US 2018/0321360 A1 · LIDAR Data Acquisition And Control

Abstract

Methods and systems for performing three dimensional LIDAR measurements with an integrated LIDAR measurement device are described herein. In one aspect, a return signal receiver generates a pulse trigger signal that triggers the generation of a pulse of illumination light and data acquisition of a return signal, and also triggers the time of flight calculation by time to digital conversion. In addition, the return signal receiver also estimates the width and peak amplitude of each return pulse, and samples each return pulse waveform individually over a sampling window that includes the peak amplitude of each return pulse waveform. In a further aspect, the time of flight associated with each return pulse is estimated based on a coarse timing estimate and a fine timing estimate. In another aspect, the time of flight is measured from the measured pulse due to internal optical crosstalk and a valid return pulse.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An integrated LIDAR measurement device, comprising:

an illumination source mounted to a printed circuit board;
an illumination driver integrated circuit (IC) mounted to the printed circuit board, the illumination driver IC selectively couples the illumination source to an electrical power source in response to a pulse trigger signal, causing the illumination source to emit a measurement pulse of illumination light;
a photodetector mounted to the printed circuit board, the photodetector configured to detect an amount of return light received by photodetector in response to the measurement pulse of illumination light and generate an output signal indicative of the detected return light;
a return signal receiver IC mounted to the printed circuit board, the return signal receiver IC configured to:
receive the output signal during a duration of a measurement window;
identify one or more return pulses of the detected return light;
determine a time of flight associated with each of the identified return pulses;
and
determine one or more properties of a segment of each of the identified return pulses.

6 more elements

A method comprising:

generating a pulse trigger signal in response to a pulse command signal received onto a return signal receiver IC mounted to a printed circuit board;
selectively electrically couple an illumination source to an electrical power source in response to the pulse trigger signal, causing the illumination source to emit a measurement pulse of illumination light;
detecting an amount of return light received by a photodetector in response to the measurement pulse of illumination light, wherein the illumination source and the photodetector are mounted to the printed circuit board;
generating an output signal indicative of the detected return light;
receiving the output signal onto the return signal receiver IC during a duration of a measurement window;
identifying one or more return pulses of the detected return light;
determining a time of flight associated with each of the identified return pulses;
and
determining one or more properties of a segment of each of the identified return pulses.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

LIDAR Data Acquisition And Control

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LIDAR Data Acquisition And Control

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22