Multi-line laser projector

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention discloses a multi-line laser projector which is used for providing high-integration-level multi-line laser projection and comprises a light source array and an emergent array which are sequentially arranged in the optical axis direction of an initial light beam, and the emergent array is integrally formed. The light source array comprises a plurality of light sources, and each light source is used for emitting an initial light beam; the emergent array is used for shaping each received initial light beam and turning at least part of the initial light beam to obtain a linear light beam corresponding to each initial light beam, any two linear light beams are not completely overlapped, and the linear light beams are not completely overlapped. The emergent array comprises a shaping assembly used for shaping processing and a steering assembly used for steering processing. The light source array and the emergent array are connected to form the multi-line laser projector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of lasers, and in particular, to a multi-line laser projector. Background Art

[0002] The laser is a key component in the lidar module, and lidar is widely used in fields such as machine vision, industrial inspection, and autonomous driving. With the increasing application scenarios, the demand for lidar has increased significantly. The performance requirements and cost prices of the key component laser in lidar are getting higher and higher.

[0003] Currently, the multi-line lasers on the market are assembled by individual independent line laser modules. This method has low integration, high costs in both material costs and production efficiency, and it is difficult to meet the expanding application requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present application provide a multi-line laser projector for providing highly integrated multi-line laser projection.

[0005] A multi-line laser projector provided in the first aspect of the embodiments of the present application includes:

[0006] A light source array and an output array arranged in sequence along the optical axis direction of the initial light beam

[0007] The light source array includes a plurality of light sources, and each light source is used to emit an initial light beam;

[0008] The output array is used to perform shaping processing on each received initial light beam and perform steering processing on at least part of the initial light beams to obtain a linear light beam corresponding to each initial light beam. Among them, any two linear light beams do not completely overlap. The output array includes a shaping component for performing shaping processing and a steering component for performing steering processing. The shaping component is integrally formed, and the steering component is integrally formed;

[0009] The light source array and the output array are connected to form the multi-line laser projector.

[0010] Optionally, the steering component includes at least one steering element, and each steering element includes a total reflection surface and a refraction surface. The total reflection surface and the refraction surface included in each steering element are used to perform steering processing on the corresponding linear light beam successively.

[0011] Optionally, the steering component includes at least one steering element, and the shaping component is used to perform shaping processing on the received initial light beam and guide the shaped initial light beam to the corresponding steering element.

[0012] Optionally, the shaping component includes at least one shaping element, and the steering component is configured to steer the received initial light beam and guide the steered initial light beam to the corresponding shaping element.

[0013] Optionally, the shaping component includes at least one shaping element, and each shaping element is configured to shape at least one received initial light beam. The shaping element is a Powell prism, a wavy mirror, or a cylindrical mirror.

[0014] Optionally, the multi-line laser projector further includes a collimation array disposed between the light source array and the exit array in the optical axis direction of the initial light beam. The collimation array includes at least one collimation lens, and the collimation lens is configured to collimate the initial light beam emitted by the corresponding light source and guide the collimated initial light beam to the exit array.

[0015] Optionally, the light source array further includes a substrate, and the plurality of light sources are electrically connected to the substrate. The collimation array is integrally formed, and the exit array is integrally formed. The substrate, the collimation array, and the exit array are connected to form the multi-line laser projector.

[0016] Optionally, the number of light sources in the light source array is the same as the number of collimation lenses in the collimation array, and the optical center of each collimation lens is the same as the optical center of the corresponding light source.

[0017] Optionally, the light source array includes three light sources, the collimation array includes three collimation lenses, the shaping component includes three shaping elements, and the steering component includes two steering elements. The light sources, the collimation lenses, the shaping elements, and the steering elements have a one-to-one correspondence relationship, and the initial light beam emitted by any one of the three light sources does not pass through any one of the steering elements.

[0018] Optionally, the light source array further includes a substrate, and the plurality of light sources are electrically connected to the substrate. The collimation array and the shaping component are integrally formed and integrated. The substrate, the integrally formed and integrated collimation array and the shaping component, and the steering component are connected to form the multi-line laser projector.

