Coaxial setup for light detection and ranging, LIDAR, measurements

Abstract

A LIDAR system (100) for ranging an object (110) using primary light and secondary light reflected at the object (110), includes a laser (200), arranged to emit the primary light along a transmit beam(210) towards a scanning element (800) of the LIDAR system, wherein at least a part of the transmit beam adjacent to the scanning element defines a center line (300), a detector (400), arranged to detect the secondary light along a receive beam (500), wherein the receive beam includes a first part (510) aligned with the center line and a second part (520) having an inclination (530) with respectto the center line (300), wherein the second part (520) of the receive beam is in-between the first part of the receive beam (520) and the detector (400), and a segmented lens (600), positioned on thecenter line (300) in-between the first part of the receive beam (510) and the second part (520) of the receive beam, the segmented lens (600) including a transmit lens segment (610) associated with the transmit beam and a receive lens segment (620) associated with the receive beam, wherein the receive lens segment (620) is designed to focus the receive beam onto the detector.

Description

technical field [0001] Various examples generally involve light detection and ranging LIDAR. In particular, various examples relate to off-axis coaxial configurations of LIDAR. Background technique [0002] Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR, sometimes also called Laser Ranging or LADAR) allows providing a 3D point cloud to a scene. Objects can be detected accurately. Ranging is possible. A pulsed or continuous wavelength laser is emitted along a transmit beam, reflected off an object, and detected along a receive beam. In this way the distance (z-coordinate) to the object can be determined. [0003] The primary light used to detect the object comes from the light source and the secondary light reflected on the object is directed to the detector. So-called coaxial structures use coaxially aligned transmit beams for the primary light and receive beams for the secondary light. Usually, this means that the same scanning element is arranged in the transmitted beam and the ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Although the coaxial structure has advantages such as compact equipment, the complexity of the optical system increases

This increased complexity also leads to greater complexity of components such as laser systems, detectors, and optics, increasing unit cost and resulting in increased equipment volume

Images