Flash Lidar with FOV Expansion

Case ID:
UA23-016
Invention:

This technology is a method of capturing high-resolution images in laser, imaging, detection and ranging (LIDAR) with a 10x increase in field of view using Digital Micromirror Devices (DMDs) and 2D array detectors such as Multi-Pixel Photon Counters (MPPC). It utilizes the receiver field of view expansion technique, which was achieved by diffractively redirecting light to the sensor with synchronized DMDs and 2-dimensional arrayed detectors. 

Background: 
Due to the critical safety concerns surrounding the automotive industry push toward autonomous driving, new innovations are needed in areas such as pedestrian detection and avoidance, lane departure warning and correction, traffic sign recognition, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot detection. These lifesaving systems are key to the success of advance driving assistance systems (ADAS) and rely on future enhancements to the latest interface standards in order to run multiple vision-based algorithms to support real-time multimedia, vision coprocessing and sensor fusion subsystems.

This technology helps enhance the capabilities of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems by making them faster and more reactive, more efficient, and more capable by increasing the field of view and decreasing the relay time.  This invention also has the potential to provide needed technological advancements in the field of aviation, specifically autonomous aircraft operations and possibly aircraft defense systems.

Applications: 

  • Automotive industry
  • Autonomous driving technologies
  • Aerospace industry
  • Defense aerospace


Advantages: 

  • Increased field of view
  • Faster
  • Increased efficiency
Patent Information:
Contact For More Information:
Richard Weite
Senior Licensing Manager, College of Optical Sciences
The University of Arizona
RichardW@tla.arizona.edu
Lead Inventor(s):
Yuzuru Takashima
Jeff Ching-Wen Chan
Xianyue Deng
Keywords: