阅读说明：本技术 激光雷达的探测方法、计算机可读存储介质和激光雷达 (Laser radar detection method, computer readable storage medium and laser radar ) 是由 王超 于 2020-12-31 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种激光雷达(100)的探测方法、计算机可读存储介质和激光雷达(100)。探测单元(11)的探测窗口时间包括多个积分周期,激光雷达(100)的探测方法包括：每个积分周期对应选择第一阈值集合中的任意一个光子数阈值,其中,第一阈值集合中包括至少两个光子数阈值；探测单元(11)在一个积分周期内接收的光子数大于积分周期对应的光子数阈值时,探测单元(11)响应并输出一个采样信号；将探测窗口时间内的采样信号进行融合,得到探测信号(103)；其中,探测窗口时间内至少有两个所述积分周期对应的所述光子数阈值不同。可以实现对不同反射率的物体进行分别探测。(A detection method of a lidar (100), a computer-readable storage medium, and a lidar (100). The detection window time of the detection unit (11) comprises a plurality of integration periods, and the detection method of the laser radar (100) comprises the following steps: correspondingly selecting any one photon number threshold value in a first threshold value set in each integration period, wherein the first threshold value set comprises at least two photon number threshold values; when the number of photons received by the detection unit (11) in an integration period is greater than a photon number threshold corresponding to the integration period, the detection unit (11) responds and outputs a sampling signal; fusing the sampling signals in the detection window time to obtain a detection signal (103); and the photon number threshold values corresponding to at least two integration periods in the detection window time are different. The object with different reflectivity can be detected respectively.)

1. A detection method of laser radar is characterized in that a detection window time comprises a plurality of integration periods;

selecting any one photon number threshold value in a first threshold value set correspondingly in each integration period, wherein the first threshold value set comprises at least two photon number threshold values;

when the number of photons received by the detection unit in one integration period is greater than the photon number threshold corresponding to the integration period, the detection unit responds and outputs a sampling signal;

fusing the sampling signals in the detection window time to obtain detection signals;

wherein the photon number thresholds corresponding to at least two of the integration periods within the detection window time are different.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said detection window time comprises M of said integration periods, said first set of thresholds comprising a of said photon number thresholds, wherein M and a are both positive integers, a ≦ M;

each integration period correspondingly selects any one photon number threshold in the first threshold set, and the method comprises the following steps:

and the M integration periods traverse A photon number threshold values in the first threshold value set at least once, and the photon number threshold value corresponding to each integration period is selected.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the photon number thresholds in the first set of thresholds are arranged in an increasing or decreasing order.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a-M, a first one of said integration periods of said detection window time corresponds to a first one of said photon-count thresholds of said first set of thresholds being selected.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein after said detecting unit responds and outputs a sampling signal when the number of photons received by said detecting unit during one of said integration periods is greater than said photon number threshold corresponding to said integration period, further comprising:

judging whether the response time of the sampling signal is within a preset time range Delta T of the corresponding integration period;

if yes, determining that the sampling signal is credible and continuously transmitting backwards;

and if not, deleting the sampling signal.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said determining whether the response time of said sampled signal is within a corresponding preset time range Δ T of said integration period; if yes, determining that the sampling signal is credible and continuously transmitting backwards; if not, after deleting the sampling signal, the method further comprises the following steps:

judging whether the number of the sampling signals reserved in the detection window time is larger than a second threshold value or not;

and if so, determining that the sampling signal in the detection window time is credible and continuously transmitting backwards.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein after said detecting unit responds and outputs a sampling signal when the number of photons received by said detecting unit during one of said integration periods is greater than said photon number threshold corresponding to said integration period, further comprising:

judging the starting time T of the preset time range Delta T in the integration period₀Whether the number of photons received by the detection unit is less than a third photon number threshold value in a previous time period;

if yes, determining that the sampling signal is credible and continuously transmitting backwards;

and if not, deleting the sampling signal.

8. The method according to any one of claims 3-7, wherein said fusing said sampled signals within said detection window time to obtain a detection signal comprises:

the ith integration period of the detection window time outputs the ith sampling signal, and the jth integration period adjacent to the ith integration period outputs the jth sampling signal; the photon number threshold corresponding to the ith integration period is larger than the photon number threshold corresponding to the jth integration period; wherein i is more than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to M, and j is more than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to M;

removing the same information as the ith sampling signal from the jth sampling signal to obtain a jth processing signal;

and fusing all the processing signals in the detection window time to obtain the detection signals.

9. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that it stores a plurality of instructions adapted to be loaded by a processor and to perform the method steps according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A lidar comprising a transmit system and a receive system;

the emitting system is used for emitting emergent laser;

the receiving system for performing the method steps of any of claims 1-8.

Technical Field

The embodiment of the invention relates to the technical field of radars, in particular to a laser radar detection method, a computer readable storage medium and a laser radar.

Background

The laser radar is a radar system which uses laser to detect characteristic quantities such as the position, the speed and the like of a target object, and the working principle of the radar system is that a transmitting system firstly transmits emergent laser for detection to the target, then a receiving system receives echo laser reflected from the target object, and after the received echo laser is processed, relevant information of the target object, such as parameters such as distance, direction, height, speed, attitude, even shape and the like, can be obtained.

