Sensing systems, electronic and electric systems and electronic and electric devices

Abstract

The application discloses a sensing system, an electronic and electrical system and an electronic and electrical equipment, wherein the sensing system comprises at least one optical transceiver component, at least one optical sensor and at least one light splitting device, the optical transceiver component is used for mutual conversion between optical signals and electrical signals and sending downlink optical signals or receiving uplink optical signals; the optical sensor is used for emitting downlink optical signals to obtain first uplink optical signals; the first end of each light splitting device is connected with the corresponding optical transceiver component through a first optical fiber, and the second end of each light splitting device is adapted to be connected with at least one optical communication terminal through at least one second optical fiber to send downlink optical signals to the corresponding optical communication terminal or transmit second uplink optical signals of the optical communication terminal. The system of the application realizes fusion and multiplexing of optical communication and optical sensing, improves optical signal utilization, reduces power consumption, reduces the number of devices, the overall volume and the material cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a sensing system, an electronic and electrical system, and electronic and electrical equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In existing LiDAR systems, the optical sensor and optical communication system are designed and controlled independently. The optical sensor is used for environmental perception, while the optical communication system is used for data transmission. This independent control design requires configuring separate optical components and optical paths for each function, resulting in complex optical paths and numerous processing threads. Therefore, the system's processing complexity increases significantly, requiring higher computing power, which not only increases power consumption but also computational costs. Furthermore, the independent optical components and optical paths lead to an increase in the number of devices, increasing the overall size and weight of the system. This issue raises the system's manufacturing and maintenance costs, thus limiting the application of LiDAR technology in a wide range of fields, especially in scenarios with strict requirements on size, weight, and cost (such as autonomous vehicles and drones). Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, one object of the present invention is to propose a sensing system that realizes the fusion and multiplexing of optical communication and optical sensing, enabling multiple optical sensors and multiple optical communication terminals to share optical transceiver components, thereby improving optical signal utilization, unifying thermal management, reducing power consumption, simplifying system structure, and reducing the number of devices, overall size, and material costs.

[0004] The second objective of this invention is to provide an electronic and electrical system.

[0005] The third objective of this invention is to provide an electronic power device.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, a sensing system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: at least one optical transceiver component, which is used for mutual conversion between optical signals and electrical signals and for transmitting downlink optical signals or receiving uplink optical signals; at least one optical sensor, which is optically communicated with the optical transceiver component and is used to emit the downlink optical signal to obtain a first uplink optical signal; and at least one beam splitter, wherein a first end of each beam splitter is connected to the corresponding optical transceiver component via a first optical fiber, and a second end of each beam splitter is adapted to be connected to at least one optical communication terminal via at least one second optical fiber to transmit the downlink optical signal to the corresponding optical communication terminal or to transmit a second uplink optical signal from the optical communication terminal.

[0007] According to the sensing system of the present invention, the optical transceiver component can transmit downlink optical signals to at least one beam splitter via a first optical fiber. Each beam splitter can transmit the downlink optical signals to a corresponding optical communication terminal via at least one second optical fiber. Simultaneously, the optical transceiver component can also communicate optically with an optical sensor, transmitting the downlink optical signal along the optical fiber to the optical sensor. The optical sensor can emit the downlink optical signal to obtain a first uplink optical signal and transmit the first uplink optical signal back to the optical transceiver component along the optical fiber. Therefore, the sensing system of the present invention achieves the fusion and multiplexing of optical communication and optical sensing, allowing multiple optical sensors and multiple optical communication terminals to share the optical transceiver component. This multiplexing design effectively improves the utilization rate of optical signals, avoids the need for separate configuration of optical components and optical paths for each function in traditional designs, unifies thermal management, reduces unnecessary power consumption, simplifies the system structure, and reduces the number of devices, overall size, and material costs.

[0008] In some embodiments, the sensing system further includes an optical channel control device, which is connected to the at least one beam splitter and the at least one optical sensor via optical fiber, and is used to enable the on / off switching of the optical channel between the optical transceiver assembly and the at least one optical sensor.

