SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING DETECTION OF A RETURN SIGNAL IN A LIGHT RANGING AND DETECTION SYSTEM WITH PULSE ENCODING
Described herein are systems and methods for improving detection of a return signal in a light ranging and detection system (LiDAR). The method includes the following steps at the LiDAR system: encoding and transmitting a sequence of pulses based on a user signature. Then, receiving a multi-return signal based on a reflection off objects of the sequences of pulses. The multi-return signal may be decoded based on the user signature, and then authenticated the via a correlation calculation. The user signature may determine an amplitude of a first pulse in the sequence of pulses, an amplitude of a second pulse of the sequence of pulses, and an interval between the first pulse and the second pulse. A bit representation of the user signature is orthogonal to a bit representation of another user signature of another LiDAR system. The user signature may be dynamically adjusted by the LiDAR system.
1 . A method comprising:
encoding, at a LiDAR system, a sequence of pulses based on a user signature;
transmitting, at the LiDAR system, the sequences of pulses;
receiving, at the LiDAR system, a multi-return signal based on a reflection off objects of the sequences of pulses;
decoding, at the LiDAR system, the multi-return signal utilizing the user signature; and
authenticating, at the LiDAR system, the decoded multi-return signal via a correlation calculation,
wherein a bit representation of the user signature is orthogonal to a bit representation of another user signature of another LiDAR system.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user signature determines an amplitude of a first pulse in the sequence of pulses, an amplitude of a second pulse of the sequence of pulses, and an interval between the first pulse and the second pulse.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the user signature is represented by Z-bits.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the amplitude of the first pulse is represented by N-bits, the interval is represented by X-bits, and the amplitude of the second pulse is represented by M-bits, wherein Z-bits is equal to a sum of N-bits plus X-bits plus M-bits.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein a peak ratio is based on the N-bits and the M-bits, and the interval is based on the X-bits.
6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein based on the user signature, the sequences of pulses comprise fixed pulse amplitudes, variable time intervals between pulses, and a fixed pulse width for each pulse.
7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein based on the user signature, the sequences of pulses comprise variable pulse amplitudes, variable time intervals between pulses, and a fixed pulse width for each pulse.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating, by the LiDAR system, the user signature for the sequence of pulses based on amplitudes of each of the pulses, in the sequences of pulses, and/or intervals between each of the pulses, in the sequences of pulses, and/or a pulse widths of each of the pulses.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising dynamically adjusting, by the LiDAR system, the user signature.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising configuring each LiDAR system with a specific user signature.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user signature is represented by a multiple of Z-bits.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, the authentication is partially determined based on maintaining a tolerance margin for a shape of received pulses from the sequence of pulses relative to a shape of the transmitted pulses of the sequence of pulses.
13 . A system comprising:
a user signature capable to specify characteristics for a sequence of pulses;
a pulse encoder operable to generate the sequence of pulses based on the user signature;
a transmitter operable to optically transmit the sequence of pulses;
a pulse decoder operable to decode, using the user signature, a return signal comprising a reflection off objects of the sequence of pulses; and
a correlation calculation operable to authenticate the decoded return signal,
wherein a bit representation of the user signature is orthogonal to a bit representation of another user signature of another LiDAR system.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein if the decoded return signal matches characteristics of the optically transmitted sequence of pulses, the correlation calculation authenticates the decoded return signal.
15 . The system of claim 13 , if the decoded return signal does not match characteristics of the optically transmitted sequence of pulses, the system disregards the decoded return signal.
16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the user signature is represented by Z-bits.
17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein based on the user signature, the sequences of pulses comprise variable pulse amplitudes, variable time intervals between pulses, and a fixed pulse width for each pulse.
18 . The system of claim 13 , wherein for a next sequence of pulses to be transmitted, the pulse encoder dynamically changes the user signature.
19 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising generating, by a LiDAR system, the user signature for the sequence of pulses based on amplitudes of each of the pulses, in the sequences of pulses, and/or intervals between each of the pulses, in the sequences of pulses, and/or a pulse widths of each of the pulses.
20 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer program code stored thereon, the computer program code, when executed by one or more processors implemented on a light detection and ranging system, causes the light detection and ranging system to perform a method comprising:
encoding a sequence of pulses based on a user signature;
transmitting the sequences of pulses;
receiving a multi-return signal based on a reflection of the pulses;
decoding the multi-return signal utilizing the user signature; and
authenticating the decoded multi-return signal via a correlation calculation.