The receiving system can receive the echo laser through the detection array. The detection array is usually formed by arranging a plurality of detectors in an array. The receiving field angle of the detection array is large and is easily influenced by interference light, so that weak echo laser cannot effectively respond, and the detection dynamic range of the laser radar is influenced. This is a problem that needs to be solved at present.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the foregoing defects in the prior art, embodiments of the present invention mainly aim to provide a detection method for a laser radar, a computer-readable storage medium, and a laser radar, which solve the problem of how to improve the dynamic range of a receiving system in the prior art.

The invention provides a detection method of a laser radar, wherein detection window time comprises a plurality of integration periods;

selecting any one photon number threshold value in a first threshold value set correspondingly in each integration period, wherein the first threshold value set comprises at least two photon number threshold values;

when the number of photons received by the detection unit in one integration period is greater than the photon number threshold corresponding to the integration period, the detection unit responds and outputs a sampling signal;

fusing the sampling signals in the detection window time to obtain detection signals;

wherein the photon number thresholds corresponding to at least two of the integration periods within the detection window time are different.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a plurality of instructions adapted to be loaded by a processor and execute the method steps as described above.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a laser radar, where the laser radar includes:

a detection array comprising a plurality of detection units for receiving echo laser light;

a processing unit for performing the method steps as described above.

The embodiment of the invention has the beneficial effects that: according to the embodiment of the invention, different photon number threshold values are selected for at least two integration periods in the detection window time, and when the photon number received by the detection unit is greater than the photon number threshold value corresponding to the integration period, the detection unit responds and outputs the sampling signal. In an integration period with a larger photon number threshold, the detection unit can respond only by receiving more photon numbers, and the integration period can correspondingly receive the echo laser of the high-reflectivity object; correspondingly, in the integration period with the smaller photon number threshold, the detection unit can respond only by receiving less photon numbers, and the integration period can correspondingly receive the echo laser of the object with the larger reflectivity range. Because the photon number thresholds corresponding to at least two integration periods in a detection window time are different, the detection unit can receive and respond to the echo laser of objects with different reflectivity, and the detection dynamic range of a receiving system of the laser radar is improved.

Drawings

One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, which correspond to the figures in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and which are not to scale unless otherwise specified.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a lidar provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a detection method of a lidar according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of step 203 of a detection method for a lidar according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a detection method for a lidar according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a detection method for a lidar according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a flowchart of a detection method of a lidar according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The reference numbers in the detailed description are as follows:

laser radar 100, detection array 10, detection unit 11, processing unit 20.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following examples are only for illustrating the technical solutions of the present invention more clearly, and therefore are only examples, and the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereby.

It is to be noted that, unless otherwise specified, technical or scientific terms used herein shall have the ordinary meaning as understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs.

In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," "circumferential," and the like are used in an orientation or positional relationship indicated in the drawings for convenience in describing the present invention and to simplify the description, and do not indicate or imply that the referenced device or element must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus should not be considered limiting of the present invention.

Furthermore, the terms "first", "second", etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. In the description of the present invention, "plurality" or "a plurality" means two or more (including two) unless otherwise specifically limited.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "secured," and the like are to be construed broadly and can, for example, be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally formed; can be mechanically or electrically connected; either directly or indirectly through intervening media, either internally or in any other relationship. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, the first feature "on" or "under" the second feature may be directly contacting the first and second features or indirectly contacting the first and second features through an intermediate. Also, a first feature "on," "over," and "above" a second feature may be directly or diagonally above the second feature, or may simply indicate that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "under," "below," and "beneath" a second feature may be directly under or obliquely under the first feature, or may simply mean that the first feature is at a lesser elevation than the second feature.

The laser radar comprises a transmitting system and a receiving system, wherein the transmitting system is used for transmitting emergent laser, and the receiving system is used for receiving echo laser and outputting echo time; the receiving system comprises a detection unit, a receiving unit and a processing unit, wherein the detection unit is used for receiving echo laser and outputting a detection signal; and a processing unit of the receiving system samples and analyzes the detection signal to obtain echo time. The detection window time of the laser radar comprises a plurality of integration periods, and each integration period transmits outgoing laser once and receives echo laser corresponding to the outgoing laser to finish one-time detection.

The detection unit may be in the form of an array formed by arranging receivers, such as an APD (avalanche photodiode) array, a SiPM (silicon photomultiplier) array, and the like. Existing receivers are extremely sensitive to photons, especially SiPM arrays based on SPAD (Single-photon avalanche diode). The problems of crosstalk and dark count rate of SiPM arrays are significant and susceptible to ambient light. In order to reduce the false alarm rate caused by noise, the threshold value of the number of received photons of the SiPM array needs to be increased; however, the high photon number threshold value causes that the echo laser of the low-reflectivity object cannot be effectively received; it is difficult to compromise between high dynamic range and low false alarm rate.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a receiving system of a lidar according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 1, an embodiment of the invention provides a laser radar 100, which includes a detection array 10 and a processing unit 20. The detection array 10 includes a plurality of detection units 11, the detection units 11 are configured to receive the echo laser light and output a sampling signal, and the processing unit 20 is configured to process the sampling signal.

The detection array 10 may be an SiPM array having p × q individually controllable and outputtable pixels, p and q being integers greater than or equal to 1; each pixel comprises several SPADs, e.g. each pixel comprises a x b SPADs. Each pixel of the detection array 10 may be a detection unit that independently receives the echo laser light. The detection array 10 may also receive echo laser light in rows or columns. If the echo laser light is received in columns, each column of pixels forms a detection unit. In addition, each column of pixels can be controlled to operate in sequence, namely the detection units are connected in series, crosstalk between adjacent columns is reduced, and power consumption is reduced. This is also true for the reception of the echo laser light in rows, each row of pixels forming a detection unit. In addition, the detection array 10 may also divide the pixels non-uniformly according to the detection requirement, for example, several connected pixels may be connected into a whole and controlled uniformly, and then several pixels connected into a whole may be regarded as a detection unit. The more SPAD quantity of each pixel is, the more favorable the sufficient dynamic range is for resisting noise interference; the size of SiPM arrays is limited, however, by the chip size and semiconductor process.

The detection method of laser radar 100 will be described in detail below. Fig. 2 is a flowchart of a detection method of a laser radar according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the method includes the following steps:

step 101: and correspondingly selecting any one photon number threshold value in a first threshold value set in each integration period, wherein the first threshold value set comprises at least two photon number threshold values, and the photon number threshold values corresponding to at least two integration periods in the detection window time are different.

In an environment with strong background light, a detection unit of the laser radar based on the SiPM array is easily interfered by the ambient light, and effective detection can hardly be realized by relying on a single pulse. Therefore, in the embodiment of the invention, the detection window time of the laser radar comprises a plurality of integration periods, emergent laser is emitted once in each integration period, and echo laser corresponding to the emergent laser is received to obtain a sampling signal; fusing a plurality of sampling signals in a detection window time to obtain and output a frame of detection signals; and the detection probability is improved by utilizing a multi-time accumulation mode. The processing unit processes the sampling signal.

And selecting a corresponding photon number threshold value in each integration period, and responding and outputting a sampling signal by the detection unit when the number of the received photons by the detection unit is greater than the photon number threshold value corresponding to the current integration period. Under the same emission conditions, the echo laser corresponding to the high-reflectivity object is stronger, and the echo laser corresponding to the low-reflectivity object is weaker, that is, the number of photons returned by the high-reflectivity object after reflection is more, and the number of photons returned by the low-reflectivity object after reflection is less. If the detection unit sets the same photon number threshold as the condition for responding to the echo laser, the echo laser of the low-reflectivity object cannot be effectively received, and detection omission is caused. Compared with the method adopting the same photon number threshold, the method has the advantages that the photon number thresholds corresponding to at least two integration periods in the detection window time are different, the echo lasers of more objects with different reflectivity can be received, and the detection dynamic range is improved.

Illustratively, the first set of thresholds includes a photon number threshold A₁And A₂And A is₁＞A₂Then the photon number threshold A₁The corresponding integral period response has a large photon number and a photon number threshold A₂The number of photons to which the corresponding integration period responds is small. In the detection process of the laser radar, the photon number threshold value A₁The corresponding integration period can detect the reflectivity range (R)₂～R₃) The object of (1); threshold value of photon number A₂Correspond toCan detect a larger reflectivity range (R)₁～R₃) Compared to a photon number threshold A₁Range of object reflectivity (R) that can only be detected₂～R₃) Increase the range of the reflectivity (R)₁～R₂) The object detection of (1). Wherein R is₁＜R₂＜R₃。

In some embodiments, the photon number threshold corresponding to each integration period within the detection window time may be different, so that each integration period may implement detection of objects with different reflectivity ranges. Illustratively, the detection window time includes 3 integration periods, and the photon count threshold values for the 3 integration periods are 12, 9, and 4, respectively. The integral period with the photon number threshold value of 12 is adopted, and the range of the object reflectivity which can be detected by the detection unit is 80-130%; the integral period with the photon number threshold value of 9 is adopted, and the range of the object reflectivity which can be detected by the detection unit is 30-130%; when the photon number threshold value is 4, the reflectivity range of the detectable object is 5% -130%; the reflectivity range of the detectable object is finally realized to be 5% -130%. In some embodiments, the photon number thresholds corresponding to the integration periods within the detection window time may be at least two different, such that at least two integration periods may detect objects with different reflectivity ranges. Taking the above embodiment as an example, the detection window time includes 3 integration periods, and the photon number thresholds corresponding to the 3 integration periods are 12, 9, and 9, respectively; the reflectivity of the final detectable object ranges from 30% to 130%. The photon number threshold can also be determined according to the reflectivity of the object to be detected in the integration period, and the required photon number threshold is different for the objects with different reflectivities.

Step 102: when the number of photons received by the detection unit in an integration period is larger than the photon number threshold corresponding to the integration period, the detection unit responds and outputs a sampling signal.

