Patent ID: 11874401
Assignee: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  Y | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. A method for dynamically varying receiver characteristics in a lidar system, the method comprising:
emitting light pulses by a light source in a lidar system;
detecting, by a receiver in the lidar system, light from one of the light pulses scattered by one or more remote targets to identify a return light pulse;
determining an atmospheric condition at or near a geolocation of a vehicle that includes the lidar system, wherein determining the atmospheric condition includes:
receiving an indication from the receiver of at least a portion of a duration of the return light pulse, wherein the at least a portion of the duration of the return light pulse includes a duration of a falling edge;
comparing the indication of the at least a portion of the duration to a threshold duration; and
in response to determining that the at least a portion of the duration exceeds the threshold duration, identifying fog, sleet, snow, rain, dust, smog, exhaust, or insects; and

providing a control signal to the receiver adjusting one or more characteristics of the receiver to compensate for attenuation or distortion of the return light pulses associated with the atmospheric condition.