LiDAR SYSTEMS AND METHODS DETERMINING DISTANCE TO OBJECT FROM LiDAR SYSTEM

A computer-implemented method of determining distance to an in-use object from a LiDAR system, the in-use object being of a type, the type being one of a plurality of types of objects, the LiDAR system being communicatively coupled to an electronic device, the method executable by the electronic device, the method comprising:

• acquiring, by the electronic device, a series of discrete digital values,
• the series of discrete digital values being representative of an optical return pulse,
• the optical return pulse corresponding to an optical output pulse (i) having been emitted by the LiDAR system and (ii) having returned to the LiDAR system after contacting the in-use object;
• accessing, by the electronic device, a pre-populated library stored in a memory for retrieving a resolution parameter,
• the library including a list of template pulse profiles,
• a given one of the list of template pulse profiles being associated in the library with a respective test object, a respective resolution parameter, and a type of the respective test object from the plurality of types;
• the accessing including:
• determining, by the electronic device, similarity parameters between (i) the series of discrete values and (ii) respective ones of the list of template pulse profiles,
• a given similarity parameter being determined between (i) the series of discrete values and (i) a respective template pulse profile from the list of template pulse profiles;
• retrieving, by the electronic device from the library, at least the respective resolution parameter of the template pulse profile having a highest similarity parameter;
• and
• using, by the electronic device, the respective resolution parameter for determining the distance of the in-use object from the LiDAR system.