System and method for improved resolution in a LIDAR system
AssigneeAnalog Devices, Inc.
InventorHarvey Weinberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques are described to for improving a resolution of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system. A receiver circuit of a LIDAR system can sample a reflection signal from an object in response to a transmitted light pulse. A controller can determine a curve fit to the received samples and, based on a peak value of the curve fit, determine a precise location of the object.
Claims20
A LIDAR system for determining a location of an object by sampling a plurality of light pulses impinging on a receiver circuit having a plurality of photodiodes, a plurality of amplifiers, and a plurality of comparators, and wherein each photodiode is coupled to a corresponding amplifier and a corresponding comparator, the system comprising:
- a controller coupled to an output of the amplifier;
- a register array coupled to the controller and having a plurality register sets, wherein each register set includes a plurality of registers, wherein each register set is associated with an output of a corresponding comparator of the receiver circuit,
- wherein the control circuit is configured to, in response to a transmitted laser pulse:
- determine the output of each comparator;
- adjust a register value of a register based on the determined output of a corresponding comparator;
- after a delay, advance a register pointer for each register set and repeat the determining and adjusting;
- determine a curve fit to the register values;
- and
- determine the location of the object based on a peak value of the curve fit.
A method of determining a location of an object by sampling a plurality of light pulses impinging on a receiver circuit of a LIDAR system, the method comprising:
- in response to a transmitted laser pulse:
- determining an output of a plurality of comparators in the receiver circuit;
- in a register array having a plurality of register sets, wherein each register set includes a plurality of registers, adjusting a register value of a register based on the determined output of a comparator corresponding to the register set;
- after a delay, advancing a register pointer for each register set and repeating the determining and adjusting;
- determining a curve fit to the register values;
- and
- determining the location of the object based on a peak value of the curve fit.
A LIDAR system for determining a location of an object by sampling a plurality of light pulses, the system comprising:
- means for generating representations of the plurality of light pulses;
- a register array having a plurality register sets, wherein each register set includes a plurality of registers, wherein each register set is associated with an output of a corresponding comparator of a receiver circuit;
- in response to a transmitted laser pulse:
- means for adjusting a register value of a register based on the determined output of a comparator corresponding to the register set;
- means for determining a curve fit to the register values;
- and
- means for determining the location of the object based on a peak value of the curve fit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.