How a Smart LIDAR System Adapts to Noise for Better Distance Sensing
This patent describes a LIDAR system that uses multiple lasers and detectors, and intelligently adjusts the electrical settings of specific detectors to reduce noise and improve distance measurements in different lighting conditions.
Original patent title: “Noise Adaptive Solid-State LIDAR System”
This patent describes a LIDAR system that uses multiple lasers and detectors, and intelligently adjusts the electrical settings of specific detectors to reduce noise and improve distance measurements in different lighting conditions. Owned by Opsys Tech with 16 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2043.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This LIDAR system works by having several lasers that can each light up a specific area (claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 41a). A controller decides which of these lasers to fire, creating light in a 'desired illumination region' (claim 41b). An optical receiver, with many detectors, is positioned to catch the light returning from this illuminated area (claim 41c). The system then measures how long the light took to travel (time-of-flight) to calculate distances. The clever part is that a receiver controller adjusts the electrical 'bias point' of specific detectors or groups of detectors (sub-arrays) based on which area is being illuminated (claim 41d). For example, if a specific area is very bright due to sunlight, the system can adjust the detectors looking at that area to reduce the impact of that background light, improving accuracy.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover LIDAR systems that use only a single laser or a single detector.
- Does not cover LIDAR systems where the detector's electrical settings (bias point) are fixed and not adaptively changed based on the illuminated region.
- Does not cover LIDAR systems that rely on mechanical scanning mirrors to steer a single laser beam, as this patent describes a system with a 'plurality of lasers' and 'solid-state' in its description.
- Does not cover systems that do not measure range information from time-of-flight measurements.
- Does not cover systems where the transmitter controller does not selectively pulse desired lasers to generate light in a specific region.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The truly novel aspect is the adaptive biasing of specific detectors or detector sub-arrays. The system dynamically adjusts the electrical settings of the light sensors based on which part of the scene is currently being illuminated, allowing it to optimize signal detection and minimize noise for that particular region.
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
Industrial automation and safety systems
Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS)
Drone-based mapping and surveying
Why it matters
The bigger picture
LIDAR technology is crucial for applications like self-driving cars, robotics, and advanced mapping, as it provides precise 3D information about the environment. This patent addresses a key challenge in LIDAR: dealing with varying light conditions and background noise. By adaptively adjusting detector sensitivity, the system can maintain accuracy in diverse environments, from bright daylight to low light, making it more reliable for safety-critical applications.
Filed
October 17, 2023
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Opsys Tech Ltd, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is actively developing and commercializing solid-state LIDAR systems. Other companies in the LIDAR space, such as Luminar, Aeva, and Waymo, are also investing heavily in advanced LIDAR technologies, often focusing on improving performance in challenging conditions and reducing system complexity and cost.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the ongoing evolution of LIDAR technology, particularly in the solid-state domain. By enabling more robust and accurate distance sensing in varied environmental conditions, it helps to overcome a significant hurdle for widespread adoption in autonomous vehicles and other critical applications. This could lead to more reliable and safer autonomous systems, potentially accelerating their market penetration and creating demand for advanced, adaptive LIDAR solutions.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This LIDAR system works by having several lasers that can each light up a specific area (claim 41a). A controller decides which of these lasers to fire, creating light in a 'desired illumination region' (claim 41b). An optical receiver, with many detectors, is positioned to catch the light returning from this illuminated area (claim 41c). The system then measures how long the light took to travel (time-of-flight) to calculate distances. The clever part is that a receiver controller adjusts the electrical 'bias point' of specific detectors or groups of detectors (sub-arrays) based on which area is being illuminated (claim 41d). For example, if a specific area is very bright due to sunlight, the system can adjust the detectors looking at that area to reduce the impact of that background light, improving accuracy.
The clever bit
The truly novel aspect is the adaptive biasing of specific detectors or detector sub-arrays. The system dynamically adjusts the electrical settings of the light sensors based on which part of the scene is currently being illuminated, allowing it to optimize signal detection and minimize noise for that particular region.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover LIDAR systems that use only a single laser or a single detector.
- Does not cover LIDAR systems where the detector's electrical settings (bias point) are fixed and not adaptively changed based on the illuminated region.
- Does not cover LIDAR systems that rely on mechanical scanning mirrors to steer a single laser beam, as this patent describes a system with a 'plurality of lasers' and 'solid-state' in its description.
- Does not cover systems that do not measure range information from time-of-flight measurements.
- Does not cover systems where the transmitter controller does not selectively pulse desired lasers to generate light in a specific region.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
11/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 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
$59K – $187K
Midpoint $117K · 17.0 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
16 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Donovan, M. J. How a Smart LIDAR System Adapts to Noise for Better Distance Sensing (U.S. Patent No. 20,240,045,038). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20240045038/noise-adaptive-solid-state-lidar-system
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 a Smart LIDAR System Adapts to Noise for Better Distance Sensing cover?
This patent describes a LIDAR system that uses multiple lasers and detectors, and intelligently adjusts the electrical settings of specific detectors to reduce noise and improve distance measurements in different lighting conditions.
Who owns patent US 20240045038?
This patent is owned by Opsys Tech.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on October 17, 2043, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 20240045038 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
LIDAR technology is crucial for applications like self-driving cars, robotics, and advanced mapping, as it provides precise 3D information about the environment. This patent addresses a key challenge in LIDAR: dealing with varying light conditions and background noise. By adaptively adjusting detector sensitivity, the system can maintain accuracy in diverse environments, from bright daylight to low light, making it more reliable for safety-critical applications.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover LIDAR systems that use only a single laser or a single detector.
Patent monitoring