초록 ▼

Methods, devices, and systems that may help improve the dynamic range of a signal receiver. The method includes (i) causing a signal emitter to emit a signal during a first period of time; (ii) receiving, at the signal receiver, a reflected signal during a second period of time, where the received r

Methods, devices, and systems that may help improve the dynamic range of a signal receiver. The method includes (i) causing a signal emitter to emit a signal during a first period of time; (ii) receiving, at the signal receiver, a reflected signal during a second period of time, where the received reflected signal corresponds to the emitted signal, and where the second period of time begins after a beginning of the first period of time; and (iii) increasing a signal gain that is applied to the received reflected signal during a third period of time, where the third period of time begins not earlier than a beginning of the second period of time.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method comprising: causing a signal emitter to emit a signal during a first period of time;receiving, at a signal receiver comprising a photodiode, a reflected signal during a second period of time, wherein the received reflected signal corresponds to the emitted signal, and wherein the second

1. A method comprising: causing a signal emitter to emit a signal during a first period of time;receiving, at a signal receiver comprising a photodiode, a reflected signal during a second period of time, wherein the received reflected signal corresponds to the emitted signal, and wherein the second period of time begins after a beginning of the first period of time; andincreasing a signal gain that is applied to the received reflected signal during a third period of time, wherein increasing the signal gain comprises increasing an operating voltage of the photodiode according to a predefined function of time, and wherein the third period of time begins not earlier than a beginning of the second period of time. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the emitted signal is a laser signal. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein a wavelength of the emitted laser signal is one of 905 nanometers and 1550 nanometers. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first period of time is one of 3 nanoseconds and 5 nanoseconds. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal receiver comprises a photodiode. 6. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising: increasing the operating voltage of the photodiode before the beginning of the third period of time. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein increasing the signal gain comprises increasing the signal gain substantially linearly during the third period of time. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein increasing the signal gain comprises increasing the signal gain non-linearly during the third period of time. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein increasing the signal gain comprises increasing the signal gain as a function of the amount of time elapsed since the beginning of at least one of the first period of time, the second period of time, and the third period of time. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein increasing the signal gain comprises increasing the signal gain based on at least one of a time of day, an ambient temperature, and an amount of ambient light. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the third period of time begins at the same time the second period of time begins. 12. A light-detection and ranging (LIDAR) device, comprising: at least one laser source, wherein the at least one laser source is configured to emit a laser signal in a defined wavelength range during a first period of time;at least one signal receiver comprising a photodiode, wherein the at least one signal receiver is configured to receive a light signal having wavelengths in the defined wavelength range during a second period of time, wherein the second period of time begins after a beginning of the first period of time; anda signal amplifier configured to increase a signal gain that is applied to the light signal received by the at least one signal receiver during a third period of time, wherein the signal gain is increased by at least increasing an operating voltage of the photodiode according to a predefined function of time, and wherein the third period of time begins not earlier than a beginning of the second period of time. 13. The LIDAR device of claim 12, wherein the at least one laser source comprises at least one laser diode. 14. The LIDAR device of claim 12, wherein the defined wavelength range includes a wavelength of 905 nanometers, and wherein the first period of time is 5 nanoseconds. 15. The LIDAR device of claim 12, wherein the defined wavelength range includes a wavelength of 1550 nanometers, and wherein the first period of time is 3 nanoseconds. 16. The LIDAR device of claim 12, further including an output, wherein the output is coupled to an autonomous vehicle, such that the output passes a signal to the autonomous vehicle, wherein the signal is associated with the light signal received by the at least one signal receiver.