US 11,693,099 B2
Method and apparatus for an adaptive ladar receiver
Luis Carlos Dussan, Pleasanton, CA (US); Allan Steinhardt, Brentwood, CA (US); and David Cook, San Ramon, CA (US)
Assigned to AEYE, Inc., Dublin, CA (US)
Filed by AEYE, Inc., Dublin, CA (US)
Filed on May 4, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/865,655.
Application 16/865,655 is a continuation of application No. 15/935,720, filed on Mar. 26, 2018, granted, now 10,641,873.
Application 15/935,720 is a continuation of application No. 15/590,491, filed on May 9, 2017, granted, now 9,933,513, issued on Apr. 3, 2018.
Application 15/590,491 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/430,179, filed on Feb. 10, 2017, granted, now 10,761,196.
Application 15/935,720 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/430,192, filed on Feb. 10, 2017, granted, now 10,754,015.
Application 15/935,720 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/430,200, filed on Feb. 10, 2017, granted, now 10,641,872.
Application 15/935,720 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/430,221, filed on Feb. 10, 2017, abandoned.
Application 15/935,720 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/430,235, filed on Feb. 10, 2017, granted, now 10,782,393.
Application 15/935,720 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/865,655.
Application 16/865,655 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/430,192, filed on Feb. 10, 2017, granted, now 10,754,015.
Application 16/865,655 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/865,655.
Application 16/865,655 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/430,200, filed on Feb. 10, 2017, granted, now 10,641,872.
Application 16/865,655 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/865,655.
Application 16/865,655 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/430,235, filed on Feb. 10, 2017, granted, now 10,782,393.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/297,112, filed on Feb. 18, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2020/0264286 A1, Aug. 20, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 7/486 (2020.01); G01S 17/10 (2020.01); G01S 7/4863 (2020.01); G01S 17/42 (2006.01); G01S 7/4865 (2020.01); G01S 7/487 (2006.01); G01S 7/497 (2006.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 7/4863 (2013.01) [G01S 7/487 (2013.01); G01S 7/4817 (2013.01); G01S 7/4865 (2013.01); G01S 7/4868 (2013.01); G01S 7/497 (2013.01); G01S 17/10 (2013.01); G01S 17/42 (2013.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ladar system comprising:
an array comprising a plurality of photodetectors;
amplifier circuitry comprising a plurality of amplifiers, wherein each amplifier is (1) connected to a corresponding photodetector of the array to amplify a signal detected by its corresponding photodetector and (2) transitionable between a quiescent state and an active state;
a circuit configured to:
process a shot list, wherein the shot list identifies a plurality of range points for targeting by ladar pulse shots over time;
based on the processed shot list, (1) selectively control which of the amplifiers are transitioned from the quiescent state to the active state and which of the amplifiers are transitioned from the active state to the quiescent state over time and (2) select a plurality of different subsets of the photodetectors for read out over time;
process the amplified signals from the active state amplifiers corresponding to photodetectors that are included in the selected subsets; and
compute range information for the range points targeted by the ladar pulse shots based on the processed amplified signals.