The receiver is extremely sensitive to photons, especially SiPM arrays based on the SPAD principle. Ideally, the SPAD of the detection array receives one photon, and can respond and output an induced current. Thus, noise photons in the environment will frequently trigger pixel response, resulting in a too high false alarm rate for the detection array. Therefore, a photon number threshold is usually set, and the detection unit responds and outputs the sampling signal when the number of photons received in the integration period is greater than the photon number threshold. By improving the photon number threshold of the detection unit, the false alarm rate caused by noise photons can be reduced; however, the photon number threshold is too high, which may cause the detection unit to miss detection of normal echo laser. Therefore, the threshold value of the number of photons of the detection unit is chosen in a trade-off manner.

Illustratively, the threshold value of the number of photons in the integration period is 12, and if the number of photons received by the detection unit in the integration period is greater than or equal to 12, the detection unit will respond and output a sampling signal; if the number of photons received by the detection unit during the integration period is less than 12, the detection unit will not respond and will not output a sampling signal.

Step 103: and fusing the sampling signals in the detection window time to obtain a detection signal.

In the step, all sampling signals output in the detection window time are fused to obtain a complete detection signal of one frame of the detection window time, and a frame of point cloud image can be obtained according to the detection signal. As mentioned above, the photon number thresholds corresponding to at least two integration periods within the detection window time are different, and the echo laser of more objects with different reflectivities can be received; the former integration period with high photon number threshold can only detect the echo laser of the object with higher reflectivity, while the latter integration period with low photon number threshold can detect the echo laser of the object with higher and lower reflectivity simultaneously, but the echo laser detected in the latter integration period can not distinguish which echo laser of the object with higher reflectivity and the echo laser of the object with lower reflectivity are respectively. Therefore, part of signals of the object with higher reflectivity in the sampling signals corresponding to the next integration period are filtered out, and part of signals of the object with lower reflectivity are obtained; namely, the sampling signal of the previous integration period is filtered from the sampling signal of the next integration period, and then the partial signal of the low-reflectivity object can be obtained. After each sampling signal is subjected to filtering processing, a plurality of non-repeated signals in different reflectivity ranges are obtained; and obtaining a complete detection signal of a frame after fusion.

Taking the foregoing embodiment as an example, the first threshold set includes a photon number threshold a₁And A₂And A is₁＞A₂Threshold value of photon number A₁The first sampling signal output by the corresponding first integration period can be analyzed to obtain the reflectivity range (R)₂～R₃) The object of (1); threshold value of photon number A₂The second sampling signal output by the corresponding second integration period can be analyzed to obtain a larger reflectivity range (R)₁～R₃) But the reflectivity range (R)₁～R₂) And a reflectance range (R)₂～R₃) The corresponding sampled signals are mixed together and cannot be distinguished. Wherein R is₁＜R₂＜R₃. The second sampling signal filters the first sampling signal, and the obtained partial sampling signal can be analyzed to obtain a reflectivity range (R)₁～R₂) The object of (1); the first sampling signal and the part of the sampling signals are fused to obtain a reflectivity range (R)₁～R₂) Signal and reflectivity range (R)₂～R₃) Of the signal of (1).

It is understood that the number of output sampling signals in a detection window time is not necessarily equal to the number of integration periods in the detection window time, and if there are integration periods in the detection window time during which no sampling signal is output, the number of output sampling signals in the detection window time will be less than the number of integration periods in the detection window time.

According to the embodiment of the invention, different photon number threshold values are selected for at least two integration periods in the detection window time, and when the photon number received by the detection unit is greater than the photon number threshold value corresponding to the integration period, the detection unit responds and outputs the sampling signal. In an integration period with a larger photon number threshold, the detection unit can respond only by receiving more photon numbers, and the integration period can correspondingly receive the echo laser of the high-reflectivity object; correspondingly, in the integration period with the smaller photon number threshold, the detection unit can respond only by receiving less photon numbers, and the integration period can correspondingly receive the echo laser of the object with the larger reflectivity range. Because the photon number thresholds corresponding to at least two integration periods in a detection window time are different, the detection unit can receive and respond to the echo laser of objects with different reflectivity, and the detection dynamic range of a receiving system of the laser radar is improved.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for detecting a laser radar, including the steps of:

step 201: selecting any one photon number threshold value in the first threshold value set correspondingly in each integration period; the first threshold set comprises at least two photon number thresholds, and the photon number thresholds corresponding to at least two integration periods in the detection window time are different.

Step 201 is similar in principle logic to step 101.

In some embodiments, the detection window time comprises M integration periods and the first set of thresholds comprises a photon number thresholds, wherein M and a are both positive integers. The photon number threshold in the first set of thresholds is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1. For example, taking one pixel as an example of one detection unit, each pixel includes a × b SPADs, where a ═ 4 and b ═ 4, and theoretically, the photon number threshold may range from 1 to 16 (i.e., a ═ 16), and then the photon number thresholds 1 to 16 may be selected to form the first threshold set. The number of integration periods included in the detection window time is determined according to the system performance of the laser radar, such as the ranging distance, the hardware operation rate and the like. Illustratively, the detection window time includes 3 integration periods, i.e., M-3. A may be greater than M or less than or equal to M.

