Luminar Technologies has been granted a patent for a lidar system that uses multiple pulse intervals to determine range-wrapping in detecting objects. The system emits optical pulses, detects input pulses, and generates pixels associated with different pulse intervals to improve accuracy in object detection. GlobalData’s report on Luminar Technologies gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

According to GlobalData’s company profile on Luminar Technologies, Lidar-based object detection was a key innovation area identified from patents. Luminar Technologies's grant share as of April 2024 was 45%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Lidar system for determining range-wrapped pixels

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: Luminar Technologies Inc

A lidar system has been granted a patent (Publication Number: US11971484B2) that includes a light source emitting optical pulses at different pulse intervals (PIs), a receiver detecting input optical pulses, and a processor generating pixels associated with PIs to determine range-wrapping of pixels based on a pixel-disparity metric (PDM). The system analyzes nearby pixels along a scan line to assess the likelihood of range-wrapping, with the PDM indicating the probability of a pixel being range-wrapped. The patent also covers the application of this lidar system in vehicles, where it can aid in detecting targets based on scattered light from emitted optical pulses, ensuring accurate distance measurements and obstacle detection.

The lidar system's innovative approach to pixel analysis and range-wrapping assessment, as outlined in the granted patent, offers a sophisticated solution for accurate distance measurement and target detection. By utilizing different PIs and the PDM metric, the system can effectively determine if a pixel is range-wrapped, enhancing the reliability of lidar data in various applications. The inclusion of this technology in vehicles further highlights its potential impact on improving safety and efficiency by providing precise obstacle detection capabilities based on scattered light from emitted pulses. Overall, the patented lidar system represents a significant advancement in the field of range-finding technology, with potential implications for enhancing autonomous driving systems and other applications requiring precise distance measurements.

To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on Luminar Technologies, buy the report here.

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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.