[0009] In some embodiments, the optical channel control device includes: at least one optical switch, wherein a first common terminal of each optical switch is connected to a third terminal of the corresponding beam splitter via a third optical fiber, and at least one switching terminal of each optical switch is connected to the at least one optical sensor via at least one fourth optical fiber.

[0010] In some embodiments, the optical splitting device includes: an optical splitter, the optical splitter including a second common end and a plurality of branch ends, the second common end being connected to a corresponding optical transceiver component via the first optical fiber, and at least one of the branch ends being connected to at least one optical communication terminal via at least one second optical fiber.

[0011] In some embodiments, the optical splitter further includes a circulator, a first end of which is connected to a branch end of the optical splitter via an optical fiber, a second end of which is connected to the optical channel control device via an optical fiber, and a third end of which is connected to the corresponding optical transceiver component via the first optical fiber to transmit the first uplink optical signal and the downlink optical signal.

[0012] In some embodiments, the sensing system further includes an optical amplifier, a first end of which is connected to the optical transceiver assembly via the first optical fiber, and a second end of which is connected to the beam splitter, the optical amplifier being used to enhance the intensity of the optical signal.

[0013] In some embodiments, each of the optical transceiver components includes: a driving circuit and a laser, the driving circuit being electrically connected to the laser, the laser being connected to the beam splitter via the first optical fiber, and the driving circuit being used to control the laser to emit the downlink optical signal according to a driving signal.

[0014] In some embodiments, the optical transceiver assembly further includes a processing circuit and a photodetector, the processing circuit being electrically connected to the photodetector, the photodetector being connected to the beam splitter via the first optical fiber, and the photodetector being used to convert the uplink optical signal into an uplink electrical signal.

[0015] In some embodiments, the optical transceiver assembly includes a plurality of photodetectors for detecting uplink optical signals of different wavelengths; the optical transceiver assembly further includes a wavelength divider connected to the photodetectors and connected to the first optical fiber, the wavelength divider being used to separate the uplink optical signals of different wavelengths transmitted on the first optical fiber.

[0016] In some embodiments, the driving circuit is further configured to adjust the emission power of the laser based on the power demand of the sensing system.

[0017] In some embodiments, the at least one optical transceiver component is adapted to be disposed within the controller of the device in which the sensing system is located.

[0018] In some embodiments, the optical channel control device is further adapted to be connected to the controller via a first electrical line to achieve time synchronization and management between the optical channel control device and the controller, or to enable the controller to control the optical channel switching state and optical channel dwell time of the optical channel control device.

[0019] In some embodiments, the optical sensor includes at least one of an optical element and an optical motion assembly; the optical element is used to collimate or expand the downlink optical signal transmitted through the fourth optical fiber; and the optical motion assembly is used to adjust the beam divergence angle according to an angle drive signal to emit the downlink optical signal transmitted through the fourth optical fiber at a target divergence angle.

[0020] In some embodiments, the optical element is an optical device constructed at the end of the fourth optical fiber or a stand-alone optical device.

[0021] In some embodiments, the optical motion assembly includes an optical element and a motion mechanism, the motion mechanism being used to adjust the divergence angle of the optical element according to an angle drive signal.

[0022] In some embodiments, the optical motion component includes a drive power supply that supplies power to the motion mechanism, and the drive unit obtains the angle drive signal through a second circuit.

[0023] In some embodiments, the optical motion component further includes a drive unit connected to the motion mechanism via the second electrical circuit to send an angle drive signal to the motion mechanism.

[0024] In some embodiments, the angle drive signal is a repetitive periodic signal or a drive signal determined according to the requirements of the device in which the sensing system is located or the detection results of the sensing system.

[0025] In some embodiments, the optical sensor includes a lidar sensing component.

[0026] To achieve the above objectives, the electronic and electrical system of the second aspect of the present invention includes the sensing system described in the above embodiments.