[0019] It can be seen from the above technical solutions that the embodiments of the present application have the following advantages: The shaping component and the steering component are both integrally formed, and the multi-line laser projector is directly formed by connecting the light source array and the exit array, which improves the integration degree of the multi-line laser projector, reduces the material cost, and can better meet the growing application requirements. Description of the Drawings

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly introduce the accompanying drawings required for the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the accompanying drawings in the following description are only some embodiments recorded in the present application. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other accompanying drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic optical path diagram of a multi-line laser projector according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of a multi-line laser projector according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of a light source array according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 4 It is a projection schematic diagram of a multi-line laser projector according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of an integrally formed shaping component according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 6 It is a schematic structural diagram of a collimation array and a steering component integrally formed and integrated according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 7 It is an assembly schematic diagram of a multi-line laser projector according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Among them, the reference numerals are: 100, light source array; 110, light source; 120, substrate; 200, exit array; 210, shaping component; 211, shaping element; 220, steering component; 221, steering element; S1, total reflection surface; S2, refraction surface; 300, collimation array; 310, collimation lens. Detailed implementation manners

[0029] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the solutions of the present application, the following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0030] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third" are only used for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0031] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installation", "connection", "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the communication inside two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application can be understood according to specific situations.

[0032] Please refer to Figure 1 , the present application provides a multi-line laser projector, including:

[0033] A light source array 100 and an output array 200 arranged in sequence along the optical axis direction of the initial light beam;

[0034] The light source array 100 includes a plurality of light sources 110, and each light source 110 is used to emit an initial light beam;

[0035] The output array 200 is used to perform shaping processing on each received initial light beam and perform turning processing on at least part of the initial light beams to obtain a linear light beam corresponding to each initial light beam. Among them, any two linear light beams do not completely overlap. The output array 200 includes a shaping component 210 for performing shaping processing and a turning component 220 for performing turning processing. The shaping component 210 is integrally formed, and the turning component 220 is integrally formed;

[0036] The light source array 100 and the output array 200 are connected to form a multi-line laser projector.

[0037] It should be noted that the number of light sources 110 included in the light source array 100 in the multi-line laser emitter of the present application is the same as the number of linear light beams finally emitted by the multi-line laser emitter. For the convenience of further explaining the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, next, taking three light sources as an example, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application will be described in combination with three light sources 110 as Figure 1 shown.

[0038] Specifically, in the embodiment of the present application, the light source 110 is a VSCEL laser chip, an EEL chip or other types of laser chips, and the light-emitting holes of the chip are arranged in a single-point or multi-point linear arrangement; the exit array 200 in the embodiment of the present application is used to shape each initial beam emitted by multiple light sources 110 in the light source array 100 and turn at least part of the initial beams to obtain the multi-line laser finally required in the embodiment of the present application. In addition, the light source array 100 and the exit array 200 in the embodiment of the present application can be fixedly connected, clamped or bonded together with an adhesive to form an integral body after being formed.

[0039] Among them, each initial beam must undergo the shaping process of the shaping component 210, but not every initial beam or its corresponding linear beam must undergo the turning process of any turning element 221; each shaping element 211 can shape one or more initial beams to obtain corresponding linear beams. For example, Figure 2 one shaping element 211 shapes one initial beam, and another shaping element 211 shapes two initial beams. Similarly, since each beam of light is incident on the turning element 221 from different positions, each turning element 221 can also turn at least one initial beam itself or its corresponding linear beam received, so that there is a certain angle between the final multiple bar-shaped beams.

[0040] Please continue to refer to Figure 1 , the multi-line laser projector in the embodiment of the present application is similar to the foregoing embodiment, except that the turning assembly 220 in the embodiment of the present application includes at least one turning element 221, and each turning element 221 includes a total reflection surface S1 and a refraction surface S2. The total reflection surface S1 and the refraction surface S2 included in each turning element 221 are used to turn the corresponding linear beam successively.

[0041] If the initial beam emitted by any light source 110 exits through the turning element 221 including the total reflection surface S1 and the refraction surface S2, then the initial beam will turn twice in the exit array 200. For example, Figure 1 as shown, the initial beam or its corresponding linear beam first adjusts the angle between its optical axis and the emission direction of the light source 110 through the total reflection surface S1 of the turning element 221, and then the initial beam or its corresponding linear beam after one turning process adjusts the angle between its optical axis and the emission direction of the light source 110 again through the refraction surface S2 of the turning element 221, enriching the coverage range of the entire multi-line laser.

