Lidar System for Spotting Retro-Reflective Objects
This patent describes a lidar system that uses a special signal processing technique to identify objects that reflect light directly back to its source, like road signs or safety vests.
Original patent title: “Hyper temporal lidar using multiple matched filters to determine target retro-reflectivity”
This patent describes a lidar system that uses a special signal processing technique to identify objects that reflect light directly back to its source, like road signs or safety vests. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent details a lidar system comprising a photodetector circuit and a signal processing circuit. The photodetector senses incident light, and the signal processing circuit then analyzes the reflection of a laser pulse from a target. Crucially, the signal processing circuit includes a 'matched filter' specifically designed for 'retro-reflective targets'. This filter is tuned to recognize a reflected pulse shape that shows 'vertical clipping' compared to the original transmitted pulse. This 'vertical clipping' is a unique characteristic of retro-reflective materials. By detecting this specific clipped pulse shape, the system determines if the target is retro-reflective. For example, an autonomous car's lidar could use this to reliably identify a distant road sign.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Lidar systems that only measure distance to objects without specifically identifying their retro-reflective properties.
- Methods for detecting retro-reflective targets that do not rely on analyzing the 'vertical clipping' of the reflected laser pulse.
- Systems that identify retro-reflectors using techniques other than a 'matched filter' tuned to a clipped pulse shape.
- Lidar systems primarily designed for identifying non-retro-reflective objects, such as plain walls or vehicles without special reflectors.
- General object detection or classification in lidar data that does not involve the specific retro-reflectivity analysis.
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 recognizing that retro-reflective targets produce a distinct 'vertical clipping' in the reflected laser pulse shape and then designing a 'matched filter' specifically to detect this unique signature. This allows the lidar system to not just see an object, but to understand a specific optical property of that object.
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
Road signs
Safety vests
Bicycle reflectors
Autonomous vehicle perception systems
Industrial robotics for object identification
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Accurately identifying retro-reflective objects is crucial for safety and navigation in many applications, especially for autonomous vehicles. These objects, such as road signs, lane markers, and safety vests, are designed to be highly visible. A lidar system that can reliably distinguish them from other objects, even in complex environments, can significantly improve the performance and safety of self-driving cars and other robotic systems.
Filed
November 12, 2021
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies developing advanced lidar sensors for autonomous vehicles, such as Luminar, Velodyne, and Innoviz, are constantly improving their systems' ability to classify objects. Industrial robotics companies and those in smart infrastructure development also utilize specialized lidar capabilities to enhance object recognition and safety.
Market impact
This technology improves the reliability of lidar systems in identifying critical safety features like road signs and personnel with safety gear. This enhancement can lead to more robust perception systems for autonomous vehicles and industrial robots, potentially accelerating their adoption and improving safety standards in various applications.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent details a lidar system comprising a photodetector circuit and a signal processing circuit. The photodetector senses incident light, and the signal processing circuit then analyzes the reflection of a laser pulse from a target. Crucially, the signal processing circuit includes a 'matched filter' specifically designed for 'retro-reflective targets'. This filter is tuned to recognize a reflected pulse shape that shows 'vertical clipping' compared to the original transmitted pulse. This 'vertical clipping' is a unique characteristic of retro-reflective materials. By detecting this specific clipped pulse shape, the system determines if the target is retro-reflective. For example, an autonomous car's lidar could use this to reliably identify a distant road sign.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in recognizing that retro-reflective targets produce a distinct 'vertical clipping' in the reflected laser pulse shape and then designing a 'matched filter' specifically to detect this unique signature. This allows the lidar system to not just see an object, but to understand a specific optical property of that object.
What it does not cover
- Lidar systems that only measure distance to objects without specifically identifying their retro-reflective properties.
- Methods for detecting retro-reflective targets that do not rely on analyzing the 'vertical clipping' of the reflected laser pulse.
- Systems that identify retro-reflectors using techniques other than a 'matched filter' tuned to a clipped pulse shape.
- Lidar systems primarily designed for identifying non-retro-reflective objects, such as plain walls or vehicles without special reflectors.
- General object detection or classification in lidar data that does not involve the specific retro-reflectivity analysis.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow 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
$18K – $58K
Midpoint $36K · 15.1 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
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Lidar System for Spotting Retro-Reflective Objects (U.S. Patent No. 12,736,637). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12736637/hyper-temporal-lidar-using-multiple-matched-filters-to-determine-target
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 Lidar System for Spotting Retro-Reflective Objects cover?
This patent describes a lidar system that uses a special signal processing technique to identify objects that reflect light directly back to its source, like road signs or safety vests.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Accurately identifying retro-reflective objects is crucial for safety and navigation in many applications, especially for autonomous vehicles. These objects, such as road signs, lane markers, and safety vests, are designed to be highly visible. A lidar system that can reliably distinguish them from other objects, even in complex environments, can significantly improve the performance and safety of self-driving cars and other robotic systems.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Lidar systems that only measure distance to objects without specifically identifying their retro-reflective properties.
Patent monitoring