Geiger-mode LiDAR system having improved signal-to-noise ratio
US10386487B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 1, 2016 |
| Grant date | Aug 20, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 19, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/89
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A GmAPD-based LiDAR system and methods for developing a point-cloud image of a detection region are disclosed. The methods include scanning the detection region during a plurality of detection frames that defines an image frame. In each detection frame, the detection region is interrogated with a different one of a series of optical pulses and reflections of the optical pulse are detected at a GmAPD-based receiver that is gated such that a different sampling region within the detection region is selectively sampled in each detection frame. The sampling regions are defined such that longer-range areas of the detection region are sampled more times in the image frame than shorter-range areas of the detection region. As a result, objects throughout the entire detection region can be detected with high SNR.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.