Patent · US Active

Direct detection LiDAR system and method with step frequency modulation (FM) pulse-burst envelope modulation transmission and quadrature demodulation

US10473784B2 · kind B2 · utility

20Cited by
28References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 19, 2017
Grant dateNov 12, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 3, 2038

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S17/931
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A LiDAR system includes a signal generator for generating an output signal having a variable frequency. A modulation circuit receives the output signal from the signal generator and modulates the output signal to generate a pulsed modulation envelope signal configured to comprise a plurality of pulses, two or more of the plurality of pulses having two or more respective different frequencies. The modulation circuit applies the pulsed modulation envelope signal to an optical signal to generate a pulse-envelope-modulated optical signal comprising a plurality of pulses modulated by the pulsed modulation envelope signal. Optical transmission elements transmit the pulse-envelope-modulated optical signal into a region. Optical receiving elements receive reflected optical signals from the region. Receive signal processing circuitry receives the reflected optical signals and uses quadrature detection to process the reflected optical signals.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.