LiDAR detection methods and systems

A LiDAR system having a threshold ranging distance, the threshold ranging distance being indicative of a longest distance at which the LiDAR system is configured to detect an object, the LiDAR system comprising:

• a light source configured to produce a continuous wave;
• a frequency modulator configured to modulate a frequency of the continuous wave,
• thereby producing a Frequency-Modulated-Continuous-Wave (FMCW) signal;
• and
• a splitter configured to split the FMCW signal into a first portion and a second portion,
• the first portion being to be outputted by the LiDAR system for reflecting off the object, thereby producing a reflected signal, and the second portion being to be used for amplifying the reflected signal;
• an amplitude modulator configured to modulate an amplitude of the second portion of the FMCW signal in accordance with a periodic function associated with an amplitude modulation period, the periodic function comprising an asymptotic periodic function,
• thereby producing an Amplitude-Frequency-Modulated-Continuous-Wave (AFMCW) signal having an asymptotically increasing amplitude,
• the amplitude modulation period being pre-determined based on the threshold ranging distance;
• and
• a detector configured to amplify the reflected signal based on the AFMCW signal by increasing amplification of the reflected signal as a function of a distance of the object from the LiDAR system,
• thereby generating an amplified reflected signal, and
• the amplified reflected signal being indicative of the distance of the object from the LiDAR system.

A LiDAR system having a threshold ranging distance, the threshold ranging distance being indicative of a longest distance at which the LiDAR system is configured to detect an object, the LiDAR system comprising:

• a light source configured to produce a continuous wave;
• a frequency modulator configured to modulate a frequency of the continuous wave,
• thereby producing a Frequency-Modulated-Continuous-Wave (FMCW) signal;
• and
• a splitter configured to split the FMCW signal into a first portion and a second portion,
• the second portion being to be used for amplifying the reflected signal;
• an amplitude modulator configured to modulate an amplitude of the first portion of the FMCW signal in accordance with a periodic function associated with an amplitude modulation period, the periodic function comprising an asymptotic periodic function,
• thereby producing an Amplitude-Frequency-Modulated-Continuous-Wave (AFMCW) signal having an asymptotically increasing amplitude,
• the amplitude modulation period being pre-determined based on the threshold ranging distance,
• AFMCW signal being to be outputted by the LiDAR system for reflecting off the object, thereby producing a reflected signal;
• and
• a detector configured to amplify the reflected signal based on the second portion by increasing amplification of the reflected signal as a function of a distance of the object from the LiDAR system,
• thereby generating an amplified reflected signal, and
• the amplified reflected signal being indicative of the distance of the object from the LiDAR system.

A LiDAR system having a threshold ranging distance, the threshold ranging distance being indicative of a longest distance at which the LiDAR system is configured to detect an object, the LiDAR system comprising:

• a light source configured to produce a continuous wave;
• a frequency modulator configured to modulate a frequency of the continuous wave,
• thereby producing a Frequency-Modulated-Continuous-Wave (FMCW) signal;
• and
• a splitter configured to split the FMCW signal into a first portion and a second portion,
• a first amplitude modulator configured to modulate an amplitude of the first portion of the FMCW signal in accordance with a periodic function associated with an amplitude modulation period, the periodic function comprising an asymptotic periodic function,
• thereby producing a first Amplitude-Frequency-Modulated-Continuous-Wave (AFMCW) signal having an asymptotically increasing amplitude,
• the amplitude modulation period being pre-determined based on the threshold ranging distance,
• the first AFMCW signal to be outputted by the LiDAR system for reflecting off the object, thereby producing a reflected signal;
• and
• a second amplitude modulator configured to modulate an amplitude of the second portion of the FMCW signal in accordance with the asymptotic periodic function associated with the amplitude modulation period,
• thereby producing a second AFMCW signal having an other asymptotically increasing amplitude,
• the amplitude modulation period being pre-determined based on the threshold ranging distance,
• the second AFMCW signal being to be used for amplifying the reflected signal;
• a detector configured to amplify the reflected signal based on the second AFMCW signal by increasing amplification of the reflected signal as a function of a distance of the object from the LiDAR system,
• thereby generating an amplified reflected signal, and the amplified reflected signal being indicative of the distance of the object from the LiDAR system.

A LiDAR system having a threshold ranging distance, the threshold ranging distance being indicative of a longest distance at which the LiDAR system is configured to detect an object, the LiDAR system comprising:

• a light source configured to produce a continuous wave;
• a frequency modulator configured to modulate a frequency of the continuous wave,
• thereby producing a Frequency-Modulated-Continuous-Wave (FMCW) signal;
• and
• an amplitude modulator configured to modulate an amplitude of the FMCW signal in accordance with a periodic function associated with an amplitude modulation period, the periodic function comprising an asymptotic periodic function,
• thereby producing an Amplitude-Frequency-Modulated-Continuous-Wave (AFMCW) signal having an asymptotically increasing amplitude,
• the amplitude modulation period being pre-determined based on the threshold ranging distance;
• a splitter configured to split one of the FMCW signal and the AFMCW signal into a first portion and a second portion,
• the first portion being to be outputted by the LiDAR system for reflecting off the object, thereby producing a reflected signal, and
• the second portion being to be used for amplifying the reflected signal;
• and
• a detector configured to amplify the reflected signal based on the second portion by increasing amplification of the reflected signal proportionally to a distance to the object from the LiDAR system,
• thereby generating an amplified reflected signal, and
• the amplified reflected signal being indicative of the distance of the object from the LiDAR system.

A LiDAR system having a threshold ranging distance, the threshold ranging distance being indicative of a longest distance at which the LiDAR system is configured to detect an object, the LiDAR system comprising:

• a light source configured to produce a continuous wave;
• a frequency modulator configured to modulate a frequency of the continuous wave,
• thereby producing a Frequency-Modulated-Continuous-Wave (FMCW) signal;
• and
• an amplitude modulator configured to modulate an amplitude of at least a portion of the FMCW signal in accordance with a periodic function associated with an amplitude modulation period, the periodic function comprising an asymptotic periodic function,
• thereby producing an Amplitude-Frequency-Modulated-Continuous-Wave (AFMCW) signal having an asymptotically increasing amplitude,
• the amplitude modulation period being pre-determined based on the threshold ranging distance;
• a splitter configured to split one of the FMCW signal and the AFMCW signal into a first portion and a second portion,
• the first portion being for producing an output signal by the LiDAR system for reflecting off the object, thereby producing a reflected signal, and
• the second portion being for producing a reference signal for amplifying the reflected signal;
• and
• a detector configured to amplify the reflected signal based on the reference signal by increasing amplification of the reflected signal as a function of a distance of the object from the LiDAR system,
• thereby generating an amplified reflected signal, and
• the amplified reflected signal being indicative of the distance of the object from the LiDAR system.