13 patents in this list

Updated: July 01, 2024

For self-driving cars, surveying, mapping, and many more uses, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology is essential. Precise alignment and calibration, however, are crucial to LiDAR systems' accuracy and functionality.

 

This page looks at recent patents that present innovative ways to improve the alignment and calibration of LiDAR technology.

1. Sensor Array Calibration Technique for Correcting Misalignments in Vehicle Systems

Lyft, Inc., 2024

Calibrating sensors in a vehicle sensor array to correct misalignments and improve accuracy. The technique involves determining the relative orientation of the sensor array to the vehicle and comparing it to the expected orientation. If deviations are detected, calibration factors are calculated to correct the sensor measurements. Methods for this calibration include comparing sensor outputs, using camera markers, or analyzing vehicle motion data.

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2. Radiation Calibration Method for Airborne Hyperspectral Imaging LiDAR Systems

HEFEI INSTITUTE OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 2024

Radiation calibration method for airborne hyperspectral imaging LiDAR system. The method calibrates the radiation detection of the LiDAR system so that the spectral data captured by the hyperspectral LiDAR can be used accurately for tasks like ground target classification. The calibration involves two steps: spectrum calibration using a monochromator to determine channel wavelengths, and radiation calibration using a rotating whiteboard to determine channel sensitivities.

3. Camera-Assisted LiDAR Transmitter and Receiver Alignment for Enhanced Performance

Waymo LLC, 2023

Ensuring precise alignment of LiDAR transmitter and receiver blocks to enhance LiDAR performance. A camera images the positions of the light sources in the transmitter block and the detectors in the receiver block. Offsets between these positions are calculated and used to adjust the alignment of the blocks. This ensures that beams from the sources are accurately directed to the corresponding detectors, even if they are initially misaligned.

4. Sensor Fusion Method for Enhanced LiDAR-Based Positioning in Autonomous Vehicles

APOLLO INTELLIGENT DRIVING TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD., 2023

Accurate, robust positioning for autonomous vehicles, using data from onboard sensors without relying on external maps. The method integrates inertial measurements with LiDAR point clouds and local maps to determine a vehicle's position. It compensates vehicle motion using inertial data, matches LiDAR points to maps, and probabilistically combines the data sources to optimize positioning.

5. Iterative Alignment Optimization of LiDAR and Camera Sensors for Autonomous Driving Systems

Luminar, LLC, 2022

Optimizing alignment of LiDAR and camera sensors to merge data for autonomous driving systems. The method involves iteratively adjusting transformation parameters to align sensor data sets from sensors with overlapping fields of view. The alignment is optimized using a metric of mutual information between the sensor datasets.

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6. Optimized LiDAR-Camera Calibration Technique for Autonomous Vehicle Perception

Lyft, Inc., 2021

Calibrating LiDAR sensors with cameras in autonomous vehicles to ensure accurate alignment of data for environment perception. The calibration involves using a rotating platform with markers to generate 3D point clouds from the cameras and LiDAR. By optimizing the LiDAR position/rotation to match the cameras, misalignments can be determined and corrected.

7. Optimized Calibration and Alignment Technique for Coherent LiDAR Systems in Vehicles

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, 2021

Calibration and alignment of coherent LiDAR systems for vehicles to maximize performance and range. The LiDAR system uses FMCW technology with phase modulation. The receiving lens is aligned using an added waveguide coupler that allows a second light source to transmit through the lens. Optical phase modulators are calibrated to match the phase of the combined signals from the target and local oscillator. This ensures maximum signal strength when detected by photodetectors.

8. Sensor Calibration for Autonomous Vehicles Using LiDAR and Camera Data Integration

DEEPMAP INC., 2020

Calibration of sensors like LiDAR and cameras on autonomous vehicles. The calibration allows for generating and maintaining high-definition maps for safe autonomous driving. The system uses captured LiDAR and camera data to calibrate the sensors. It extracts corners from LiDAR points to align with camera edges. This provides a transform for mapping between LiDAR and camera coordinates. The calibrated sensors are then used to generate high-precision maps that allow precise autonomous vehicle positioning in lanes for safe driving.

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9. Camera-Assisted Method for Aligning LiDAR Optics

Waymo LLC, 2020

A method to align LiDAR optics using a camera. The method involves obtaining images with the camera while interposing different apertures between the camera and the LiDAR device. By analyzing the images, alignment offsets between the LiDAR transmitter and receiver can be determined.

10. Sensor Fusion Method for Enhancing Autonomous Vehicle Navigation with Camera and LiDAR

Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd., 2019

Using camera and LiDAR sensors together to enable autonomous navigation. The method involves aligning camera images with LiDAR reflections to correlate objects identified in both sensor outputs. This allows attributing LiDAR depth information to camera-detected objects. Combining camera object recognition with LiDAR distance measurement provides more accurate navigation information for autonomous vehicles.

Download a PDF report with complete details of all 13 patents for offline reading.

The patents shown here demonstrate a variety of methods for enhancing LiDAR calibration and alignment. Few techniques focus on adjusting misalignments in sensor arrays that are installed on cars. Others such as radiation calibration for aerial LiDAR systems are employed for purposes like classifying ground objects.