LIDAR SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for environment mapping, comprising:
- generating a periodic laser output representative of a periodic output signal that encodes a code sequence, comprising modulating a substantially continuous-wave carrier signal based on the code sequence;
throughout a time period, continuously transmitting the periodic laser output into an environment;
during the time period, at an optical sensor, receiving a return signal comprising a reflection, from an object within the environment, of the periodic laser output;
determining a sample indicative of a contiguous time window of the return signal, wherein a duration of the contiguous time window is greater than a period of the periodic output signal;
generating a filtered sample, comprising filtering the sample based on the code sequence;
based on the filtered sample;
determining an extremum of the filtered sample; and
determining a delay time associated with the extremum; and
based on the delay time, determining a relative location of the object.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A LIDAR system, preferably including one or more: optical emitters, optical detectors, beam directors, and/or processing modules. A method of LIDAR system operation, preferably including: determining a signal, outputting the signal, receiving a return signal, and/or analyzing the return signal.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for environment mapping, comprising:
-
generating a periodic laser output representative of a periodic output signal that encodes a code sequence, comprising modulating a substantially continuous-wave carrier signal based on the code sequence; throughout a time period, continuously transmitting the periodic laser output into an environment; during the time period, at an optical sensor, receiving a return signal comprising a reflection, from an object within the environment, of the periodic laser output; determining a sample indicative of a contiguous time window of the return signal, wherein a duration of the contiguous time window is greater than a period of the periodic output signal; generating a filtered sample, comprising filtering the sample based on the code sequence; based on the filtered sample; determining an extremum of the filtered sample; and determining a delay time associated with the extremum; and based on the delay time, determining a relative location of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method for environment mapping, comprising:
-
generating a first periodic optical output representative of a first periodic output signal, comprising modulating a first substantially continuous-wave carrier signal based on a first code sequence; generating a second periodic optical output representative of a second periodic output signal, comprising modulating a second substantially continuous-wave carrier signal based on a second code sequence; throughout a time period, continuously transmitting the first and second periodic optical outputs into an environment; during the time period, at an optical sensor, receiving a return signal, the return signal comprising; a first reflection, from a first object within the environment, of the first periodic optical output; and a second reflection, from a second object within the environment, of the second periodic optical output; determining a sample by selecting a contiguous time window of the return signal; generating a first filtered sample, comprising filtering the sample based on the first code sequence; determining a first delay time associated with the first filtered sample; based on the first delay time, determining a relative location of the first object; generating a second filtered sample, comprising filtering the sample based on the second code sequence; determining a second delay time associated with the second filtered sample; and based on the second delay time, determining a relative location of the second object. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification