging device that dynamically adjusts its scanning parameters and synchronization with system clock to maintain alignment precision during rotation, allowing high sensitivity detection without requiring static perfect alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms to continuously monitor and adjust the alignment between photodetector components and laser emission during operation, compensating for any drift and maintaining the required precision for high sensitivity detection
2Productivity
If rotational scanning speed is increased to improve data acquisition rate, then productivity is improved, but positional drift in view angle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous synchronization between the rotational movement and data acquisition process, maintaining constant or near-constant azimuthal angles throughout the scanning cycle, thereby eliminating gaps or drifts that would compromise view angle accuracy even at high speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts scanning parameters such as rotational speed and synchronization timing to optimize the balance between data acquisition rate and view angle accuracy, changing parameters adaptively based on operational requirements
3Measurement precision
If data resolution is increased to improve object detection quality, then measurement precision is improved, but data processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the acquired imaging data into multiple parts based on angular position or scan range, enabling parallel or staged processing of different data segments, thereby reducing overall processing time while maintaining high resolution for each segment
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 enhances data quality and processing efficiency, allowing for higher resolution data acquisition and reduced power consumption while maintaining consistent pointing angles, thereby improving object detection and environmental awareness in autonomous vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
the lidar transceiver can include one or more photodetectors that converts incident light or other electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared spectral regions into electrical signals
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling a rotational imaging device, and which includes capturing imaging data from a sensor in the imaging device; and controlling a rotational movement of the rotational imaging device to be synchronized with the capturing of the image data via a same system clock.