Three-dimensional light detection and ranging system using hybrid TDC and ADC receiver

1. A method for operating a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system in an automobile, the method comprising:

sending a plurality of light pulses toward an object;

receiving analog sensor data from an optical sensor measuring the plurality of light pulses reflected off the object;

digitizing the analog sensor data using an analog to digital conversion system having a first sampling rate to generate a first set of processed sensor data and using a time to digital conversion system having a second sampling rate that is greater than the first sampling rate to generate a second set of processed sensor data;

selecting the first set of processed sensor data when the analog sensor data is beneath a threshold signal to noise ratio when the first set of processed sensor data includes a greater number of detected light pulses from the plurality of light pulses than the second set of processed data;

selecting the second set of processed sensor data when the analog sensor data exceeds the threshold signal to noise ratio; and

calculating a range between the LiDAR system and the object by extracting time of flight data from the selected set of processed sensor data.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising applying digital signal processing to the first set of processed sensor data to distinguish the plurality of light pulses from ambient noise.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a sampling rate of the time to digital conversion system is about 100 times greater than a sampling rate of the analog to digital conversion system.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the sampling rate of the analog to digital conversion system is about 1 GHz.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

sending a prioritized signal to a system configured to maneuver the vehicle when the calculated range between the LiDAR system and the object corresponds to a high likelihood of collision between the vehicle and the object.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor is configured to monitor between 500,000 and 1,000,000 light pulses per second.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a velocity of the object relative to the vehicle based on changes in the calculated range over time.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the time to digital conversion system has a power level threshold that varies with ambient noise levels to filter noise out of the ambient noise.

9. A LiDAR system for a vehicle, comprising:

an emitter module;

a receiver module, comprising an optical sensor;

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums containing instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

sending a plurality of light pulses toward an object from the emitter module;

receiving analog sensor data from the optical sensor corresponding to light pulses of the plurality of light pulses reflected off the object at the receiver module;

digitizing the analog sensor data using an analog to digital conversion system having a first sampling rate to generate a first set of processed sensor data and using a time to digital conversion system having a second sampling rate that is greater than the first sampling rate to generate a second set of processed sensor data;

selecting the first set of processed sensor data when the analog sensor data is beneath a threshold signal to noise ratio;

selecting the second set of processed sensor data when the analog sensor data exceeds the threshold signal to noise ratio;

calculating a range between the LiDAR system and the object using extracted time of flight data from the selected set of processed sensor data; and

switching from the second set of processed data to the first set of processed data when:

the first set of processed sensor data includes a larger number of detected light pulses of the plurality of light pulses than the second set of processed sensor data.

10. The LiDAR system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the sampling rate of the time to digital conversion system is substantially faster than the sampling rate of the analog to digital conversion system.

11. The LiDAR system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the receiver module comprises a photodetector.

12. The LiDAR system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the emitter system comprises a laser than generates and emits the plurality of light pulses toward the object.

13. The LiDAR system as recited in claim 9 wherein the one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums contain further instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

detecting the ambient noise level adjacent to the vehicle; and

adjusting a power threshold of the time to digital system based on the detected ambient noise level.

14. The LiDAR system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the optical sensor is a scanning sensor.

15. A LiDAR system for a vehicle, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums containing instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

sending a plurality of light pulses toward an object;

receiving analog sensor data from an optical sensor measuring the plurality of light pulses reflected off the object;

digitizing the analog sensor data using an analog to digital conversion system having a first sampling rate to generate a first set of processed sensor data and using a time to digital conversion system having a second sampling rate that is greater than the first sampling rate to generate a second set of processed sensor data;

selecting the first set of processed sensor data when the analog sensor data is beneath a threshold signal to noise ratio;

selecting the second set of processed sensor data when the analog sensor data exceeds the threshold signal to noise ratio; and

calculating a range between the LiDAR system and the object using extracted time of flight data from the selected set of processed sensor data; and

switching from the second set of processed data to the first set of processed data when:

the first set of processed sensor data includes a larger number of detected light pulses of the plurality of light pulses than the second set of processed sensor data.

16. The system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums contain further instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

determining a velocity of the object relative to the vehicle based on changes in the calculated range over time.

17. The system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums contain further instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

applying digital signal processing to the first set of processed sensor data to distinguish the plurality of light pulses from ambient noise.

18. The LiDAR system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the time to digital conversion system has a power level threshold that varies with ambient noise levels and is configured to filter noise out of the analog sensor data when generating the first set of processed sensor data.