US 12,032,095 B2
Dynamic range improvements in LIDAR applications
Kristopher McGuire, Raleigh, NC (US)
Assigned to Sense Photonics, Inc., Durham, NC (US)
Filed by Sense Photonics, Inc., Durham, NC (US)
Filed on Mar. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/821,441.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/819,889, filed on Mar. 18, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0300978 A1, Sep. 24, 2020
Int. Cl. G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 7/484 (2006.01); G01S 7/4865 (2020.01); G01S 17/10 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 7/4816 (2013.01) [G01S 7/484 (2013.01); G01S 7/4865 (2013.01); G01S 17/10 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system comprising:
a first detector region comprising a first detector;
a second detector region comprising a second detector;
at least one optical element configured to receive incoming light and separate the incoming light into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the at least one optical element is configured to direct the first portion of light to be incident on the first detector and the second portion of light to be incident on the second detector and alter the incoming light such that a characteristic of the first portion of light is different from the second portion of light; and
a control circuit configured to receive a first detection signal from the first detector responsive to the first portion of the light that is incident thereon and a second detection signal from the second detector responsive to the second portion of the light that is incident thereon, and to generate a third detection signal based on determining that the first detector is saturated and, responsive thereto, adjusting the second detection signal based on the characteristic to generate the third detection signal.