And traversing the A photon number threshold values in the first threshold value set for at least one time by the M integration periods, and selecting the photon number threshold value corresponding to each integration period.

When A > M, each integration period selects a different photon number threshold from a first set of thresholds in which (A-M) unselected photon number thresholds will remain. Illustratively, the first threshold set is {2,4,7,9,12}, a is 5, the detection window time includes 3 integration periods, and M is 3. Selecting 3 different photon number threshold values, 4,9 and 12, from the first threshold value set as photon number threshold values of different integration periods in 3 integration periods of the first detection window time; then 2 unselected photon count thresholds, 2 and 7, remain. The 3 integration periods of the second detection window time may select the same 3 photon count thresholds as the first detection window, 4,9,12, the remaining 2 and 7 as redundancy. The 3 integration periods of the second detection window time may also select photon number thresholds that are not exactly the same as the first detection window, e.g. 2,4,7, which facilitates detection of different reflectivity ranges at different detection window times, but also increases the complexity of the fusion of the sampled signals.

When A is M, the number of integration periods of the detection window time is the same as the number of photon number threshold values of the first threshold value set, each integration period corresponds to one photon number threshold value, and A photon number threshold values in the first threshold value set are traversed. Illustratively, the first threshold set is {4,9,12}, a is 3, the detection window time includes 3 integration periods, M is 3, and the 3 integration periods of the detection window time correspondingly select 4,9,12 from the first threshold set as the photon number threshold. And each detection window traverses all photon threshold values in the first threshold value set once, so that the detection reflectivity range can be fixedly expanded, and the system is relatively simple to set.

When a < M, the number of integration periods of the detection window time is greater than the number of photon number thresholds of the first set of thresholds, then at least part of the integration periods will select the same photon number threshold. For simplicity, M integration periods of the detection window time traverse a photon number threshold values a in the first threshold value set multiple times, that is, a integration periods sequentially and respectively select corresponding a photon number threshold values, traverse the first threshold value set once, and continue traversing the first threshold value set for the second time or more times for the integration periods of the remaining (M-a) unselected photon number threshold values until each integration period has selected the corresponding photon number threshold value. Illustratively, the first threshold set is {4,9}, a is 2, the detection window time includes 4 integration periods, and M is 4; the photon number threshold values selected in the first 2 integration periods are 4 and 9 of the first threshold value set, the first threshold value set is traversed for one time, and the photon number threshold values which are not selected in the last 2 integration periods are remained; and traversing the first threshold value set once again, wherein the photon number threshold values selected in the next 2 integration periods are 4 and 9 of the first threshold value set.

In the above example, a is multiplied by M, where M is ═ xA (x is a positive integer), and in the above example, M is 2 × a, then it is necessary to traverse x times a photon number thresholds in the first threshold set in M integration periods, and each time the integration period is traversed, all photon number thresholds in the first threshold set are sequentially selected. A and M may not have a multiple relationship, for example, M ═ xA + y, where x and y are both positive integers, and y is smaller than a, then after M integration periods traverse x times of photon number thresholds of the first threshold value set, the photon number thresholds of y first threshold value sets are sequentially selected, and are used as photon number thresholds corresponding to the last remaining y integration periods. The photon number threshold value in the detection window time can be set according to the detection reflectivity range requirement, the receiving dynamic range of the detection unit is improved, and the system adaptability of the laser radar is improved.

In some embodiments, the photon number thresholds in the first set of thresholds may be arranged in an increasing or decreasing order. For example, the photon number threshold in the first set of thresholds comprises A₁、A₂And A₃，A₁＞A₂＞A₃. When the photon number thresholds are arranged in increasing order, the first threshold set is { A ═ A₃,A₂,A₁}; when the photon number threshold values are arranged in descending order, the first threshold value set is { A ═ A₁,A₂,A₃}. As mentioned above, the photon number threshold A₁The corresponding integration period can detect the reflectivity range (R)₃～R₄) The object of (1); threshold value of photon number A₂The corresponding integration period can detect a larger reflectivity range (R)₂～R₄) The object of (1); threshold value of photon number A₃The corresponding integration period can detect the maximum reflectivity range (R)₁～R₄) The object of (1); wherein R is₄＞R₃＞R₂＞R₁. Therefore, the photon number threshold values in the first threshold value set are arranged in a descending manner, and the range of the maximum reflectivity which can be detected by the corresponding integration period is gradually expanded; similarly, the photon number thresholds in the first threshold set are arranged in an increasing way, and the corresponding integration period can be detectedThe range of the maximum reflectivity is gradually reduced. The photon number threshold values are arranged in an increasing or decreasing sequence, the corresponding photon number threshold values are sequentially selected in the integration period, and after detection, fusion processing of subsequent sampling signals can be simplified, and the operation rate is improved.

