Hyper-resolved, high bandwidth scanned lidar systems

Abstract

Embodiments are directed toward a scanning LIDAR system that measures a distance to a target that reflects light from a transmitter to a receiver. A light transmitter is arranged to scan pulses of light that reflect off a remote surface (target) and illuminate fractions of the Field of View (FoV) of a receiver, such as a camera. These fractions of the FoV are smaller than a resolution provided by an array of pixels used to detect Time of Flight (ToF) reflections of the scanned pulses of light from a remote surface. The exemplary scanning LIDAR system may resolve an image of the remote surface at substantially higher resolution than the pixel resolution provided by its receiver.

1 . A method for measuring a range of a target, comprising:
 providing a transmitter to continuously scan a beam of laser light toward a remote surface of the target, wherein the laser light beam is formed into the shape of a thin blade;   providing a receiver having a one dimensional array of pixels to receive one or more reflections of the blade shaped laser light beam from the remote surface of the target, wherein the one or more reflections of the blade shaped laser light beam illuminate a fraction of a field of view of each pixel in the one dimensional array, and wherein the fraction is less than a resolution for each pixel in the one dimensional array; and   providing one or more processors that employ successive received reflections of the remote surface of the target that illuminate other fractions of the field of view of each pixel in the one dimensional array to provide a higher resolution of detail of the remote surface of the target than another resolution natively provided by the one dimensional array of pixels.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 employing a slot aperture for the laser light beam and cylindrical optics to collimate the laser light beam to form the blade shaped laser light beam.   employing a slot aperture for the laser light beam that is further collimated by cylindrical optics to form the blade shaped laser light beam.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a micro-lens for each pixel to expand an active area of each pixel to effectively illuminate all area associated with each pixel to prevent non-detection of photons that are incident on a spacing between each adjacent pixel.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the blade shaped laser light beam, further comprises an edge of serrated tips of laser light beams that are moved incrementally along the blade shaped laser light beam during successive scans to further increase the provided higher resolution of detail of the remote surface of the target. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 employing the transmitter to provide two orthogonally arranged blade shaped laser light beams, wherein a first blade shaped laser light beam is arranged in a horizontal orientation and a second blade shaped laser light beam is arranged in a vertical orientation.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the blade shaped laser light beam, further comprises a wavelength that provides a blue color to further increase the higher resolution of the remote surface of the target. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one dimensional array of pixels further comprises a rolling shutter to further increase the higher resolution of the remote surface of the target. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus to provide a range of a target, comprising:
 a transmitter to continuously scan a beam of laser light toward a remote surface of the target, wherein the laser light beam is formed into the shape of a thin blade;   a receiver having a one dimensional array of pixels to receive one or more reflections of the blade shaped laser light beam from the remote surface of the target, wherein the one or more reflections of the blade shaped laser light beam illuminate a fraction of a field of view of each pixel in the one dimensional array, and wherein the fraction is less than a resolution of each pixel in the one dimensional array; and   providing one or more processors that employ successive received reflections of the remote surface of the target that illuminate other fractions of the field of view of each pixel in the one dimensional array to provide a higher resolution of detail of the remote surface of the target than another resolution natively provided by the one dimensional array of pixels.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a slot aperture for the laser light beam and cylindrical optics that collimates the laser light beam to form the blade shaped laser light beam.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a separate micro-lens that is provided for each pixel to expand an active area of each pixel to effectively illuminate all area associated with each pixel to prevent non-detection of photons that are incident on a spacing between each adjacent pixel.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the blade shaped laser light beam further comprises an edge of serrated tips of laser light beams that are moved incrementally along the blade shaped laser light beam during successive scans to further increase the provided higher resolution of detail of the remote surface of the target. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein employing the transmitter further comprises providing two orthogonally arranged blade shaped laser light beams, wherein a first blade shaped laser light beam is arranged in a horizontal orientation and a second blade shaped laser light beam is arranged in a vertical orientation. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the blade shaped laser light beam further comprises a wavelength that provides a blue color to further increase the higher resolution of the remote surface of the target. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the one dimensional array of pixels further comprises a rolling shutter to further increase the higher resolution of the remote surface of the target. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory processor readable storage media that includes instructions for measuring a range to a target, wherein execution of the instructions by one or more processor devices causes actions, comprising:
 providing a transmitter to continuously scan a beam of laser light toward a remote surface of the target, wherein the laser light beam is formed into the shape of a thin blade;   providing a receiver having a one dimensional array of pixels to receive one or more reflections of the blade shaped laser light beam from the remote surface of the target, wherein the one or more reflections of the blade shaped laser light beam illuminate a fraction of a field of view of each pixel in the one dimensional array, and wherein the fraction is less than a resolution for each pixel in the one dimensional array; and   providing one or more processors that employ successive received reflections of the remote surface of the target that illuminate other fractions of the field of view of each pixel in the one dimensional array to provide a higher resolution of detail of the remote surface of the target than another resolution natively provided by the one dimensional array of pixels.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory processor readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein execution of the instructions by the one or more processor devices causes further actions, comprising:
 employing a slot aperture for the laser light beam and cylindrical optics to collimate the laser light beam to form the blade shaped laser light beam.   employing a slot aperture for the laser light beam that is further collimated by cylindrical optics to form the blade shaped laser light beam.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory processor readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein execution of the instructions by the one or more processor devices causes further actions, comprising:
 providing a micro-lens for each pixel to expand an active area of each pixel to effectively illuminate all area associated with each pixel to prevent non-detection of photons that are incident on a spacing between each adjacent pixel.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory processor readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein execution of the instructions by the one or more processor devices causes further actions, comprising:
 providing an edge of serrated tips of laser light beams that are moved incrementally along the blade shaped laser light beam during successive scans to further increase the provided higher resolution of detail of the remote surface of the target.   
     
     
         19 . non-transitory processor readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein execution of the instructions by the one or more processor devices causes further actions, comprising:
 employing the transmitter to provide two orthogonally arranged blade shaped laser light beams, wherein a first blade shaped laser light beam is arranged in a horizontal orientation and a second blade shaped laser light beam is arranged in a vertical orientation.   
     
     
         20 . non-transitory processor readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein execution of the instructions by the one or more processor devices causes further actions, comprising:
 providing a wavelength that provides a blue color to further increase the higher resolution of the remote surface of the target.