[0042] In practical applications, each steering element 221 may also include only a total reflection surface S1. In this case, if the initial light beam emitted by any light source 110 exits through the aforementioned steering element 221, then the initial light beam will only be deflected once in the exit array 200. The initial light beam or its corresponding linear light beam is adjusted by the total reflection surface S1 of the steering element 221 for the angle between its optical axis and the emission direction of the light source 110.

[0043] It should be noted that the function of the steering assembly 220 in the embodiment of the present application is to adjust the emission direction of the linear light beam after passing through the wavy mirror, specifically by refraction of light on the total reflection surface S1 and the refraction surface S2 to achieve light deflection. Among them, Figure 1 the total reflection of the light beam emitted by the leftmost light source 110 in the right figure on the total reflection surface S1 and the refraction on the refraction surface S2 are described. The light beam incident on the total reflection surface S1 at different angles affects the plane angle between the plane formed by the linear light beam exiting through the steering element 221 and the shaping element 211 and the plane formed by the linear light beam exiting only through the aforementioned same shaping element 211; the light beam incident on the refraction surface S2 at different angles affects the angle between the optical axis of the linear light beam exiting through the steering element 221 and the shaping element 211 and the optical axis formed by the linear light beam exiting only through the aforementioned same shaping element 211. That is to say, the refraction surface S2 does not affect the change of the aforementioned plane angle. That is, if the linear light beam only passes through the refraction surface S2, then the plane where the linear light beam is located after passing through the refraction surface S2 and the plane where the linear light beam is located without passing through the refraction surface S2 are the same plane.

[0044] In addition to adjusting the angle of the initial light beam emitted by the light source 110 to achieve that the light beam is incident on the total reflection surface S1 and / or the refraction surface S2 at different angles, the embodiment of the present application can also be achieved by directly adjusting the angle of the total reflection surface S1 or the angle of the refraction surface S2, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0045] In addition, when the light beam is deflected on the total reflection surface S1, the total reflection condition is satisfied and the reflection principle of light is followed, that is: A≥arcsin(n2 / n1), and A = B, where A is the incident angle of the collimated light on the total reflection surface S1, B is the reflection angle of the collimated light reflected by the total reflection surface S1, n1 is the refractive index of the material of the total reflection surface S1, and n2 is the refractive index of air. When the light beam is deflected on the refraction surface S2, the refraction principle of light is followed, that is: n1*sinC1 = n2*sinC2, where C1 is the incident angle of the divergent light on the refraction surface S2, C2 is the refraction angle of the divergent light refracted by the refraction surface S2, n1 is the refractive index of the material of the refraction surface S2, and n2 is the refractive index of air.

[0046] Based on the foregoing embodiments, in some specific implementation manners, the initial light beams received by the light-emitting array 200 in the multi-line laser projector of the embodiments of the present application may be as follows Figure 2 shown for processing. The steering component 220 includes at least one steering element 221. The initial light beams first pass through the shaping component 210 for shaping processing, and the shaping component 210 guides the shaped initial light beams to the corresponding steering elements 221; or, as Figure 1 and Figure 7 shown for processing, the shaping component 210 includes at least one shaping element 211. The initial light beams first pass through the steering component 220 for steering processing, and the steering component 220 guides the steered initial light beams to the corresponding shaping elements 211. No specific limitation is made here.

[0047] In practical applications, the shaping component 210 of the embodiments of the present application includes at least one shaping element 211. Each shaping element 211 is used to perform shaping processing on at least one received initial light beam. The shaping element 211 of the embodiments of the present application is a Powell prism, a wavy mirror or a cylindrical mirror.

[0048] Considering that the light beams emitted from the light source 110 are usually not completely collimated but have a certain divergence angle. Therefore, if the initial light beams received by the light-emitting array 200 in the multi-line laser projector of the embodiments of the present application can be as Figure 2 shown for processing, that is, the initial light beams first pass through the shaping component 210 for shaping processing, and the shaping component 210 guides the shaped initial light beams to the corresponding steering elements 221, then the embodiments of the present application can also perform collimation processing on the initial light beams through a collimation array 300 disposed between the light source array 100 and the light-emitting array 200. Further, based on the foregoing embodiments, the multi-line laser projector of the embodiments of the present application further includes a collimation array 300 disposed between the light source array 100 and the light-emitting array 200 in the optical axis direction of the initial light beams. The collimation array 300 includes at least one collimation lens 310. The collimation lens 310 is used to collimate the initial light beams emitted from the corresponding light source 110 and guide the collimated initial light beams to the light-emitting array 200.

