Hyper-resolved, high bandwidth scanned LIDAR systems
First Claim
1. A method for measuring a range of a target, comprising:
- employing a transmitter to continuously scanning pin pricks of light to detect an edge of the target from one or more reflections of the scanned pin pricks of light;
in response to detection of the edge of the target, scanning pulses of light toward the target, wherein a timing of the light pulses is advanced by fractional increments during successive scans and is correlated to a fractional shift in direction within a view of a same pixel in an array of pixels that are provided by a receiver of one or more reflections of the scanned pulses of light from the target; and
employing one or more processor devices to determine the range of the target based on the pulses of light scanned by the emitter and the one or more reflections of the scanned pulses of light from the target that are received by the receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments are directed toward a scanning LIDAR system that measures a distance to a target that reflects light from a transmitter to a receiver. A light transmitter is arranged to scan pulses of light that reflect off a remote surface (target) and illuminate fractions of the Field of View (FoV) of a receiver, such as a camera. These fractions of the FoV are smaller than a resolution provided by an array of pixels used to detect Time of Flight (ToF) reflections of the scanned pulses of light from a remote surface. The exemplary scanning LIDAR system may resolve an image of the remote surface at substantially higher resolution than the pixel resolution provided by its receiver.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for measuring a range of a target, comprising:
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employing a transmitter to continuously scanning pin pricks of light to detect an edge of the target from one or more reflections of the scanned pin pricks of light; in response to detection of the edge of the target, scanning pulses of light toward the target, wherein a timing of the light pulses is advanced by fractional increments during successive scans and is correlated to a fractional shift in direction within a view of a same pixel in an array of pixels that are provided by a receiver of one or more reflections of the scanned pulses of light from the target; and employing one or more processor devices to determine the range of the target based on the pulses of light scanned by the emitter and the one or more reflections of the scanned pulses of light from the target that are received by the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system to provide a range of a target, comprising:
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a transmitter to perform actions, including; continuously scanning pin pricks of light to detect an edge of the target from one or more reflections of the scanned pin pricks of light; and in response to detection of the edge of the target, scanning pulses of light toward the target, wherein a timing of the light pulses is advanced by fractional increments during successive scans and is correlated to a fractional shift in direction within a view of a same pixel in an array of pixels that are provided by a receiver of one or more reflections of the scanned pulses of light from the target; and one or more processor devices to determine the range of the target based on the pulses of light scanned by the emitter and the one or more reflections of the scanned pulses of light from the target that are received by the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory processor readable storage media that includes instructions for measuring a range to a target, wherein execution of the instructions by one or more processor devices cause the one or more processor devices to perform actions, comprising:
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employing a transmitter to continuously scanning pin pricks of light to detect an edge of the target from one or more reflections of the scanned pin pricks of light; in response to detection of the edge of the target, scanning pulses of light toward the target, wherein a timing of the light pulses is advanced by fractional increments during successive scans and is correlated to a fractional shift in direction within a view of a same pixel in an array of pixels that are provided by a receiver of one or more reflections of the scanned pulses of light from the target; and determining the range of the target based on the pulses of light scanned by the emitter and the one or more reflections of the scanned pulses of light from the target that are received by the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification