How to Combine Wide-Angle LiDAR Depth with Standard Camera Images
This patent describes a method for combining a wide-angle depth map from a LiDAR sensor, which has unevenly spaced pixels, with a standard camera image by first correcting the depth map's pixel distribution and then merging the two for a complete view.
Original patent title: “Systems and methods for wide-angle LiDAR using non-uniform magnification optics”
This patent describes a method for combining a wide-angle depth map from a LiDAR sensor, which has unevenly spaced pixels, with a standard camera image by first correcting the depth map's pixel distribution and then merging the two for a complete view. Granted to Leddartech in 2023 with 18 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2042.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent outlines a method to create a detailed composite image by merging data from two different sensors. First, it captures a "first image" of a scene using a sensor like LiDAR, which measures depth and has pixels distributed unevenly, often non-linearly in the vertical direction (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1, 2). This unevenness means some areas have more detail than others. It also captures a "second image" from a different sensor, such as a regular digital camera (Claim 1, 9), which typically has a more uniform pixel distribution. The key step is "correcting the first image" (Claim 1) based on its non-linear distribution function to produce a "third image," potentially by adding more pixels through interpolation (Claim 6, 7). Finally, it combines this corrected depth image (the third image) with the camera image (the second image) to create a "composite image" (Claim 1), such as an RGBD image (Claim 15), providing both color and accurate depth across a wide field of view (Claim 12). For example, an autonomous vehicle could use this to get a wide, detailed 3D view of its surroundings by merging a wide-angle LiDAR's depth data with a standard camera's color feed.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover combining images where both sensors already have a linear or uniform pixel distribution.
- Does not cover systems that combine images without first correcting the non-linear pixel distribution of one sensor.
- Does not cover systems that only use a single sensor to generate a composite image.
- Does not cover combining images where neither the first nor the second image is a depth map.
- Does not cover combining images from two sensors that do not have at least one common field of view.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in specifically addressing the challenge of integrating wide-angle sensors, like LiDAR, that inherently produce images with non-uniform pixel distribution – meaning some areas have more detail than others – by correcting this distortion *before* merging it with a standard, uniformly distributed camera image. This ensures accurate alignment and a consistent data representation across the entire wide field of view.
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
Autonomous vehicle perception systems
Robotics navigation and obstacle avoidance
Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS)
3D mapping and surveying
Augmented reality depth sensing
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is important for applications like autonomous driving and robotics, where understanding the environment in 3D is critical. By effectively combining wide-angle depth information from LiDAR with high-resolution color data from cameras, systems can gain a more complete and accurate perception of their surroundings. This allows for better object detection, tracking, and navigation, especially in complex and dynamic environments requiring wide fields of view.
Filed
March 28, 2022
Granted
January 3, 2023
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Leddartech, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a company focused on LiDAR technology for autonomous driving and ADAS, directly building on this type of sensor fusion. Other companies working on advanced sensor fusion for autonomous systems, such as Waymo, Cruise, and Mobileye, are also building on similar principles of combining diverse sensor data for robust environmental perception.
Market impact
This patent addresses a key challenge in integrating wide-angle LiDAR into practical applications, particularly for autonomous vehicles. By providing a method to accurately combine distorted LiDAR depth data with standard camera images, it enables the creation of more reliable and comprehensive environmental perception systems. This helps accelerate the development and deployment of self-driving cars and advanced robotics, making sensor fusion more effective for critical safety functions.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent outlines a method to create a detailed composite image by merging data from two different sensors. First, it captures a "first image" of a scene using a sensor like LiDAR, which measures depth and has pixels distributed unevenly, often non-linearly in the vertical direction (Claim 1, 2). This unevenness means some areas have more detail than others. It also captures a "second image" from a different sensor, such as a regular digital camera (Claim 1, 9), which typically has a more uniform pixel distribution. The key step is "correcting the first image" (Claim 1) based on its non-linear distribution function to produce a "third image," potentially by adding more pixels through interpolation (Claim 6, 7). Finally, it combines this corrected depth image (the third image) with the camera image (the second image) to create a "composite image" (Claim 1), such as an RGBD image (Claim 15), providing both color and accurate depth across a wide field of view (Claim 12). For example, an autonomous vehicle could use this to get a wide, detailed 3D view of its surroundings by merging a wide-angle LiDAR's depth data with a standard camera's color feed.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in specifically addressing the challenge of integrating wide-angle sensors, like LiDAR, that inherently produce images with non-uniform pixel distribution – meaning some areas have more detail than others – by correcting this distortion *before* merging it with a standard, uniformly distributed camera image. This ensures accurate alignment and a consistent data representation across the entire wide field of view.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover combining images where both sensors already have a linear or uniform pixel distribution.
- Does not cover systems that combine images without first correcting the non-linear pixel distribution of one sensor.
- Does not cover systems that only use a single sensor to generate a composite image.
- Does not cover combining images where neither the first nor the second image is a depth map.
- Does not cover combining images from two sensors that do not have at least one common field of view.
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
Early stage
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
12/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
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
$88K – $281K
Midpoint $176K · 15.6 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
18 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
BARIBAULT, R., & Olivier, P. (2023). How to Combine Wide-Angle LiDAR Depth with Standard Camera Images (U.S. Patent No. 11,543,533). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11543533/systems-and-methods-for-wide-angle-lidar-using-non-uniform-magnification-optics
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Combine Wide-Angle LiDAR Depth with Standard Camera Images cover?
This patent describes a method for combining a wide-angle depth map from a LiDAR sensor, which has unevenly spaced pixels, with a standard camera image by first correcting the depth map's pixel distribution and then merging the two for a complete view.
Who owns patent US 11543533?
Leddartech owns this patent, granted in 2023.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on March 28, 2042, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11543533 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is important for applications like autonomous driving and robotics, where understanding the environment in 3D is critical. By effectively combining wide-angle depth information from LiDAR with high-resolution color data from cameras, systems can gain a more complete and accurate perception of their surroundings. This allows for better object detection, tracking, and navigation, especially in complex and dynamic environments requiring wide fields of view.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover combining images where both sensors already have a linear or uniform pixel distribution.
Patent monitoring