[0049] Or, if as Figure 1 and Figure 7 shown, the initial light beams first pass through the steering component 220 for steering processing, and the steering component 220 guides the steered initial light beams to the corresponding shaping elements 211, that is, first perform steering processing and then perform collimation processing. Then, in order to ensure that the shaping element 211 can accurately process the received initial light beams, a collimation lens may also be additionally provided on the S2 surface of each steering element 221.

[0050] The collimation array 300 of the embodiment of the present application may be an integrated collimation array 300 with multiple apertures (i.e., collimation lenses 310). The position of each aperture is the same as or has a certain deviation from the position of the corresponding light source 110 chip. The function of the collimation array 300 is to collimate the initial light beam emitted by each light source 110, so that the light beam emitted by each light source 110 is approximately collimated and output in a certain direction after passing through the corresponding collimation lens 310. For details, see Figure 1 the left figure shown. In practical applications, the shape of the integrally formed lens array may be cylindrical, square, triangular, etc., or square as in the embodiment shown in the present application Figure 2 and is not specifically limited here.

[0051] In some specific implementation manners, the number of apertures of the collimation array 300 of the embodiment of the present application is the same as the number of light sources 110 in the light source array 100, which can make the optical center of each collimation lens 310 coincide with the optical center of the corresponding light source 110. Thus, it is ensured that after the light beam emitted by each light source 110 passes through the corresponding collimation lens 310, it has a good collimation effect.

[0052] In practical applications, the light source array 100 further includes a substrate 120. The substrate 120 is a PCB board with electrical connections that can be used for planar fixing of chips. The PCB board can be externally provided with a power line for external electrical connection, and multiple light sources 110 are electrically connected to the substrate 120. In addition, the substrate 120 can be a rigid substrate or a rigid-flexible combination board. The pads of the rigid substrate are electrically connected to the external input terminal pads through solder, or the pads are electrically connected through flexible power lines, which is not specifically limited here. Figure 3 As shown in the upper middle figure, three light sources 110 are arranged on the front surface of the substrate 120. Figure 3 The lower middle figure is the back surface of the substrate 120 of the embodiment of the present application.

[0053] Meanwhile, the collimation array 300 is integrally formed, and the emission array 200 is integrally formed. For example, the collimation array 300 is obtained by integral injection molding, which can be specifically selected as needed and is not limited herein. Moreover, the substrate 120, the collimation array 300, and the emission array 200 are connected to form a multi-line laser projector. Specifically, in order for the multi-line laser projector formed by connecting each array to have a good projection effect, the embodiments of the present application can ensure the basic coincidence of the corresponding regions of the effective light transmission area of the collimation array 300, the effective light transmission area of the shaping component 210, and the light emission area of the light source 110 through methods such as precise jig positioning, machine vision positioning, or optical alignment and coupling. During specific implementation, the positions of the collimation array 300 and the shaping component 210 can be aligned first through visual positioning or precise jig positioning, and then the two are bonded and fixed with an adhesive. Then, the bonded collimation array 300, the shaping component 210, and the light source array are coupled and adjusted so that the output light pattern is multiple one-dimensional lines, and when each optical device is arranged in the form as shown in Figure 2 shown, the projection effect as shown in Figure 4 is obtained.

[0054] Taking Figure 2 the specific embodiment of the multi-line laser projector of the present application shown as an example, the light source array 100 includes three light sources 110, the collimation array 300 includes three collimation lenses 310, the shaping component 210 includes three shaping elements 211, the steering component 220 includes two steering elements 221, and there is a one-to-one correspondence between the light source 110, the collimation lens 310, the shaping element 211, and the steering element 221. Among them, the initial light beam emitted by any one of the three light sources 110 does not pass through any one of the steering elements 221. That is, the initial light beams emitted by two light sources 110 will respectively pass through their corresponding collimation lenses 310, corresponding shaping elements 211, and corresponding steering elements 221, while the initial light beam emitted by one light source 110 will only pass through its corresponding collimation lens 310 and corresponding shaping element 211. That is to say, all initial light beams have undergone collimation processing and shaping processing, but not all initial light beams have undergone steering processing.

