Lidar sensor assembly calibration based on reference surface
First Claim
1. A LIDAR sensor assembly comprising:
- a stationary portion having a fixed reference surface, the stationary portion comprising;
a first support rib and a second support rib; and
an elongated spine extending between and coupled to the first support rib and the second support rib, the elongated spine serving as the fixed reference surface; and
a rotatable assembly mechanically coupled to, and rotatable relative to, the stationary portion, the rotatable assembly comprising;
an elongated chassis having an axis of rotation about which the rotatable assembly is rotatable, wherein the first support rib is rotatably coupled to a first end of the elongated chassis and the second support rib is rotatably coupled to a second end of the elongated chassis;
a laser light source to emit laser light; and
a light sensor configured to produce a light signal in response to sensing reflected light corresponding to reflection of the laser light emitted by the laser light source from the fixed reference surface; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the laser light source and the light sensor, the controller being operative to;
transmit a firing signal to the light source to cause the light source to emit a pulse of laser light;
receive a signal from the light sensor indicating detection of reflected light corresponding to reflection of the pulse of laser light from the fixed reference surface; and
calibrate the LIDAR sensor assembly based at least in part on the signal indicating detection of the reflected light corresponding to the reflection of the pulse of laser light from the fixed reference surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A LIDAR system includes one or more LIDAR sensor assemblies, which may be mounted to a vehicle or other object. Each LIDAR sensor assembly includes a laser light source to emit laser light, and a light sensor to produce a light signal in response to sensing reflected light corresponding to reflection of the laser light emitted by the laser light source from a reference surface that is fixed in relation to the LIDAR sensor assembly. A controller of the LIDAR sensor assembly may calibrate the LIDAR sensor assembly based at least in part on a signal from the light sensor indicating detection of reflected light corresponding to reflection of a pulse of laser light reflected from the reference surface.
71 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A LIDAR sensor assembly comprising:
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a stationary portion having a fixed reference surface, the stationary portion comprising; a first support rib and a second support rib; and an elongated spine extending between and coupled to the first support rib and the second support rib, the elongated spine serving as the fixed reference surface; and a rotatable assembly mechanically coupled to, and rotatable relative to, the stationary portion, the rotatable assembly comprising; an elongated chassis having an axis of rotation about which the rotatable assembly is rotatable, wherein the first support rib is rotatably coupled to a first end of the elongated chassis and the second support rib is rotatably coupled to a second end of the elongated chassis; a laser light source to emit laser light; and a light sensor configured to produce a light signal in response to sensing reflected light corresponding to reflection of the laser light emitted by the laser light source from the fixed reference surface; and a controller communicatively coupled to the laser light source and the light sensor, the controller being operative to; transmit a firing signal to the light source to cause the light source to emit a pulse of laser light; receive a signal from the light sensor indicating detection of reflected light corresponding to reflection of the pulse of laser light from the fixed reference surface; and calibrate the LIDAR sensor assembly based at least in part on the signal indicating detection of the reflected light corresponding to the reflection of the pulse of laser light from the fixed reference surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of calibrating a LIDAR system, the method comprising:
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transmitting a firing signal to a laser light source of a LIDAR sensor assembly to cause the laser light source to emit a pulse of laser light toward a reference surface mechanically coupled to the LIDAR sensor assembly, the reference surface being part of a stationary portion of the LIDAR sensor assembly, the stationary portion comprising; a housing at least partially enclosing a rotatable assembly mechanically coupled to, and rotatable relative to, the stationary portion, the housing including a ring lens at least partially encircling a portion of the rotatable assembly from which the laser light is emitted, the ring lens serving as the reference surface; receiving a signal from a light sensor of the LIDAR sensor assembly, the signal indicating detection of reflected light corresponding to reflection of the pulse of laser light from the reference surface; and calibrating the LIDAR sensor assembly based at least in part on the signal indicating detection of the reflected light corresponding to the reflection of the pulse of laser light from the reference surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
a LIDAR sensor assembly comprising; a stationary portion comprising a housing, the housing including a ring lens; a rotatable assembly mechanically coupled to, and rotatable relative to, the stationary portion, the rotatable assembly at least partially enclosed by the housing, the rotatable assembly comprising; a laser light source to emit laser light; and a light sensor configured to produce a light signal in response to sensing reflected light corresponding to reflection of the laser light emitted by the laser light source from a reference surface that is mechanically coupled to the LIDAR sensor assembly at a known distance in relation to the laser light source and light sensor, wherein the ring lens at least partially encircles a portion of the rotatable assembly from which the laser light is emitted and at which the reflected light is received, the ring lens serving as the reference surface; and a controller communicatively coupled to the laser light source and the light sensor, the controller being operative to; transmit a firing signal to the laser light source to cause the laser light source to emit a pulse of laser light; receive a signal from the light sensor indicating detection of reflected light corresponding to reflection of the pulse of laser light from the reference surface; and calibrate the LIDAR sensor assembly based at least in part on the signal indicating detection of the reflected light corresponding to the reflection of the pulse of laser light from the reference surface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification