Time-of-Flight Ranging with Variable Pulse Timing

The transmitted optical signal is divided into multiple pulses within each transmission period, with each pulse having a distinct time difference from the others. By segmenting the signal and assigning unique temporal identifiers to each pulse, the system can determine which specific pulse a received photon originated from, even when the flight time exceeds the overall transmission period. This segmentation approach enables accurate distance measurement while maintaining high measurement speed through short transmission periods.

The system employs periodic transmission of optical pulse sets, where each set contains multiple pulses with varying time differences. The periodic structure allows the system to handle long flight times by repeating the pulse pattern, while the varying time differences within each period enable unambiguous pulse identification. This periodic action maintains high productivity through frequent transmission while ensuring reliable distance measurement.

By dividing the transmitted signal into multiple temporally separated pulses with distinct time differences, the system can track individual pulse journeys even over long distances. Each pulse acts as a independently identifiable marker, allowing the system to measure long flight times without losing track of which pulse is being received, thus maintaining measurement precision across extended ranges.

The system pre-establishes a pattern of pulse transmission with known time differences before measuring the distance. This preliminary structuring of the transmitted signal creates a reference framework that enables the receiver to correlate returning photons with their originating pulses, even when the flight time is longer than the overall transmission period, thereby enabling accurate long-distance measurement.

The approach segments the transmitted optical signal into multiple pulses with distinct time differences, enabling precise pulse identification upon reception. While this segmentation increases the temporal structure complexity, it does so in a controlled manner that maintains overall system simplicity through straightforward timing measurements and correlation logic.

The system uses periodic transmission of pulse sets with varying time differences to achieve high pulse association accuracy. The periodic nature provides a predictable, repeating pattern that simplifies the association process at the receiver, as the system can expect pulses in a known sequence and timing pattern, thereby managing complexity through regularity rather than randomness.