Optical system and laser radar

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides an optical system and a laser radar, and relates to the technical field of optics. Comprising an emitting assembly and a receiving assembly, the emitting assembly comprises a collimating lens and an optical axis offset device, and the optical axis offset device is used for translating first parallel light emitted by a light source through the collimating lens to the direction of the receiving assembly. One of the technical schemes has the following advantages or beneficial effects that the parallel light is translated towards the direction of the receiving assembly through the optical axis offset device, the coincidence degree of the emission view field and the receiving view field is improved on the premise that the area of the emission view field does not need to be increased and the attenuation of the emergent light and / or echo signals is not caused, and the receiving effect is improved. And the utilization efficiency of the receiving view field is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of optical technology, and more particularly to an optical system and a lidar. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of optical technology, the transmitting and receiving components of an optical system are usually separate. For example, in a solid-state lidar system, due to the constraints of hardware area and structural volume, there is a certain distance between the transmitting module and the receiving module of the lidar. This results in insufficient overlap between the transmitting field of view of the transmitting module and the receiving field of view of the receiving module. Some areas in the receiving field of view cannot be illuminated by laser, which affects the performance of the lidar system.

[0003] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an optical system provided by the relevant technology is shown, such as Figure 1 As shown in (a), due to the certain distance between the transmitting component 1 and the receiving component 2, the overlap between the transmitting field of view and the receiving field of view is insufficient.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, a common technical solution adopted in related technologies is to increase the area of ​​the transmission field of view, such as... Figure 1 As shown in (b), the area of ​​the transmitting field of view can be increased by selecting different homogenizing components, thereby increasing the overlap area between the transmitting and receiving fields of view. However, this method will result in a waste of laser power, reduce the power density within the transmitting field of view, and affect the performance of the lidar system. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide an optical system and a lidar.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the embodiments of this disclosure are achieved through the following aspects.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an optical system is provided, including a transmitting component and a receiving component. The transmitting component includes a collimating lens and an optical axis shifting device, the optical axis shifting device being used to shift a first parallel light emitted by a light source through the collimating lens toward the receiving component.

[0008] Optionally, the optical axis offset device is an optical axis offset prism, a mirror group, or a right-angle prism group.

[0009] Optionally, the optical axis shifting prism is used to translate the first parallel light toward the receiving component to form a second parallel light.

[0010] Optionally, the optical axis shifting prism includes a first transmission surface, a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface disposed opposite to each other, and a second transmission surface. The first transmission surface is disposed parallel to the collimating lens. The angle between the first reflection surface and the collimating lens is a preset acute angle and is inclined toward the receiving component. The second transmission surface is parallel to the collimating lens and is shifted toward the receiving component.

[0011] Optionally, the reflector group is used to translate the first parallel light towards the receiving component to form a third parallel light. The reflector group includes a first reflector and a second reflector disposed opposite to each other. The angle between the first reflector and the collimating lens is a preset acute angle, and the first reflector is tilted towards the receiving component.

[0012] Optionally, the first and second reflectors are total reflection mirrors.

[0013] Optionally, the right-angle prism group includes a first right-angle prism and a second right-angle prism. The first right-angle prism is used to rotate the first parallel light by 90° toward the receiving component to form a fourth parallel light, and the second right-angle prism is used to rotate the fourth parallel light by 90° to form a fifth parallel light with the same direction as the first parallel light.

[0014] Optionally, the first distance of the first parallel light translation is less than the second distance between the transmitting component and the receiving component.

[0015] Optionally, the optical system further includes a light-shaping component for shaping the translated parallel light, wherein the light-shaping component is arranged parallel to the output end of the optical axis offset device.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a lidar is provided, including a laser, a detector, and an optical system as described in any one of the first aspects;

[0017] The laser is used to emit a laser beam;

[0018] The laser beam is collimated by a collimating lens to form a first parallel beam, which is then shifted toward the receiving component by an optical axis offset device before being emitted.

[0019] The detector is used to detect the echo signal received by the receiving component.

[0020] One of the above technical solutions has the following advantages or beneficial effects: by using an optical axis offset device, the parallel light is shifted towards the receiving component, which improves the overlap between the transmitting and receiving fields of view and increases the utilization efficiency of the receiving field of view without increasing the area of ​​the transmitting field of view or causing attenuation of the emitted light and / or echo signal.

[0021] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure.

[0022] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will be described in detail in the following detailed description section. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an optical system provided by the related technology is shown;

[0025] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates an optical system provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 3 This diagram illustrates another schematic of the optical system provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] Figure 4 This diagram illustrates yet another schematic representation of the optical system provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] Figure 5 This diagram illustrates yet another schematic representation of the optical system provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] Figure 6 This diagram illustrates yet another schematic representation of the optical system provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] Figure 7 This diagram illustrates a lidar provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in this disclosure, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this disclosure, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0032] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an optical system provided in an embodiment of this disclosure is shown, such as... Figure 2As shown, the optical system includes a transmitting component 1 and a receiving component 2. The transmitting component 1 includes a collimating lens 11 and an optical axis shifting device 12. The optical axis shifting device 12 is used to shift the first parallel light 31 emitted by the light source through the collimating lens toward the receiving component 2, for example, shifting the first parallel light 31 toward the receiving component 2 by a distance h to form a second parallel light 32.