Preferably, the number of integration periods of the detection window time is the same as the number of photon number threshold values of the first threshold set, and the first integration period of the detection window correspondingly selects the first photon number threshold value of the first threshold set. And so on, the second integration period of the detection window time correspondingly selects the second photon number threshold in the first threshold set until the mth integration period correspondingly selects the mth (M ═ a) photon number threshold in the first threshold set, and all the photon number thresholds are traversed once. The integration period of the detection window time corresponds to the photon number threshold combined with the first threshold one by one in sequence, so that the system design can be simplified, and the operation rate can be increased.

Step 202: when the number of photons received by the detection unit in an integration period is larger than the photon number threshold corresponding to the integration period, the detection unit responds and outputs a sampling signal.

Step 202 is similar to step 102 and will not be described herein.

Step 203: and fusing the sampling signals in the detection window time to obtain a detection signal.

Step 203 is similar in principle logic to step 103.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 3, step 203 further comprises:

step 2031: an ith sampling signal is output in an ith integration period of the detection window time, and a jth sampling signal is output in a jth integration period adjacent to the ith integration period; the photon number threshold corresponding to the ith integration period is larger than the photon number threshold corresponding to the jth integration period; wherein i is more than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to M, and j is more than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to M.

The photon number thresholds of the first set of thresholds are arranged in increasing or decreasing order. Describing by taking an example that the photon number threshold is arranged in a descending manner, in this case, j is i +1, and the photon number threshold corresponding to the ith integration period is larger than the photon number threshold corresponding to the jth integration period, so that the reflectivity range of the object detected in the jth integration period is larger than the reflectivity range of the object detected in the ith integration period; the reflectivity range of the object detected in the jth integration period can not only cover the reflectivity range of the object detected in the ith integration period, but also can further detect the object with lower reflectivity. Therefore, the j-th sampling signal includes information of the i-th sampling signal. The photon number thresholds of the first threshold set are arranged in increments, i is j +1, and the jth sampling signal includes information of the ith sampling signal, which is not described herein again.

Step 2032: and removing the same information as the ith sampling signal from the jth sampling signal to obtain a jth processing signal.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the j-th sampling signal includes information of the i-th sampling signal, and the part of information is repetition information; in order to obtain the echo signal of the object with lower reflectivity in the jth sampling signal and further resolve and identify the object with lower reflectivity, the information repeated with the ith sampling signal in the jth sampling signal is removed in the step, and a jth processing signal is obtained.

The integration period with the maximum photon number threshold value is the minimum detected reflectivity range, the sampled signal does not need to be subjected to de-duplication processing, and the sampled signal is directly output as a processed signal.

Step 2033: and fusing all the processing signals in the detection window time to obtain detection signals.

The processing signals without the repeated information do not include redundant information any more, each processing signal respectively represents the echo signal of an object in a certain section of the whole reflectivity range detected by the laser radar, and finally all the processing signals are fused to obtain a complete detection signal.

The above-mentioned embodiment of decreasing the photon number threshold is further explained as an example: m-4, the detection window time comprises 4 integration periods; the range of reflectivity detected for the first integration period is R₃～R₄The range of reflectivity detected during the second integration period is R₂～R₄The reflectivity range detected by the third integration period is R₁～R₄The reflectivity range detected by the fourth integration period is R₀～R₄Wherein R is₀＜R₁＜R₂＜R₃＜R₄. The photon number threshold corresponding to the first integration period is the maximum, and the first sampling signal is the first processing signal; removing the same information as the first sampling signal from the second sampling signal of the second integration period, wherein j is 2 and i is 1, to obtain a second processed signal, wherein the reflectivity range of the corresponding detected object is R₂～R₃(ii) a Similarly, the third integration period is j equal to 3 and i equal to 2, and a third processed signal is obtained after removal processing, and the reflectivity range of the corresponding detected object is R₁～R₂(ii) a The fourth integration period is j-4 and i-3, a fourth processing signal is obtained after removal processing, and the reflectivity range of the corresponding detected object is R₀～R₁。

Splicing and fusing the first processing signal to the fourth processing signal to obtain a coverage R₀～R₄The complete detection signal of the reflectivity range clearly distinguishes the echo signal of each reflectivity range, is favorable for resolving and identifying various objects with different reflectivities from the echo signal, and has a large receiving dynamic range.

According to the embodiment of the invention, different photon number threshold values are selected for at least two integration periods in the detection window time, and when the photon number received by the detection unit is greater than the photon number threshold value corresponding to the integration period, the detection unit responds and outputs the sampling signal. And traversing A photon number thresholds in the first threshold value set for at least one time in M integration periods, selecting the photon number threshold corresponding to each integration period, expanding the reflectivity range of detection, simplifying the system design, improving the receiving dynamic range of the detection unit and increasing the applicability of the system. The photon number threshold values in the first threshold value set are arranged according to an increasing or decreasing sequence, so that the fusion processing steps of the sampling signals are simplified, and the operation rate is increased.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a detection method of a lidar according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 4, after step 102, the following steps may be further included:

step 1021: and judging whether the response time of the sampling signal is within a preset time range Delta T of the corresponding integration period. If yes, go to step 1022, otherwise go to step 1023;

step 1022: determining that the sampling signal is credible and continuously transmitting backwards;

step 1023: the sampled signal is deleted.

