Apparatus and method for controlling system timing within a LIDAR system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11822014-B2
Application number	US-201916694386-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2019
Priority date	Nov 27, 2018
Publication date	Nov 21, 2023
Grant date	Nov 21, 2023

Abstract

A method can be used for controlling pixel scanning within a range detector. A spatially controllable point light source generates a first series of light source pulses associated with a first spatial direction. The first series of light source pulses are generated during a first time period. The spatially controllable point light source generates a second series of light source pulses associated with a second spatial direction. The second series of light source pulses are generated during a second time period that overlaps with the first time period so that the second series of light source pulses are started during the first series of light source pulses.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for controlling pixel scanning within a range detector, the apparatus comprising:
a single-point diode light source configured to provide spatially controllable point light pulses;
a detector comprising a light sensor configured to receive reflected spatially controllable point light pulses;
a controller configured to control the single-point diode light source, wherein the controller is configured to:
control the single-point diode light source to generate a first series of light source pulses during a first time period, the first series of light source pulses associated with a first spatial direction; and
control the single-point diode light source to generate a second series of light source pulses during a second time period that begins after the first time period begins, the second series of light source pulses associated with a second spatial direction, wherein the first and second time periods overlap so that the second series of light source pulses are started during the first series of light source pulses.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first series of light source pulses are associated with a first row of light sensor elements and the second series of light source pulses are associated with a second row of light sensor elements.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first series of light source pulses are associated with a first row first light sensor element of the first row of light sensor elements and the second series of light source pulses are associated with a second row first light sensor element of the second row of light sensor elements.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the single-point diode light source to generate a third series of light source pulses associated with a third spatial direction, the third spatial direction are associated with a third row of light sensor elements, wherein the third series of light source pulses are generated during a time period that is substantially simultaneous with the first time period.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to spatially dither the single-point diode light source.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to randomly select a spatial direction for the first and second series of light source pulses.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the single-point diode light source to form a z-raster pattern with the first series of light source pulses.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the single-point diode light source to form a snake-raster pattern with the first series of light source pulses.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the single-point diode light source to form a x-raster pattern with the first series of light source pulses.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the single-point diode light source to form a random or pseudo-random pattern with the first series of light source pulses.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the single-point diode light source to form a skip-n raster pattern with the first series of light source pulses.

12. A method for controlling pixel scanning within a range detector, the method comprising:
using a spatially controllable single-point diode light source to generate a first series of light source pulses associated with a first spatial direction, wherein the first series of light source pulses are generated during a first time period; and
using the spatially controllable single-point diode light source to generate a second series of light source pulses associated with a second spatial direction, wherein the second series of light source pulses are generated during a second time period that overlaps with the first time period so that the second series of light source pulses are started during the first series of light source pulses.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving a reflected version of each of the light source pulses of the first series at a first row of elements of a light sensor; and
receiving a reflected version of each of the light source pulses of the second series of light source pulses at a second row of elements of the light sensor.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first series of light source pulses are received by a first row first element of the light sensor and the second series of light sources pulses are associated with a second row first element of the light sensor.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising generating a third series of light source pulses associated with a third spatial direction, wherein the third series of light source pulses are generated during a time period that is substantially simultaneous with the first time period and wherein the third series of light source pulses are received by a third row of elements of the light sensor.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the spatially controllable single-point diode light source is controlled by spatially dithering the light source.

17. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the spatially controllable single-point diode light source is controlled by randomly selecting a spatial direction during for the first or second series of light source pulses.

18. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the spatially controllable single-point diode light source is controlled to form a z-raster pattern with the first series of light source pulses.

19. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the spatially controllable single-point diode light source is controlled to form a snake-raster pattern with the light source.

20. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the spatially controllable single-point diode light source wherein the spatially controllable single-point diode light source is controlled to form a x-raster pattern with the first series of light source pulses.

21. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the spatially controllable single-point diode light source is controlled to form a random or pseudo-random pattern with the first series of light source pulses.

22. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the spatially controllable single-point diode light source is controlled to form a skip n raster pattern with the first series of light source pulses.

23. A method for controlling pixel scanning within a range detector, the method comprising:
generating, by a single-point diode light source, a first series of light source pulses associated with a first spatial direction, wherein the first series of light source pulses are generated during a first time period;
generating, by the single-point diode light source, a second series of light source pulses associated with a second spatial direction, wherein the second series of light source pulses are generated during a second time period that overlaps with the first time period;
generating, by the single-point diode light source, a third series of light source pulses associated with a third spatial direction, wherein the third series of light source pulses are generated during a time period that is substantially simultaneous with the first time period;
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Assignees

• St Microelectronics Res & Dev Ltd

Inventors

• Dutton Neale
• Patanwala Sarrah Moiz

Classifications

• G01S7/484 Primary

  Transmitters · CPC title

• G01S7/487

  Extracting wanted echo signals {, e.g. pulse detection} · CPC title

• G01S7/4815

  using multiple transmitters · CPC title

• G01S17/10

  using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves (determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32) · CPC title

• G01S7/4817 Primary

  relating to scanning · CPC title