[0033] By adopting the above technical solution, the parallel light is shifted towards the receiving component through the optical axis offset device. Without increasing the area of ​​the transmitting field of view or causing attenuation of the emitted light and / or echo signal, the overlap between the transmitting and receiving fields of view is improved, thereby increasing the utilization efficiency of the receiving field of view.

[0034] In some embodiments, the optical axis offset device can be an optical axis offset prism.

[0035] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of an optical system provided in an embodiment of this disclosure is shown, such as... Figure 3 As shown in (a), the optical axis shifting device 12 is an optical axis shifting prism, which can be used to shift the first parallel light 31 a distance h in the direction of the receiving component 2 to form the second parallel light 32.

[0036] like Figure 3 As shown in (b), the optical axis shifting prism includes a first transmission surface 121, a first reflecting surface 122 and a second reflecting surface 123 disposed opposite to each other, and a second transmission surface 124. The first transmission surface 121 is disposed parallel to the collimating lens 11, and the angle between the first reflecting surface 122 and the collimating lens 11 is a preset acute angle, and it is inclined towards the receiving component 2. The second transmission surface 124 is parallel to the collimating lens 11 and shifted towards the receiving component 2.

[0037] The first parallel light 31 emitted by the light source through the collimating lens 11 enters the first transmission surface 121 perpendicularly, thereby avoiding refraction at the first transmission surface 121. After being reflected by the first reflecting surface 122 and the second reflecting surface 123 respectively, the second parallel light 32 is formed. The second parallel light 32 is emitted perpendicularly from the second transmission surface 124, thereby avoiding refraction at the second transmission surface 124.

[0038] It is understandable that the distance between the first reflecting surface 122 and the second reflecting surface 123 can be flexibly adjusted based on the distance between the transmitting component 1 and the receiving component 2, i.e., by selecting optical axis shifting prisms of different specifications. This allows for flexible adjustment of the distance h between the first parallel light 31 and the second parallel light 32.

[0039] By adopting the above technical solution, the parallel light is shifted towards the receiving component by using an optical axis shifting prism. This improves the overlap between the transmitting and receiving fields of view and increases the utilization efficiency of the receiving field of view without increasing the area of ​​the transmitting field of view or causing attenuation of the emitted light and / or echo signal.

[0040] In some embodiments, the optical axis offset device may be a set of mirrors.

[0041] Figure 4 This illustration shows yet another schematic diagram of the optical system provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the reflector group is used to form a third parallel light 33 parallel to the direction of the first emitted light 31 toward the receiving component 2. Specifically, the reflector group may include a first reflector 125 and a second reflector 126 arranged opposite to each other. The angle between the first reflector 125 and the collimating lens 11 is a preset acute angle and is tilted toward the direction of the receiving component 2.

[0042] The first parallel light 31 emitted by the light source through the collimating lens 11 is reflected by the first reflecting mirror 125 and the second reflecting mirror 126 to form the third parallel light 33.

[0043] It is understandable that the size of the preset acute angle, and / or the distance between the first reflector 125 and the second reflector 126, can be flexibly adjusted based on the distance between the transmitting component 1 and the receiving component 2. This allows for the flexible adjustment of the distance h between the first parallel light 31 and the third parallel light 33.

[0044] In some embodiments, the first reflector 125 and the second reflector 126 may be total reflection mirrors. In some possible implementations, reflective films (e.g., dielectric reflective films or metallic reflective films) may be deposited on the reflective surfaces of the first reflector 125 and the second reflector 126 to reflect light.

[0045] By adopting the above technical solution, the parallel light is shifted towards the receiving component through the reflector group. Without increasing the area of ​​the transmitting field of view or causing attenuation of the emitted light and / or echo signal, the overlap between the transmitting and receiving fields of view is improved, thereby increasing the utilization efficiency of the receiving field of view.

[0046] In some embodiments, the optical axis offset device can be a right-angle prism group. Figure 5 This illustration shows yet another schematic diagram of the optical system provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the right-angle prism group includes a first right-angle prism 127 and a second right-angle prism 128. The first right-angle prism 127 is used to rotate the first parallel light 31 by 90° toward the direction of the receiving component to form a fourth parallel light 34. The second right-angle prism 128 is used to rotate the fourth parallel light 34 by 90° to form a fifth parallel light 35 with the same direction as the first parallel light 31.

[0047] Preferably, the right-angle prism group can be an isosceles right-angle prism group, that is, the angle between the inclined plane and the right-angle plane of the right-angle prism is 45°.

[0048] The first parallel light 31 emitted by the light source through the collimating lens 11 enters perpendicularly into a right-angled surface of the first right-angled prism 127. After being reflected by the inclined surface of the first right-angled prism 127, it forms a fourth parallel light 34 which passes perpendicularly through another right-angled surface of the first right-angled prism 127 and a right-angled surface of the second right-angled prism 128. After being reflected again by the inclined surface of the second right-angled prism 128, it forms a fifth parallel light which is emitted perpendicularly from the other right-angled surface of the second right-angled prism 128.