[0027] According to the electronic and electrical system of the present invention, by employing the sensing system described in the above embodiments, the optical transceiver component can transmit downlink optical signals to at least one beam splitter via a first optical fiber. Each beam splitter can transmit the downlink optical signals to a corresponding optical communication terminal via at least one second optical fiber. Simultaneously, the optical transceiver component can also communicate optically with an optical sensor, transmitting the downlink optical signal along the optical fiber to the optical sensor. The optical sensor can emit the downlink optical signal to obtain a first uplink optical signal and transmit the first uplink optical signal back to the optical transceiver component along the optical fiber. Therefore, the sensing system of the present invention achieves the fusion and multiplexing of optical communication and optical sensing, enabling multiple optical sensors and multiple optical communication terminals to share the optical transceiver component. This multiplexing design effectively improves the utilization rate of optical signals, avoids the need for separate configuration of optical elements and optical paths for each function in traditional designs, unifies thermal management, reduces unnecessary power consumption, simplifies the system structure, and reduces the number of devices, overall size, and material costs.

[0028] In some embodiments, the electronic and electrical system includes at least one controller, and at least one optical transceiver component of the sensing system is disposed within the controller.

[0029] In some embodiments, the controller is connected to the optical channel control device of the sensing system via a first electrical line to achieve time synchronization with the optical channel control device and to manage or control the optical channel switching state and optical channel dwell time of the optical channel control device.

[0030] In some embodiments, the controller is also connected to the optical motion component of the sensing system via a second electrical line, and the controller is used to send an angle drive signal to the optical motion component according to the needs of the electronic and electrical system or the detection results of the sensing system.

[0031] In some embodiments, the electronic and electrical system further includes at least one optical communication terminal, which is connected to a branch end of the beam splitter of the sensing system via at least one second optical fiber.

[0032] In some embodiments, the optical communication terminal includes at least one of a camera and a display screen.

[0033] In some embodiments, the controller includes a domain controller or a central controller.

[0034] To achieve the above objectives, a third aspect of the present invention provides an electronic power device, which includes the sensing system of the above embodiment, and / or the electronic power device includes the electronic and electrical system of the above embodiment.

[0035] According to the electronic power system of the present invention, by employing the sensing system and / or electronic and electrical equipment of the above embodiments, the optical transceiver component can transmit downlink optical signals to at least one beam splitter via a first optical fiber. Each beam splitter can transmit the downlink optical signals to a corresponding optical communication terminal via at least one second optical fiber. Simultaneously, the optical transceiver component can also communicate optically with an optical sensor, transmitting the downlink optical signal along the optical fiber to the optical sensor. The optical sensor can emit the downlink optical signal to obtain a first uplink optical signal and transmit the first uplink optical signal back to the optical transceiver component along the optical fiber. Therefore, the sensing system of the present invention achieves the fusion and multiplexing of optical communication and optical sensing, enabling multiple optical sensors and multiple optical communication terminals to share the optical transceiver component. This multiplexing design effectively improves the utilization rate of optical signals, avoids the need for separate configuration of optical elements and optical paths for each function in traditional designs, unifies thermal management, reduces unnecessary power consumption, simplifies the system structure, and reduces the number of devices, overall size, and material costs.

[0036] In some embodiments, the electronic and electrical equipment includes at least one class of vehicles, light rail, trains, ships, drones, airplanes, rockets, streetlights, video surveillance equipment, automated industrial equipment, and communication base stations.

[0037] In some embodiments, the electronic and electrical equipment is a vehicle; In some embodiments, the sensing system includes a plurality of optical elements and a plurality of optical motion components; a sensing array consisting of a plurality of optical elements is provided on both sides of the front of the vehicle; at least one optical motion component is provided at the center of the front of the vehicle or at the front end of the roof; at least one optical element is provided on the left and right sides of the vehicle body respectively; and at least one optical motion component is provided on the left and right sides of the rear of the vehicle body respectively.

[0038] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0039] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a sensing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of adjustable luminous power and spectrophotometric analysis according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a conventional lidar according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of an optical element and an optical motion assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a block diagram of an electronic and electrical system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the distribution of optical elements and optical motion components on a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of beam adjustment according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the distribution of an optical communication terminal, a beam splitter, and a circulator on a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure label: Existing technology: LiDAR 1'; Drive circuit 11'; laser 12'; processing circuit 13'; photodetector 14'; optical motion assembly 22'; domain controller 60'.

