Ascertainment of range limits for Lidar devices

A method for ascertaining a range limit of a LIDAR device, due to environmental influences, by a control unit, for ascertaining distances between the LIDAR device and at least one surface in a scanning area, the method comprising the following steps:

• emitting beams into the scanning area by a transmitting unit of the LIDAR device;
• receiving beams that are reflected and/or backscattered from the scanning area by a receiving unit of the LIDAR device
• computing the distances between the LIDAR device and the surface based on propagation times of the transmitted beams and of the reflected and/or backscattered beams;
• and
• ascertaining a range limit of a maximum possible range of the LIDAR device based on a variance of the computed distances.

A control unit configured to ascertain a range limit of a LIDAR device, due to environmental influences, for ascertaining distances between the LIDAR device and at least one surface in a scanning area, the control unit configured to:

• emit beams into the scanning area by a transmitting unit of the LIDAR device;
• receive beams that are reflected and/or backscattered from the scanning area by a receiving unit of the LIDAR device;
• compute the distances between the LIDAR device and the surface based on propagation times of the transmitted beams and of the reflected and/or backscattered beams;
• and
• ascertain a range limit of a maximum possible range of the LIDAR device based on a variance of the computed distances.

A LIDAR device for scanning a scanning area, comprising:

• a transmitting unit with at least one beam source configured to generate and emit beams into the scanning area;
• a receiving unit configured to receive and detect beams that are reflected and/or backscattered from the scanning area;
• and
• a control unit configured to ascertain a range limit of the LIDAR device, due to environmental influences, for ascertaining distances between the LIDAR device and at least one surface in a scanning area, the control unit configured to:
• emit beams into the scanning area using the transmitting unit,
• receive beams that are reflected and/or backscattered from the scanning area using the receiving unit,
• compute the distances between the LIDAR device and the surface based on propagation times of the transmitted beams and of the reflected and/or backscattered beams, and
• ascertain a range limit of a maximum possible range of the LIDAR device based on a variance of the computed distances.