Systems and methods for improving detection of a return signal in a light ranging and detection system

Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods for improving detection of a return signal in a light ranging and detection system. The system comprises a transmitter and a receiver. A first sequence of pulses may be encoded with an anti-spoof signature and transmitted in a laser beam. A return signal, comprising a second sequence of pulses, may be received by the receiver and the anti-spoof signature extracted from the second sequence of pulses. If based on the extraction, the first and second sequences of pulses match, the receiver outputs return signal data. If based on the extraction, the first and second sequence of pulses do not match, the return signal is disregarded. The system may dynamically change the anti-spoofing signature for subsequent sequences of pulses. Additionally, the first sequence of pulses may be randomized relative to a prior sequence of pulses.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) method, comprising:
 emitting, by a laser emitter of a LiDAR system, a first light signal comprising a sequence of optical pulses;   receiving, by a photo detector of the LiDAR system, a second light signal;   converting, by the photo detector, the second light signal into an electrical signal;   determining, based on processing of the electrical signal, whether a particular signal pattern is present in the second light signal, wherein the processing of the electrical signal comprises extracting, from the electrical signal, a sequence of electrical pulses corresponding to the sequence of optical pulses;   determining an attribute of a source of the second light signal based on whether the particular signal pattern is determined to be present in the second light signal; and   determining, based on the processing of the electrical signal, a distance between the photo detector and the source of the second light signal.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the processing of the electrical signal further comprises analyzing a shape of a plurality of pulses in the electrical signal. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the processing of the electrical signal further comprises analyzing at least one attribute of the electrical signal selected from a group consisting of shape, amplitude, and variation. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the source of the second light signal is a reflection of the first light signal from an object in an environment of the LiDAR system, and   the determined attribute of the source of the second light signal relates to a shape or contour of the object.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising controlling an operation of an automobile based on processing of the electrical signal. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the laser emitter is a diode. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the laser emitter and the photo detector of the LiDAR system are disposed on a rotor of a rotor-shaft structure, and wherein the processing of the electrical signal is performed by a component disposed on a shaft of the rotor-shaft structure. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a vertical field of view of the LiDAR system is between 30 and 40 degrees. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein an azimuth field of view of the LiDAR system is between 90 and 360 degrees. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the LiDAR system further comprises a plurality of other laser emitters and photo detectors. 
     
     
         31 . A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system, comprising:
 a laser emitter operable to emit a first light signal comprising a sequence of optical pulses;   a photo detector operable to receive a second light signal and convert the second light signal into an electrical signal; and   a computing device configured to perform operations including:
 determining, based on processing of the electrical signal, whether a particular signal pattern is present in the second light signal, wherein the processing of the electrical signal comprises extracting, from the electrical signal, a sequence of electrical pulses corresponding to the sequence of optical pulses; 
 determining an attribute of a source of the second light signal based on whether the particular signal pattern is determined to be present in the second light signal; and 
 determining, based on the processing of the electrical signal, a distance between the photo detector and the source of the second light signal. 
   
     
     
         32 . The LiDAR system of  claim 31 , wherein the processing of the electrical signal further comprises analyzing a shape of a plurality of pulses in the electrical signal. 
     
     
         33 . The LiDAR system of  claim 31 , wherein the processing of the electrical signal further comprises analyzing at least one attribute of the electrical signal selected from a group consisting of shape, amplitude, and variation. 
     
     
         34 . The LiDAR system of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the source of the second light signal is a reflection of the first light signal from an object in an environment of the LiDAR system, and   the determined attribute of the source of the second light signal relates to a shape or contour of the object.   
     
     
         35 . The LiDAR system of  claim 31 , wherein the operations further include controlling an operation of an automobile based on processing of the electrical signal. 
     
     
         36 . The LiDAR system of  claim 31 , wherein the laser emitter is a diode. 
     
     
         37 . The LiDAR system of  claim 31 , wherein the laser emitter and the photo detector are disposed on a rotor of a rotor-shaft structure, and wherein the processing of the electrical signal is performed by a component disposed on a shaft of the rotor-shaft structure. 
     
     
         38 . The LiDAR system of  claim 31 , wherein a vertical field of view of the LiDAR system is between 30 and 40 degrees. 
     
     
         39 . The LiDAR system of  claim 31 , wherein an azimuth field of view of the LiDAR system is between 90 and 360 degrees. 
     
     
         40 . The LiDAR system of  claim 31 , further comprising a plurality of other laser emitters and photo detectors.