When detecting, the noise signal brought by the ambient light has randomness, i.e. the time of occurrence of the noise signal in the integration period is random. Emitting laser in each integration period, and obtaining a sampling signal by receiving echo laser reflected by an object; the time interval between the transmitting time and the receiving time can be calculated to obtain the distance of the object, so that the time interval is linearly related to the distance of the object; since the acquisition of the transmission time is relatively simple and direct, generally the initial time of the integration period, the determination of the reception time is particularly important for the determination of the detection distance. The objects that can be detected by the lidar are usually distributed in the range of the lidar, and the time range of the occurrence of the echo laser in the integration period is relatively stable. Therefore, the reliability of the sampling signal can be judged through the time range of the sampling signal appearing in the integration period, the noise signal is filtered, and the detection accuracy is improved.

The preset time range Δ T is a time range in the integration period, and may be determined according to the measurement range of the laser radar, the response rates of the transmitting system and the receiving system, the sampling frequency of the receiving system, and other factors. The sampled signals received within the preset time range Δ T are highly likely to be normal echoes, and therefore, the sampled signals outside the preset time range Δ T are filtered as noise signals. The response time of the sampling signal is the receiving time confirmed after the sampling device samples the echo signal in the integration period. If the response time of the sampling signal is within the preset time range delta T, the sampling signal is considered to be a normal echo, and the sampling signal is output to the processing unit; and if the response time of the sampling signal is out of the preset time range delta T, the sampling signal is considered as a noise signal, and the sampling signal is deleted, so that the noise signal is prevented from generating interference on the subsequent signal processing process. Taking an integration period as an example, assume the integration periodPeriod T, starting time T₀Then the integration period has a duration of T₀～T₀+ T; starting time T of a predetermined time range DeltaT₀Then the duration of the predetermined time range within the integration period is t₀～t₀+. DELTA.T, wherein T₀＜t₀＜(t₀+△T)＜(T₀+T)。

In the embodiment, the reliability of the sampling signal is judged according to the time range of the receiving time of the sampling signal in the integration period, and if the receiving time of the sampling signal is out of the preset time range delta T in the integration period, the sampling signal is considered as a noise signal, so that the noise signal is filtered, the influence of random noise on the laser radar system is further reduced, and the accuracy of the environmental photo-immunity of the system is improved.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a detection method of a lidar according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 5, after the steps 1022 and 1023, the following steps may be further included:

step 1024: judging whether the number of the sampling signals reserved in the detection window time is larger than a second threshold value or not; if yes, go to step 1025, otherwise go to step 1023;

step 1025: and determining that the sampling signal in the detection window time is credible and continuing to pass backwards.

On the basis of the above embodiment, the reliability of the sampling signal at the probing window time can be further judged by the number of the reliable sampling signals remained in the probing window time. As can be seen from the foregoing, according to the randomness of the noise signal, signals outside the preset time range Δ T are considered as noise signals to be filtered; however, part of the noise signal will fall within the predetermined time range Δ T, and this part of the noise signal cannot be filtered by the aforementioned method, so that further filtering is required.

The randomness of the noise signal is mainly reflected in: the response time of the noise signal in different integration periods in the detection window time is random; in contrast, the response time of normal echoes is stable over different integration periods. Therefore, in M integration periods within one detection window time, if the number of response sampling signals within the preset time range Δ T is small, the response sampling signals can be regarded as noise signal trigger, and if the number of response sampling signals is large, the response sampling signals can be regarded as normal echo trigger. On this basis, a second threshold value can be set, which is the quantity value of the sampling signals with response time within the preset time range Δ T within the detection window time. If the number of the sampling signals reserved in the detection window time is larger than a second threshold value, the number of the sampling signals is considered to be large, the sampling signals are triggered by normal echoes, and then the sampling signals are output to a processing unit; and if the number of the sampling signals reserved in the detection window time is less than or equal to a second threshold value, the number of the sampling signals is considered to be less, and the noise signals trigger the sampling signals to delete the sampling signals. Of course, a plurality of second thresholds may be set to differentiate the number of sample signals remaining within the detection window time. For example, a second upper threshold value and a second lower threshold value may be set; when the number of the sampling signals reserved in the detection window time is larger than a second upper threshold value, the number of the sampling signals is considered to be larger; and when the number of the sampling signals reserved in the detection window time is smaller than the second lower threshold value, the number of the sampling signals is considered to be less.

The second threshold may be set according to the number of integration periods of the detection window time. The detection window time includes M integration periods. Illustratively, the second threshold is M/2; and when the number of the sampling signals reserved in the detection window time is larger than M/2, determining that the sampling signals in the detection window time are credible. For example, the detection window time includes 6 integration periods; 4 sampling signals reserved in the detection window time are greater than a second threshold value 3, and the sampling signals in the detection window time are credible; only 2 sampling signals are reserved in the detection window time, the number of the sampling signals is smaller than a second threshold value 3, and the sampling signals in the detection window time are not credible for noise signal triggering. The second threshold value may also be set based on a test experience value, noise signal strength, or the like.

