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US 12,585,003 B2Granted
Configurable non-linear gain amplifier and lidar analog front end
AssigneeWaymo LLC
InventorsDavid Sobel, Andrew Abo, Vadim Gutnik
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Abstract
An optical receiver includes one or more photodetectors and an analog front end (AFE) configured to accept input signals from the one or more photodetectors. The AFE includes a non-linear gain amplifier (NLGA). The NLGA includes a piecewise linear gain stage configured to apply a piecewise linear transfer function to the input signals to form amplified signals. The AFE also includes a DC offset stage configured to apply a DC offset to the amplified signals. A related method of operation and vehicle are also disclosed.
Claims20
An optical receiver, comprising:
- one or more photodetectors;
- and
- an analog front end (AFE) configured to accept input signals from the one or more photodetectors, wherein the AFE comprises:
- a non-linear gain amplifier (NLGA), wherein the NLGA comprises:
- a piecewise linear gain stage configured to apply a piecewise linear transfer function to the input signals to form amplified signals, wherein the piecewise linear gain stage comprises a high gain saturating amplifier and a lower gain linear non-saturating amplifier;
- and
- a DC offset stage configured to apply a DC offset to the amplified signals.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- receiving, by an analog front end (AFE) of an optical receiver, input signals from a plurality of photodetectors;
- applying a piecewise linear transfer function to the input signals to form amplified signals, wherein applying the piecewise linear transfer function comprises utilizing a piecewise linear gain stage, wherein the piecewise linear gain stage comprises a high gain saturating amplifier and a lower gain linear non-saturating amplifier;
- and
- applying a DC offset to the amplified signals.
1 more element
A vehicle, comprising:
- an optical receiver, comprising:
- one or more photodetectors;
- and
- an analog front end (AFE) configured to accept input signals from the one or more photodetectors, wherein the AFE comprises:
- a non-linear gain amplifier (NLGA), wherein the NLGA comprises:
- a piecewise linear gain stage configured to apply a piecewise linear transfer function to the input signals to form amplified signals, wherein the piecewise linear gain stage comprises a high gain saturating amplifier and a lower gain linear non-saturating amplifier;
- and
- a DC offset stage configured to apply a DC offset to the amplified signals.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.