US 11,598,861 B2 · Optical distance detection

Abstract

In an optical detection system, a reference waveform can be used for automated analysis of a received waveform. The reference waveform can be adjusted (e.g., distorted) using information about one or more of a receive channel configuration or other aspects of the receive channel signal, facilitating a more effective comparison between a received impulse and the reference waveform. Such a comparison can be used in a time-to-digital conversion (TDC) technique, such as to provide delay values that can then be used to determine a distance between the illuminated target and an optical transceiver. Other techniques can be used to enhance range accuracy or resolution, such as using automated techniques for control of one or more of receive channel gain, summing or averaging (aggregation of received signals), or bias compensation (e.g., DC balancing).

Claims20

Dependent claims

An automated method for determining a distance between an object and an optical receiver using a reference waveform and a regression technique, the method comprising:

establishing discrete-time samples comprising a time-domain waveform corresponding to a received optical signal;
comparing the time-domain waveform with the reference waveform to determine a first delay value corresponding to a sample index where the time-domain waveform and the reference waveform are aligned;
shifting the time-domain waveform using the first delay value;
determining a remaining phase offset of the shifted time-domain waveform using the regression technique by applying the regression technique to a frequency-domain representation of the shifted time-domain waveform;
and
using the determined remaining phase offset to determine a second delay value comprising a fraction of a sample interval.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optical distance detection

Life of this patent

Optical distance detection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20