Tao Edward Chu

US Patent:

20200209356, Jul 2, 2020

Filed:

Dec 26, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/232977

Inventors:

- Mountain View CA, US
Tao Chu - Mountain View CA, US

International Classification:

G01S 7/487
G01S 17/10
G01S 17/93
G01S 7/48

Abstract:

A method for operating a LiDAR system in an automobile that can include sending light pulses toward an object; receiving analog sensor data from an optical sensor measuring the 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 by extracting time of flight data from the selected set of processed sensor data.

US Patent:

20200191924, Jun 18, 2020

Filed:

Dec 14, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/221424

Inventors:

- Mountain View CA, US
Zhenghan Zhu - Mountain View CA, US
Tao Chu - Mountain View CA, US
John Wu - Mountain View CA, US

Assignee:

DiDi Research America, LLC - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

G01S 7/486

Abstract:

Embodiments of the disclosure provide receivers for a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanner. The receiver includes a photodetector configured to receive a laser beam, and convert the received laser beam to an electrical signal including a plurality of pulses. The receiver also includes an amplifier configured to amplify the electrical signal. The receiver further includes a pulse equalizer configured to sharpen the plurality of pulses in the amplified electrical signal. Each pulse is sharpened to have a narrower width and an increased amplitude.