In the embodiment, the reliability of the sampling signals in the detection window time is judged according to the number of the sampling signals reserved in the detection window time, and the sampling signals triggered by the noise signals in the preset time range delta T are filtered, so that the influence of random noise on the laser radar system is further reduced, and the ambient light immunity and accuracy of the system are improved.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, steps 1024 to 1025 may also be implemented as an independent embodiment directly after step 102, and it is determined whether the number of the sampling signals within the detection window time and the response time within the preset time range Δ T is greater than the second threshold, if so, the sampling signals are considered to be trusted, and if not, the sampling signals are deleted.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a detection method of a lidar according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 6, after step 102, the following steps may be further included:

step 1026: judging the starting time T of a preset time range Delta T in an integration period₀Whether the number of photons received by the detection unit is less than a third photon number threshold value in a previous time period; if yes, go to step 1027, otherwise, go to step 1028;

step 1027: determining that the sampling signal is credible and continuously transmitting backwards;

step 1028: the sampled signal is deleted.

As can be seen from the foregoing, when the number of photons received by the detection unit in an integration period is greater than the threshold value of the number of photons corresponding to the integration period, the detection unit responds and outputs a sampling signal. However, the noise signal has randomness, the noise photons will be distributed at any time within the integration period, and the distribution of the photons of the echo laser within different integration periods is stable, and may be within a preset time range Δ T. If more noise photons are accumulated in the integration period, the integration period can easily meet the requirement of photon number threshold value to output a sampling signal, but the response time of the sampling signal cannot really reflect the receiving time of echo laser, and interference is caused to distance calculation and object identification of a processing unit. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish the integration period of the part in which the noise photons are accumulated to cause the saturation of the detection unit and the output of the sampling signal, and to filter out the sampling signal causing the interference.

In the integration period, the starting time T of a preset time range Delta T₀The previous time period is a previous time period. Setting a third photon number threshold, wherein in an integration period, if the number of photons received by the detection unit in a previous time period is less than the third photon number threshold, fewer noise photons are accumulated in the integration period, the output sampling signal is mainly triggered by echo laser, the sampling signal is considered to be a normal echo and is credible, and then the sampling signal is output to the processing unit; if the number of photons received by the detection unit in the previous time period is greater than or equal to the third photon number threshold, more noise photons are accumulated in the integration period, the output sampling signal is mainly triggered by the noise photons, the sampling signal is deemed to be unreliable, and the sampling signal is deleted, so that the interference on the processing process of the processing unit is avoided.

The preset time range Δ T is a time range in the integration period, and may be determined according to the measurement range of the laser radar, the response rates of the transmitting system and the receiving system, the sampling frequency of the receiving system, and other factors.

The third photon number threshold may be determined according to the number of SPADs comprised by the detection unit. Illustratively, one pixel is taken as an example of one detection unit, each pixel includes a × b SPADs, where a is 4 and b is 4, the detection unit includes 16 SPADs, and the theoretical photon number threshold may range from 1 to 16. The third photon number threshold may be set to half the number of SPADs, 8; any ratio can also be set empirically. The third photon number threshold may also be determined according to the photon number threshold corresponding to the current integration period. Taking the above example as an example, the threshold value of the number of photons in the current integration period is 10, that is, the number of photons received by the detection unit is greater than 10, and then the sampling signal is output. At this time, the third photon number threshold may be set to be half of the photon number threshold corresponding to the current integration period, 5; any ratio can also be set empirically. The third photon number threshold may also be determined or adjusted based on factors such as the sensitivity of the detection unit, the sampling frequency, the response rate of the receiving system, and the like.

In the embodiment, the integration period with more accumulated noise photons is distinguished by setting the third photon number threshold, and the sampling signal causing interference is filtered, so that the interference of random noise on the laser radar system can be further reduced, and the environmental light immunity and accuracy of the system are improved.

It should be noted that, the steps 1021 to 1023, the steps 1024 to 1025, the steps 1021 to 1025 and the steps 1026 to 1028 may be implemented directly after the step 102 as an independent embodiment, or at least two embodiments may be implemented sequentially after the step 102. The foregoing embodiment is implemented after step 102 alone, so as to meet the requirement of filtering noise interference, and simplify the detection method and speed up the processing rate. At least two of the foregoing embodiments are implemented after step 102 in sequence, so that noise interference can be removed as much as possible from multiple aspects, and the signal-to-noise ratio and accuracy of the system can be improved.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a plurality of instructions are stored, where the instructions are adapted to be loaded by a processor and to execute the steps of the detection method of a laser radar according to any of the above embodiments.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a laser radar, where the laser radar includes: a transmitting system and a receiving system; the emitting system is used for emitting emergent laser; receiving system for performing the method steps of any of claims 1-8.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, and not to limit the same; while the invention has been described in detail and with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that: the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some or all of the technical features may be equivalently replaced; such modifications and substitutions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and they should be construed as being included in the following claims and description. In particular, the technical features mentioned in the embodiments can be combined in any way as long as there is no structural conflict. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.