Patent ID: 11909366
Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
Field: Basic communication processes (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  G | IPC G  H

Claim 12:
13. A lidar sensor system, comprising:
a photodetector configured to convert an optical signal to an input electrical signal;
a multistage variable gain amplifier system configured to receive the input electrical signal, the multistage variable gain amplifier system comprising:
a set of N amplification stages, wherein N is an integer greater than 1, the set of N amplification stages comprises at least:
a first amplification stage; and
a second amplification stage;

a power detector configured to detect a power level of the input electrical signal received by the multistage variable gain amplifier system;
a single pole, N throw switch; and
a controller configured to control the single pole, N throw switch to connect an input node at which the input electrical signal is received to a particular amplification stage based on the power level of the input electrical signal, the particular amplification stage being selected from the set of N amplification stages;
wherein the multistage variable gain amplifier system outputs an output electrical signal such that a gain applied to the input electrical signal by the multistage variable gain amplifier system is controlled to output the output electrical signal; and

an analog to digital converter configured to convert the output electrical signal to a digital signal.