US 12,474,450 B2
Lidar sensor with high dynamic range pulse receiver
Mihail Milkov, Moorpark, CA (US)
Assigned to Continental Autonomous Mobility US, LLC, Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by Continental Automotive Systems, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/446,439.
Prior Publication US 2023/0061926 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. G01S 7/48 (2006.01); G01S 7/484 (2006.01); G01S 7/4863 (2020.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 7/4863 (2013.01) [G01S 7/484 (2013.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A lidar sensor, comprising:
an optical transmitter configured to generate a pulse of light;
an optical receiver configured to receive the pulse of light generated by said optical transmitter and reflected off an object in a field of view, said optical receiver including:
a photodetector configured to generate a photocurrent pulse corresponding to the received pulse of light; and
a receiver circuit electrically connected to said photodetector;
said receiver circuit including a current mirror providing multiplication of the photocurrent pulse provided by said photodetector; and
said receiver circuit configured to convert the photocurrent pulse to a voltage pulse and provide the voltage pulse as an output;
a shunt MOSFET, which conducts a portion of said photocurrent pulse when said photocurrent pulse exceeds a threshold;
wherein the shunt MOSFET has a source electrically connected to the receiver circuit output, a gate electrically connected to a bias voltage, and a drain electrically connected to a constant potential;
a resistor electrically connected between the receiver circuit output and the constant potential and across the shunt MOSFET;
a capacitance electrically connected between the receiver circuit output and the constant potential and across the shunt MOSFET;
wherein a first value of the resistor is selected according to a desired amplitude and a desired decay time constant of the voltage pulse, and a second value of the capacitance is minimized.