[0055] Based on the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , the embodiments of the present application can also separately manufacture the shaping component 210 shown in Figure 5 through integral forming, and integrally manufacture the collimation array 300 and the shaping component 210 shown in Figure 6 through integral forming, where Figure 5 the left figure is the bottom view of the shown shaping component 210, Figure 5 and the right figure is the side view of the shown shaping component 210; Figure 6 the left figure is the side view of the integrated collimation array 300 and shaping component 210 shown,Figure 6 The left figure is a bottom view of the integrated collimation array 300 and the shaping component 210 shown.

[0056] Based on the above, the shaping component 210 referred to in the foregoing embodiments of the present application is integrally formed, and the steering component 220 is integrally formed. It may refer to the integrally formed manufacturing of the light-emitting component in the foregoing embodiments, or refer to the separately integrally formed manufacturing of the shaping component 210 in the embodiments of the present application, and the integrally formed integrated manufacturing such as Figure 6 the collimation array 300 and the shaping component 210 shown, which is not specifically limited herein.

[0057] Similarly to the content described in the foregoing embodiments, the outer shape of the substrate 120 and the outer shape of the light-emitting array 200 in the embodiments of the present application may also be the same as the outer shape of the lens array described in the foregoing embodiments, and then the assembly drawing shown in the Figure 7 left figure and Figure 7 the assembly perspective view shown in the right figure and the foregoing related embodiments can be referred to to complete the connection between the arrays, so as to minimize the connection cost between the arrays and thus improve the manufacturing efficiency.

[0058] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit it.

Claims

1. A multi-line laser projector, characterized in that, Comprising: A light source array and an output array arranged in sequence along the optical axis direction of the initial light beam The light source array includes a plurality of light sources, and each light source is used to emit an initial light beam; The output array is used to perform shaping processing on each received initial light beam and perform steering processing on at least part of the initial light beams to obtain a linear light beam corresponding to each initial light beam. Among them, any two linear light beams do not completely overlap. The output array includes a shaping component for performing shaping processing and a steering component for performing steering processing. The shaping component is integrally formed, and the steering component is integrally formed; The light source array and the output array are connected to form the multi-line laser projector.

2. The multi-line laser projector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steering component includes at least one steering element, and each steering element includes a total reflection surface and a refraction surface. The total reflection surface and the refraction surface included in each steering element are used to perform steering processing on the corresponding linear light beam successively.

3. The multi-line laser projector according to claim 1, characterized in that The steering component includes at least one steering element, and the shaping component is used to perform shaping processing on the received initial light beam and guide the shaped initial light beam to the corresponding steering element.

4. The multi-line laser projector according to claim 1, wherein, The shaping component includes at least one shaping element, and the steering component is used to perform steering processing on the received initial light beam and guide the steered initial light beam to the corresponding shaping element.

5. The multi-line laser projector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shaping component includes at least one shaping element, and each shaping element is used to perform shaping processing on at least one received initial light beam. The shaping element is a Powell prism, a wavy mirror or a cylindrical lens.

6. The multi-line laser projector according to claim 1, wherein, The multi-line laser projector further includes a collimation array disposed between the light source array and the output array in the optical axis direction of the initial light beam. The collimation array includes at least one collimation lens, and the collimation lens is used to collimate the initial light beam emitted by the corresponding light source and guide the collimated initial light beam to the output array.

7. The multi-line laser projector according to claim 6, characterized in that, The light source array further includes a substrate, and the plurality of light sources are electrically connected to the substrate. The collimation array is integrally formed, and the output array is integrally formed. The substrate, the collimation array and the output array are connected to form the multi-line laser projector.

8. The multi-line laser projector according to claim 6, characterized in that, The number of light sources in the light source array is the same as the number of collimation lenses in the collimation array, and the optical center of each collimation lens is the same as the optical center of the corresponding light source.

9. The multi-line laser projector according to claim 6, characterized in that, The light source array includes three light sources, the collimation array includes three collimation lenses, the shaping component includes three shaping elements, the steering component includes two steering elements, and the light sources, the collimation lenses, the shaping elements and the steering elements have a one-to-one correspondence relationship. Among them, the initial light beam emitted by any one of the three light sources does not pass through any one of the steering elements.

10. The multi-line laser projector according to claim 6, characterized in that, The light source array further includes a substrate, the plurality of light sources are electrically connected to the substrate, the collimating array and the shaping component are integrally formed and integrated, and the substrate, the integrally formed and integrated collimating array, the shaping component, and the steering component are connected to form the multi-line laser projector.

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