Laser pulse decoding using a sensor
Techniques for using a sensor to perform laser signal decoding are disclosed. The sensor may be a global shutter sensor or a rolling shutter sensor. The sensor generates a first set of images while operating in a first mode. In response to detecting a laser signal in the first set of images, the sensor is caused to operate in a second mode. The laser signal includes an embedded frequency signal component and repeats at a periodic rate. While the sensor is operating in the second mode, the sensor generates a second set of images, which capture an entire period of the laser signal. From the second set of images, the embedded frequency signal component is determined. A decoding operation is performed using the embedded frequency signal component.
1. A computer system comprising:
a processor system; and
a storage system that stores instructions that are executable by the processor system to cause the computer system to:
use a sensor to generate a first set of images, wherein the sensor is initially operating in a first mode, and wherein the sensor is one of a global shutter sensor or a rolling shutter sensor;
in response to detecting a laser signal represented within the first set of images, cause the sensor to operate in a second mode, wherein the laser signal includes an embedded frequency signal component, and wherein the laser signal repeats at a periodic rate;
while the sensor is operating in the second mode, cause the sensor to generate a second set of images, wherein a number of images included in the second set of images is set so an entire period of the laser signal is represented within the second set of images;
from the second set of images, determine the embedded frequency signal component of the laser signal; and
perform a decoding operation using the embedded frequency signal component.
2. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor, when operating in the first mode, has a frame rate between about 1 Hz and about 240 Hz.
3. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor, when operating in the first mode, generates full resolution images.
4. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is the rolling shutter sensor.
5. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor, when operating in the second mode, has a frame rate at or above 60 Hz.
6. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor, when operating in the second mode, generates reduced resolution images.
7. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is the global shutter sensor.
8. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor, when operating in the second mode, has a non-exposure time that is less than a non-exposure time of the sensor when the sensor is operating in the first mode.
9. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein detecting the laser signal is performed via a differential operation between a preceding image and a succeeding image.
10. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a colloidal quantum dot sensor.
11. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor, when operating in the second mode, (i) has an increased frame rate relative to a frame rate of the sensor when operating in the first mode, (ii) produces images that have reduced resolutions relative to resolutions of images produced by the sensor when operating in the first mode, and (iii) has a reduced non-exposure time relative to a non-exposure time of the sensor when operating in the first mode.
12. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a progressive timing type of sensor.
13. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a non-progressive timing type of sensor.
14. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the decoding operation is a short-wave infrared (SWIR) asynchronous laser pulse detection (ALPD) type of decoding operation.
15. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein a power consumption of the sensor is less than about 100 milliwatts, wherein the sensor omits an analog to digital converter (ADC) per pixel on the sensor, wherein a pixel pitch of the sensor is between about 2 microns and about 5 microns, and wherein a resolution of the sensor is between about 2 megapixels and about 5 megapixels.
16. A method comprising:
using a sensor to generate a first set of images, wherein the sensor is initially operating in a first mode, and wherein the sensor is one of a global shutter sensor or a rolling shutter sensor;
in response to detecting a laser signal in the first set of images, causing the sensor to operate in a second mode, wherein the laser signal includes an embedded frequency signal component and repeats at a periodic rate;
while the sensor is operating in the second mode, causing the sensor to generate a second set of images, wherein a number of images included in the second set of images is set so as to capture an entire period of the laser signal, which repeats at the periodic rate;
from the second set of images, determining the embedded frequency signal component of the laser signal; and
performing a decoding operation using the embedded frequency signal component.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the sensor is the global shutter sensor, and wherein the global shutter sensor is one of a quantum dot sensor, an organic sensor, a perovskite sensor, a germanium sensor, a silicon germanium sensor, or a colloidal quantum sensor.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein a pulse rate of the laser signal is less than about 5 Hz.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the sensor, when operating in the second mode, has a non-exposure time that is less than a non-exposure time of the sensor when the sensor is operating in the first mode.
20. A method comprising:
using a sensor to generate a first set of images, wherein the sensor is initially operating in a first mode, and wherein the sensor is one of a global shutter sensor or a rolling shutter sensor;
in response to detecting a laser signal in the first set of images, causing the sensor to operate in a second mode, wherein the laser signal includes an embedded frequency signal component, and wherein the laser signal repeats at a periodic rate;
while the sensor is operating in the second mode, causing the sensor to generate a second set of images, wherein a number of images included in the second set of images is set so as to capture an entire period of the laser signal, which repeats at the periodic rate;
from the second set of images, determining the embedded frequency signal component of the laser signal;
performing a decoding operation using the embedded frequency signal component; and
triggering emission of a response laser signal, wherein a response embedded frequency signal component is embedded in the response laser signal, wherein the response laser signal repeats at a second periodic rate, and wherein a content of the embedded frequency signal component is based on the received embedded frequency signal component.