HYBRID FLASH LIDAR SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A flash LIDAR system having a field-of-view configured to encompass at least a portion of a target object, the system comprising:
- a flash illuminator array including a plurality of illuminators;
a flash detector array including a plurality of light detectors, the flash detector array being divided into a plurality of subsets of light detectors; and
a signal processor/controller,wherein the field-of-view is divided into a plurality of segments,wherein the plurality of illuminators are operative to illuminate corresponding segments, respectively, of the field-of-view, the plurality of illuminators being further operative to transmit, in turn, one or more light beam pulses toward the corresponding segments, respectively, of the field-of-view,wherein the plurality of subsets of light detectors are operative, in response to the one or more light beam pulses transmitted, in turn, by the respective illuminators, to receive one or more reflected light beam pulses from the plurality of segments, respectively, of the field-of-view, andwherein the signal processor/controller is operative to determine an elapsed time between transmission of the one or more light beam pulses by the respective illuminators and reception of the one or more reflected light beam pulses at the respective subsets of light detectors in order to obtain a range to the target object.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Improved flash light detection and ranging (also referred to herein as “flash LIDAR”) systems and methods for determining the distance to a target object disposed in a field-of-view. A flash LIDAR system can include an array of illuminators, an array of light detectors, and a signal processor/controller, as well as have a field-of-view in which a target object may be disposed. The flash LIDAR system can effectively divide the field-of-view into a plurality of segments, and each illuminator in the illuminator array can be made to correspond to a specific segment of the field-of-view. The flash LIDAR system can also effectively divide the light detector array into a plurality of subsets of light detectors. Like the respective illuminators in the illuminator array, each subset of light detectors in the light detector array can be made to correspond to a specific segment of the field-of-view.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A flash LIDAR system having a field-of-view configured to encompass at least a portion of a target object, the system comprising:
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a flash illuminator array including a plurality of illuminators; a flash detector array including a plurality of light detectors, the flash detector array being divided into a plurality of subsets of light detectors; and a signal processor/controller, wherein the field-of-view is divided into a plurality of segments, wherein the plurality of illuminators are operative to illuminate corresponding segments, respectively, of the field-of-view, the plurality of illuminators being further operative to transmit, in turn, one or more light beam pulses toward the corresponding segments, respectively, of the field-of-view, wherein the plurality of subsets of light detectors are operative, in response to the one or more light beam pulses transmitted, in turn, by the respective illuminators, to receive one or more reflected light beam pulses from the plurality of segments, respectively, of the field-of-view, and wherein the signal processor/controller is operative to determine an elapsed time between transmission of the one or more light beam pulses by the respective illuminators and reception of the one or more reflected light beam pulses at the respective subsets of light detectors in order to obtain a range to the target object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a flash LIDAR system having a field-of-view configured to encompass at least a portion of a target object, the method comprising:
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providing the flash LIDAR system including a flash illuminator array having a plurality of illuminators, a flash detector array having a plurality of light detectors, and a signal processor/controller, the flash detector array being divided into a plurality of subsets of light detectors, the field-of-view being divided into a plurality of segments; illuminating, by the plurality of illuminators, corresponding segments, respectively, of the field-of-view by transmitting, in turn, one or more light beam pulses toward the corresponding segments, respectively, of the field-of-view; in response to the one or more light beam pulses transmitted, in turn, by the respective illuminators, receiving, by the plurality of subsets of light detectors, one or more reflected light beam pulses from the plurality of segments, respectively, of the field-of-view; and determining, by the signal processor/controller, an elapsed time between transmission of the one or more light beam pulses by the respective illuminators and reception of the one or more reflected light beam pulses at the respective subsets of light detectors in order to obtain a range to the target object. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of calibrating a flash LIDAR system, the method comprising:
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providing the flash LIDAR system including a flash illuminator array having a plurality of illuminators, a flash detector array having a plurality of light detectors, and a signal processor/controller; transmitting, by the plurality of illuminators, in turn, one or more light beam pulses toward a calibration reflector, the calibration reflector having a substantially uniform reflector surface; in response to the one or more light beam pulses transmitted, in turn, by the respective illuminators, receiving, at the plurality of light detectors, one or more reflected light beam pulses from the calibration reflector; measuring, by the signal processor/controller, a plurality of light intensity levels at the plurality of light detectors, respectively, of the flash detector array; and mapping out, by the signal processor/controller, a plurality of subsets of light detectors on the flash detector array based on the measured light intensity levels, each subset of light detectors for use in receiving further reflected light beam pulses in response to further transmitted light beam pulses from a respective illuminator. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification