LiDAR System for Seeing Through Shiny Objects
Toyota's patent on a LiDAR system that can ignore blinding reflections from shiny surfaces to better see what's around a vehicle.
Original patent title: “Systems and methods for mitigating effects of high-reflectivity objects in LiDAR data”
Toyota's patent on a LiDAR system that can ignore blinding reflections from shiny surfaces to better see what's around a vehicle. Granted to Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America in 2021 with 23 claims and 9 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2038.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a system for self-driving cars that uses LiDAR, a type of laser radar, to map the surroundings. Sometimes, shiny objects like a wet road or a polished car can send back such strong reflections that they blind the LiDAR sensor, making it impossible to see objects behind or near the shiny surface. This invention tackles that by first scanning with a standard laser (initial intensity) to get a general picture (first point cloud). If it detects a super-bright, reflective object, it then scans again with a different laser setting (scanning intensity) or direction. This second scan is designed to avoid or minimize the blinding reflection, allowing the system to capture data about objects that would otherwise be hidden. Finally, it combines the data from both scans into a 'composite point cloud' that gives a clearer, more complete view of the environment, even with those tricky shiny surfaces present.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- LiDAR systems that cannot detect or adapt to highly reflective objects.
- Methods that only use a single scan intensity and do not adjust for reflections.
- Systems that fail to combine data from multiple scans into a single, improved view.
- LiDAR systems that are not integrated into a vehicle or used for environmental sensing.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The core innovation is dynamically re-scanning with adjusted laser parameters specifically when a blinding reflection is detected, then intelligently merging the data to overcome the interference, rather than just discarding the corrupted data.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Toyota vehicles equipped with advanced driver-assistance systems
Future autonomous driving systems
LiDAR units in robotic navigation systems
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Reliable environmental sensing is crucial for autonomous vehicles. LiDAR is a key technology for this, but its performance can be degraded by common road conditions like rain or glare. This patent addresses a specific, significant challenge in making LiDAR robust enough for real-world driving, especially in varying weather and lighting.
Filed
June 25, 2018
Granted
June 22, 2021
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Toyota, as the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is likely implementing this technology in their own vehicles. Other automotive manufacturers and LiDAR sensor providers are also developing solutions for similar challenges in sensor performance.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the ongoing effort to make autonomous vehicle perception systems more reliable. By addressing the problem of reflective surfaces, it helps pave the way for wider adoption of LiDAR in safety-critical automotive applications and potentially other fields requiring robust environmental sensing.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a system for self-driving cars that uses LiDAR, a type of laser radar, to map the surroundings. Sometimes, shiny objects like a wet road or a polished car can send back such strong reflections that they blind the LiDAR sensor, making it impossible to see objects behind or near the shiny surface. This invention tackles that by first scanning with a standard laser (initial intensity) to get a general picture (first point cloud). If it detects a super-bright, reflective object, it then scans again with a different laser setting (scanning intensity) or direction. This second scan is designed to avoid or minimize the blinding reflection, allowing the system to capture data about objects that would otherwise be hidden. Finally, it combines the data from both scans into a 'composite point cloud' that gives a clearer, more complete view of the environment, even with those tricky shiny surfaces present.
The clever bit
The core innovation is dynamically re-scanning with adjusted laser parameters specifically when a blinding reflection is detected, then intelligently merging the data to overcome the interference, rather than just discarding the corrupted data.
What it does not cover
- LiDAR systems that cannot detect or adapt to highly reflective objects.
- Methods that only use a single scan intensity and do not adjust for reflections.
- Systems that fail to combine data from multiple scans into a single, improved view.
- LiDAR systems that are not integrated into a vehicle or used for environmental sensing.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
20/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$94K – $300K
Midpoint $187K · 11.7 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Uehara, Y. (2021). LiDAR System for Seeing Through Shiny Objects (U.S. Patent No. 11,041,957). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11041957/systems-and-methods-for-mitigating-effects-of-high-reflectivity-objects-in-lidar
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US11041957"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
Semantically similar
You might also find these interesting
US 12292511 · 2025 · Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America
Toyota's Patent on Detecting Road Hazards with LIDAR
US 12130389 · 2024 · Waymo
How Self-Driving Cars Detect Dirty Lidar Sensors
US 12736637 · 2026
Lidar System for Spotting Retro-Reflective Objects
US 20240045038 · Opsys Tech
How a Smart LIDAR System Adapts to Noise for Better Distance Sensing
More to explore
More in Energy & Clean Tech
US RE49155 · 2022 · Halliburton Energy Services Inc
Electric or Natural Gas Blending and Pumping for Oil Wells
US 11436484 · 2022 · Nvidia Corp
Nvidia's Method for Training Self-Driving Car AI in Simulations
US 11840398 · 2023 · Titan Trailers Inc
How Titan Trailers Builds Stronger, Smoother Cargo Containers
US 2708656 · 1955
How the First Nuclear Reactor Works
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does LiDAR System for Seeing Through Shiny Objects cover?
Toyota's patent on a LiDAR system that can ignore blinding reflections from shiny surfaces to better see what's around a vehicle.
Who owns patent US 11041957?
Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America owns this patent, granted in 2021.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on June 25, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11041957 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 9 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Reliable environmental sensing is crucial for autonomous vehicles. LiDAR is a key technology for this, but its performance can be degraded by common road conditions like rain or glare. This patent addresses a specific, significant challenge in making LiDAR robust enough for real-world driving, especially in varying weather and lighting.
What does this patent NOT cover?
LiDAR systems that cannot detect or adapt to highly reflective objects.
Same assignee
More from Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America
Patent monitoring