System and method for differential comparator-based time-of-flight measurement with amplitude estimation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12474452-B2
Application number	US-202418659877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2024
Priority date	Oct 5, 2021
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

A system including a first unit configured to: receive a LiDAR output signal, compare a time-delayed LiDAR output signal to the LiDAR output signal, and provide a digital output signal, and a second unit configured to generate LiDAR data including a distance and an amplitude based on the digital output signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a first unit configured to: receive a LiDAR output signal, compare a time-delayed LiDAR output signal to the LiDAR output signal, and provide a digital output signal; and a second unit configured to generate LiDAR data including a distance and an amplitude based on the digital output signal, wherein the distance is based on a first time associated with a rising edge of the digital output signal, and the amplitude is based on a time difference between the first time and a second time associated with a falling edge of the digital output signal.

2 . The system of claim 1 , the first unit further comprises:
a signal delay component configured to: receive the LiDAR output signal from a LiDAR system and provide the time-delayed LiDAR output signal; and a differential comparator configured to: receive the LiDAR output signal and the time-delayed LiDAR output signal and provide the digital output signal.

3 . The system of claim 1 , the second unit further comprises:
at least one processor configured to generate LiDAR data including the distance and the amplitude based on the LiDAR output signal.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the second unit detects, based on the LiDAR data, an object in an environment surrounding a LiDAR system.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the second unit issues, based on the detected object, a command to control at least one autonomous driving operation of an autonomous vehicle.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a time-to-digital converter (TDC) configured to determine the first time and the second time.

7 . A system, comprising:
a signal delay component configured to: receive a LiDAR output signal from a LiDAR system and provide a time-delayed LiDAR output signal; and a differential comparator configured to: receive the LiDAR output signal and the time-delayed LiDAR output signal and provide a digital output signal, wherein a LiDAR data including a distance and an amplitude is generated based on the digital output signal, and wherein the distance is based on a first time associated with a rising edge of the digital output signal, and the amplitude is based on a time difference between the first time and a second time associated with a falling edge of the digital output signal.

8 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
at least one processor configured to generate LiDAR data including the distance and the amplitude based on the LiDAR output signal.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor detects, based on the LiDAR data, an object in an environment surrounding a LiDAR system.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor issues, based on the detected object, a command to control at least one autonomous driving operation of an autonomous vehicle.

11 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a time-to-digital converter (TDC) configured to determine the first time and the second time.

12 . A method, comprising:
receiving a digital output signal which is generated by comparing a time-delayed LiDAR output signal to a LiDAR output signal; and generating LiDAR data including a distance and an amplitude based on the digital output signal, wherein the generating LiDAR data further comprises: generating LiDAR data including the distance associated with the LiDAR output signal and the amplitude associated with the LiDAR output signal, the distance being based on a first time associated with a rising edge of the digital output signal, and the amplitude being based on a time difference between the first time and a second time associated with a falling edge of the digital output signal.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
detecting, based on the LiDAR data, an object in an environment surrounding a LiDAR system.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
issuing, based on the detected object, a command to control at least one autonomous driving operation of an autonomous vehicle.

15 . A system, comprising:
a LiDAR system configured to generate a LiDAR output signal including an analog waveform; and a unit configured to: receive the LiDAR output signal, compare a time-delayed LiDAR output signal to the LiDAR output signal, provide a digital output signal, wherein a LiDAR data including a distance and an amplitude is generated based on the digital output signal, and wherein the distance is based on a first time associated with a rising edge of the digital output signal, and the amplitude is based on a time difference between the first time and a second time associated with a falling edge of the digital output signal.

16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
at least one processor configured to generate LiDAR data including the distance and the amplitude based on the LiDAR output signal.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one processor detects, based on the LiDAR data, an object in an environment surrounding a LiDAR system to issue, based on the detected object, a command to control at least one autonomous driving operation of an autonomous vehicle.

Assignees

• Lg Innotek Co Ltd

Inventors

• Bennington Dane
• Laverne Michel

Classifications

• B60W2420/408

  Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar · CPC title

• G01S7/4813

  Housing arrangements · CPC title

• B60W60/001

  Planning or execution of driving tasks · CPC title

• G01S7/4817

  relating to scanning · CPC title

• G01S17/931 Primary

  of land vehicles · CPC title