The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Nov. 27, 2018

Filed:

Jan. 03, 2018
Applicant:

Luminar Technologies, Inc., Orlando, FL (US);

Inventors:

Stephen D. Gaalema, Colorado Springs, CO (US);

Austin K. Russell, Portola Valley, CA (US);

Joseph G. LaChapelle, Philomath, OR (US);

Scott R. Campbell, Sanford, FL (US);

Jason M. Eichenholz, Orlando, FL (US);

Tue Tran, Colorado Springs, CO (US);

Assignee:

LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Orlando, FL (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01C 3/08 (2006.01); G01S 7/489 (2006.01); G01S 17/10 (2006.01); G01S 7/486 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 7/489 (2013.01); G01S 17/10 (2013.01); G01S 7/4863 (2013.01); G01S 7/4865 (2013.01);
Abstract

To decrease the likelihood of a false detection when detecting light from light pulses scattered by remote targets in a lidar system, a receiver in the lidar system includes a photodetector and a pulse-detection circuit having a gain circuit with a varying amount of gain over time. The gain circuit operates in a low-gain mode for a time period Tbeginning with time twhen a light pulse is emitted to prevent the receiver from detecting return light pulses during the threshold time period T. Upon expiration of the threshold time period T, the gain circuit operates in a high-gain mode to begin detecting return light pulses until a subsequent light pulse is emitted.


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