[0049] Understandably, the distance h between the first parallel light 31 and the fifth parallel light 35 can be flexibly adjusted by adjusting the distance between the first right-angle prism 127 and the second right-angle prism 128.

[0050] By adopting the above technical solution, the parallel light is shifted towards the receiving component through a right-angle prism group. Without increasing the area of ​​the transmitting field of view or causing attenuation of the emitted light and / or echo signal, the overlap between the transmitting and receiving fields of view is improved, thereby increasing the utilization efficiency of the receiving field of view.

[0051] In some embodiments, the optical axis offset device may also be a ray retroreflector group or a ray delay line, etc. Those skilled in the art can obtain the technical solution of the optical system using a ray retroreflector group or a ray delay line as the optical axis offset device based on the device characteristics and optical fundamentals in the above specific embodiments and related technologies. This disclosure will not elaborate further here.

[0052] In some embodiments, the first distance of the first parallel light translation is less than the second distance between the transmitting component 1 and the receiving component 2.

[0053] Figure 6 This illustration shows yet another schematic diagram of the optical system provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the optical system also includes a light-uniforming component 4, which is used to shape the translated parallel light. The light-uniforming component 4 is arranged parallel to the output end of the optical axis offset device 12.

[0054] By adopting the above technical solution, the parallel light is shifted and shaped towards the receiving component through the optical axis offset device. Without increasing the area of ​​the transmitting field of view or causing attenuation of the emitted light and / or echo signal, the overlap between the transmitting and receiving fields of view is improved, thereby increasing the utilization efficiency of the receiving field of view.

[0055] Figure 7 This diagram illustrates a lidar provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, such as... Figure 7 As shown, the lidar includes a laser 5, a detector 6, and an optical system as shown in any embodiment of the first aspect.

[0056] Laser 5 is used to emit a laser beam. After passing through collimating lens 11, the laser beam forms a first parallel beam 31. The first parallel beam 31 is then shifted towards receiving component 2 by optical axis offset device 12 before being emitted. Detector 6 is used to detect the echo signal received by receiving component.

[0057] By adopting the above technical solution, the collimated beam after laser emission can be shifted towards the detector, effectively increasing the overlap range of the transmitting and receiving fields of view. It does not require increasing the area of ​​the transmitting field of view, nor does it cause attenuation of the emitted light and / or echo signal. Thus, while ensuring the detection range of the lidar, it can achieve effective coverage of the receiving field of view by the transmitting field of view, greatly improving the pixel utilization rate of the detector.

[0058] It should also be noted that the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0059] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. Each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments. In particular, the system embodiments are basically similar to the method embodiments, so the description is relatively simple; relevant parts can be referred to the descriptions in the method embodiments.

Claims

1. An optical system, characterized in that, It includes a transmitting component and a receiving component. The transmitting component includes a collimating lens and an optical axis shifting device. The optical axis shifting device is used to shift the first parallel light emitted by the light source through the collimating lens toward the direction of the receiving component.

2. The optical system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The optical axis offset device is an optical axis offset prism, a mirror group, or a right-angle prism group.

3. The optical system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The optical axis shifting prism is used to shift the first parallel light toward the direction of the receiving component to form a second parallel light.

4. The optical system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The optical axis shifting prism includes a first transmission surface, a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface arranged opposite to each other, and a second transmission surface. The first transmission surface is arranged parallel to the collimating lens. The angle between the first reflection surface and the collimating lens is a preset acute angle and is inclined towards the receiving component. The second transmission surface is parallel to the collimating lens and is shifted towards the receiving component.

5. The optical system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The reflector group is used to translate the first parallel light towards the receiving component to form a third parallel light. The reflector group includes a first reflector and a second reflector arranged opposite to each other. The angle between the first reflector and the collimating lens is a preset acute angle, and the first reflector is tilted towards the receiving component.

6. The optical system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first and second reflecting mirrors are total reflection mirrors.

7. The optical system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The right-angle prism group includes a first right-angle prism and a second right-angle prism. The first right-angle prism is used to rotate the first parallel light by 90° in the direction of the receiving component to form a fourth parallel light. The second right-angle prism is used to rotate the fourth parallel light by 90° to form a fifth parallel light with the same direction as the first parallel light.

8. The optical system according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The first distance of the first parallel light translation is less than the second distance between the transmitting component and the receiving component.

9. The optical system according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The optical system also includes a light-shaping component for shaping the translated parallel light. The light-shaping component is arranged parallel to the output end of the optical axis offset device.

10. A lidar, characterized in that, Includes lasers, detectors, and the optical system according to any one of claims 1-9; The laser is used to emit a laser beam; The laser beam is collimated by a collimating lens to form a first parallel beam, which is then shifted toward the receiving component by an optical axis offset device before being emitted. The detector is used to detect the echo signal received by the receiving component.

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