Method for operating a LIDAR unit
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorMirko Hattass
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An emitter unit is designed to emit segments of electromagnetic radiation temporally offset to one another along a line. A detector includes a plurality of linearly situated detector channels. A first sequence and at least one second sequence of segments are emitted. The sequences differ at least with respect to a temporal distance between two successive segments. First signals and second signals are detected on the basis of segments of the first and second sequence reflected at objects and striking the detector. Signal strengths of first and second signals are added together in order to obtain sum signals for each detection channel. Signal strengths of the sum signals are compared with a predefinable threshold value and identified as real if they are greater than the predefinable threshold value.
Claims11
A method for operating a LIDAR unit, the LIDAR unit including an emitter unit and a detector, the emitter unit being configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in such a way that segments of electromagnetic radiation are spatially and temporally offset to one another, the detector including a plurality of detection channels, each of the plurality of detection channels being configured to detect electromagnetic radiation, the method comprising the following steps:
- emitting a first sequence of segments of electromagnetic radiation;
- detecting first signals based on emitted electromagnetic radiation of the segments of the first sequence, at least partially reflected at objects and at least partially striking the detector;
- emitting at least one second sequence of segments of electromagnetic radiation, the first sequence and the second sequence differing at least with respect to a temporal distance between two successive segments;
- detecting second signals based on the emitted electromagnetic radiation of the segments of the second sequence, at least partially reflected at objects and at least partially striking the detector;
- adding together signal strengths of first signals and of second signals to obtain sum signals for each detection channel;
- comparing signal strengths of the sum signals with at least one predefined threshold value;
- and
- identifying each of the sum signals that are greater than the predefined threshold value as real signals.
A LIDAR unit, comprising:
- an emitter unit;
- and
- a detector,
- wherein the emitter unit is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in such a way that segments of electromagnetic radiation are spatially and temporally offset to one another,
- wherein the detector includes a plurality of detection channels, each of the plurality of detection channels being configured to detect electromagnetic radiation, and
- wherein the LIDAR unit is configured to:
- emit a first sequence of segments of electromagnetic radiation;
- detect first signals based on emitted electromagnetic radiation of the segments of the first sequence, at least partially reflected at objects and at least partially striking the detector;
- emit at least one second sequence of segments of electromagnetic radiation, the first sequence and the second sequence differing at least with respect to a temporal distance between two successive segments;
- detect second signals based on the emitted electromagnetic radiation of the segments of the second sequence, at least partially reflected at objects and at least partially striking the detector;
- add together signal strengths of first signals and of second signals to obtain sum signals for each detection channel;
- compare signal strengths of the sum signals with at least one predefined threshold value;
- and
- identify each of the sum signals that are greater than the predefined threshold value as real signals.
A LIDAR system, comprising:
- a plurality of LIDAR units, each of the LIDAR units including:
- an emitter unit;
- and
- a detector,
- wherein the emitter unit is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in such a way that segments of electromagnetic radiation are spatially and temporally offset to one another, and
- wherein the detector includes a plurality of detection channels, each of the plurality of detection channels being configured to detect electromagnetic radiation,
- wherein each of the LIDAR units is configured to:
- emit a first sequence of segments of electromagnetic radiation;
- detect first signals based on emitted electromagnetic radiation of the segments of the first sequence, at least partially reflected at objects and at least partially striking the detector;
- emit at least one second sequence of segments of electromagnetic radiation, the first sequence and the second sequence differing at least with respect to a temporal distance between two successive segments;
- detect second signals based on the emitted electromagnetic radiation of the segments of the second sequence, at least partially reflected at objects and at least partially striking the detector;
- add together signal strengths of first signals and of second signals to obtain sum signals for each detection channel;
- compare signal strengths of the sum signals with at least one predefined threshold value;
- and
- identify each of the sum signals that are greater than the predefined threshold value as real signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.