公开(公告)号：US6137566A

公开(公告)日：2000-10-24

申请号：US256942

申请日：1999-02-24

申请人： Donald Leonard ,  Thomas Driscoll ,  Harold Sweeney ,  Jay Bolstad ,  David Schultz

发明人： Donald Leonard ,  Thomas Driscoll ,  Harold Sweeney ,  Jay Bolstad ,  David Schultz

IPC分类号： G01S7/487 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01B11/26 ,  G01C3/08 ,  G01C21/24 ,  H01L27/00

CPC分类号： G01S17/89 ,  G01S7/4873

摘要： An apparatus for receiving signals from a photodetector in a photodetector array. The apparatus has a number of comparators (e.g. 5) connected to the photodetector. each photodetector in the array has a similar circuit connected. Each comparator compares the output of the photodetector with an adjustable threshold level. Each threshold level is controlled by a threshold controller. Each threshold level corresponds with a light intensity value. Outputs of the comparators are each connected to a shift register. Each shift register is triggered to sample the output of its associated comparator at a certain speed (e.g. 800 Mhz). In operation, the shift registers each store a bit sequence representative of the comparator output. The data acquired is used to adjust the threshold levels applied to the comparators. In this way, adjustable intensity resolution is provided at desired ranges of intensity. The present invention includes a method for combining data from multiple laser pulses and fitting the data to a best fit statistical distribution so that an intensity value is obtained for each voxel in a 3-D laser radar image. Also, the present invention includes embodiments where different photodetectors in the array have different set threshold levels.

摘要翻译： 一种用于从光电检测器阵列中的光电检测器接收信号的装置。 该装置具有连接到光电检测器的多个比较器（例如5）。 阵列中的每个光电检测器具有相似的电路连接。 每个比较器将光电探测器的输出与可调阈值进行比较。 每个阈值电平由阈值控制器控制。 每个阈值电平对应于光强度值。 比较器的输出各自连接到移位寄存器。 触发每个移位寄存器以一定速度（例如800 Mhz）对相关比较器的输出进行采样。 在操作中，移位寄存器每个存储表示比较器输出的位序列。 采集的数据用于调整应用于比较器的阈值电平。 以这种方式，在所需的强度范围内提供可调节的强度分辨率。 本发明包括一种用于组合来自多个激光脉冲的数据并将该数据拟合到最佳拟合统计分布的方法，从而在3-D激光雷达图像中为每个体素获得强度值。 而且，本发明还包括阵列中的不同光电探测器具有不同的设定阈值电平的实施例。