Systems and methods for optical distance measurement

    公开(公告)号:US11982768B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-05-14

    申请号:US16445146

    申请日:2019-06-18

    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing optical distance measurement are provided. In one aspect, a system for measuring a distance to an object comprises a light emitter configured to emit an outbound light pulse, and a light sensor configured to receive a returning light pulse reflected from the object and output an analog pulse signal representing the returning light pulse. The system also comprises a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) coupled to the light sensor. The FPGA is configured to convert the analog pulse signal to a plurality of digital signal values, and generate a plurality of time measurements corresponding to the plurality of digital signal values. The system also comprises a controller configured to calculate the distance to the object based on the plurality of digital signal values and the plurality of time measurements.

    SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTICAL DISTANCE MEASUREMENT

    公开(公告)号:US20190302241A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-10-03

    申请号:US16445146

    申请日:2019-06-18

    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing optical distance measurement are provided. In one aspect, a system for measuring a distance to an object comprises a light emitter configured to emit an outbound light pulse, and a light sensor configured to receive a returning light pulse reflected from the object and output an analog pulse signal representing the returning light pulse. The system also comprises a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) coupled to the light sensor. The FPGA is configured to convert the analog pulse signal to a plurality of digital signal values, and generate a plurality of time measurements corresponding to the plurality of digital signal values. The system also comprises a controller configured to calculate the distance to the object based on the plurality of digital signal values and the plurality of time measurements.

    LIGHT DETECTING AND RANGING (LIDAR) SIGNAL PROCESSING CIRCUITRY

    公开(公告)号:US20180284229A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-10-04

    申请号:US15785243

    申请日:2017-10-16

    Abstract: Introduced here are techniques for implementing a comparator-based LIDAR system with improved components, such as an improved high-speed comparator circuit, to acquire depth information from the surroundings of an unmanned moving object (e.g., a UAV). In various embodiments, the LIDAR system includes an amplifier module with different configurations of anti-saturation circuitry. The LIDAR system may further include various feedback control mechanisms for noise interference reduction and timing measurement compensation including, for example, dynamic gain adjustment of the photodetector module, and/or dynamic adjustment of comparators' thresholds. Among other components, the disclosed comparator circuit can provide the LIDAR system with a wide dynamic range, preventing large signal amplification saturation while also providing sufficient magnification of small signals.

    DELAY TIME CALIBRATION OF OPTICAL DISTANCE MEASUREMENT DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

    公开(公告)号:US20190064329A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-02-28

    申请号:US15944561

    申请日:2018-04-03

    Abstract: Representative embodiments of the present technology include a device for measuring distance to an object. The device comprises a light emitter configured to emit an outbound light pulse and a light sensor configured to receive a returning light pulse and output a pulse signal representing the returning light pulse. The device further comprises a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) coupled to the light sensor and including a time-to-digital converter (TDC) having a series of sequentially coupled delay units. Individual sequentially coupled delay units are associated with corresponding individual delay times. At least some of the sequentially coupled delay units have different individual delay times. The TDC is configured to measure timing information of the pulse signal based at least in part on the individual delay times of the sequentially coupled delay units. The device further includes a controller configured to calculate the distance to the object based on the timing information.

    Light detecting and ranging (LIDAR) signal processing circuitry

    公开(公告)号:US10539663B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-01-21

    申请号:US15785243

    申请日:2017-10-16

    Abstract: Introduced here are techniques for implementing a comparator-based LIDAR system with improved components, such as an improved high-speed comparator circuit, to acquire depth information from the surroundings of an unmanned moving object (e.g., a UAV). In various embodiments, the LIDAR system includes an amplifier module with different configurations of anti-saturation circuitry. The LIDAR system may further include various feedback control mechanisms for noise interference reduction and timing measurement compensation including, for example, dynamic gain adjustment of the photodetector module, and/or dynamic adjustment of comparators' thresholds. Among other components, the disclosed comparator circuit can provide the LIDAR system with a wide dynamic range, preventing large signal amplification saturation while also providing sufficient magnification of small signals.

    DELAY TIME CALIBRATION OF OPTICAL DISTANCE MEASUREMENT DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

    公开(公告)号:US20190324127A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-10-24

    申请号:US16450534

    申请日:2019-06-24

    Abstract: Representative embodiments of the present technology include a device for measuring distance to an object. The device comprises a light emitter configured to emit an outbound light pulse and a light sensor configured to receive a returning light pulse and output a pulse signal representing the returning light pulse. The device further comprises a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) coupled to the light sensor and including a time-to-digital converter (TDC) having a series of sequentially coupled delay units. Individual sequentially coupled delay units are associated with corresponding individual delay times. At least some of the sequentially coupled delay units have different individual delay times. The TDC is configured to measure timing information of the pulse signal based at least in part on the individual delay times of the sequentially coupled delay units. The device further includes a controller configured to calculate the distance to the object based on the timing information.

    DISTRIBUTED LIGHT DETECTION AND RANGING (LIDAR) MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

    公开(公告)号:US20210286079A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-09-16

    申请号:US17333573

    申请日:2021-05-28

    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for implementing a distributed sensor (LIDAR) system with a management system (e.g., a controller) that controls and interfaces with multiple sensors in the distributed sensor system. A representative management system can control an operational state (e.g., power on, reset, over-current protection, etc.), an operating mode (e.g., modes corresponding to varying levels of performance), etc. The management system can combine separate outputs from the individual sensors into a combined output (e.g., point cloud). The management system can assist installation of the sensors, manage a self-test and/or a self-calibration of the sensors, or a combination thereof.

    OPTICAL SCANNING DEVICE WITH BEAM COMPRESSION AND EXPANSION

    公开(公告)号:US20210263303A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-08-26

    申请号:US17215654

    申请日:2021-03-29

    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for scanning an optical beam in two dimensions (e.g. azimuth and elevation) and for increasing or decreasing a field-of-view (FOV) of the scanned beam. Scanning may be performed by various configurations of prisms, rotatable mirrors, and/or rotatable polygonal mirrors. In some configuration, changes to the FOV of the scanned beam may be performed by prisms positioned with a predetermined angular relationship and may include other optical components, as well. Depending on the predetermined angular relationship, the prisms can expand the FOV along one or more axis and/or may compress the FOV along one or more axis.

    Systems and methods for optical distance measurement

    公开(公告)号:US10371802B2

    公开(公告)日:2019-08-06

    申请号:US15944729

    申请日:2018-04-03

    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing optical distance measurement are provided. In one aspect, a system for measuring a distance to an object comprises a light emitter configured to emit an outbound light pulse, and a light sensor configured to receive a returning light pulse reflected from the object and output an analog pulse signal representing the returning light pulse. The system also comprises a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) coupled to the light sensor. The FPGA is configured to convert the analog pulse signal to a plurality of digital signal values, and generate a plurality of time measurements corresponding to the plurality of digital signal values. The system also comprises a controller configured to calculate the distance to the object based on the plurality of digital signal values and the plurality of time measurements.

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