[0041] This application: Electrical and electronic systems 100; Vehicles 200; Sensing system 1; First optical fiber 2; Second optical fiber 3; Third optical fiber 4; Fourth optical fiber 5; First electrical circuit 6; Second electrical circuit 7; Optical communication terminal 8; Optical transceiver unit 10; optical sensor 20; beam splitter 30; optical switch 40; optical amplifier 50; domain controller 60; 11. Drive circuit; 12. Laser; 13. Processing circuit; 14. Photodetector; 15. Wavelength splitter; 21. Optical element; 22. Optical motion assembly; 31. Beam splitter; 32. Circulator; Sports organization 221. Detailed Implementation

[0042] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. The embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary. The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below.

[0043] The following is for reference. Figure 1 A sensing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0044] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a sensing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the sensing system 1 includes at least one optical transceiver component 10, at least one optical sensor 20, and at least one beam splitter 30.

[0045] In some embodiments, the optical transceiver component 10 can be used for mutual conversion between optical signals and electrical signals, as well as for transmitting downlink optical signals and receiving uplink optical signals.

[0046] The downlink optical signal can carry transmission data or control information for data exchange with the optical communication terminal 8, or for activating the optical sensor 20. The bandwidth and frequency of the downlink optical signal can be flexibly adjusted according to specific applications. For example, in short-distance communication, a higher frequency (shorter wavelength) optical signal can be selected, while in long-distance communication, a lower frequency (longer wavelength) optical signal is used to improve signal transmission efficiency. Furthermore, the downlink optical signal can be multiplexed using modulation techniques to combine multiple information signals into a single signal, thereby improving signal transmission efficiency and bandwidth utilization.

[0047] In some embodiments, the uplink optical signal may refer to the optical signal transmitted back to the optical transceiver assembly 10 from the optical sensor 20 or the optical communication terminal 8. This signal may be generated by reflection or scattering from surrounding objects, or actively transmitted by the optical communication terminal 8 and returned to the optical transceiver assembly 10 to provide feedback on environmental information or other device data. Furthermore, the uplink optical signal transmitted back from the optical sensor 20 and the uplink optical signal returned from the optical communication terminal 8 may have different wavelengths to distinguish the feedback from the optical sensor 20 and the optical communication terminal 8, respectively.

[0048] In some embodiments, at least one optical transceiver component 10 may be one optical transceiver component 10, two optical transceiver components 10, five optical transceiver components 10, ten optical transceiver components 10, or other numbers of optical transceiver components 10. The specific number of optical transceiver components 10 can be flexibly set according to factors such as the system's communication requirements, transmission bandwidth requirements, the number of optical sensors 20 and optical communication terminals 8, system redundancy and reliability requirements, etc., to adapt to the needs of different application scenarios, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0049] In some embodiments, the optical sensor 20 communicates optically with the optical transceiver assembly 10 and can be used to emit downlink optical signals to obtain a first uplink optical signal. Specifically, the optical sensor 20 can receive downlink optical signals transmitted from the optical transceiver assembly 10 and emit them to objects in the surrounding environment. When the downlink optical signal encounters an object, it is reflected, and the reflected first uplink optical signal returns to the optical sensor 20. The optical sensor 20 then transmits the first uplink optical signal back to the optical transceiver assembly 10. By analyzing the time difference of the signal return, the system can calculate the distance, position, or other environmental information of the surrounding objects.

[0050] In some embodiments, at least one optical sensor 20 may be one optical sensor 20, two optical sensors 20, five optical sensors 20, ten optical sensors 20 or other numbers of optical sensors 20. The specific number of optical sensors 20 can be flexibly set according to factors such as detection range and coverage angle requirements, environmental complexity and accuracy requirements, system redundancy and reliability requirements, weight and volume, and economic cost, in order to adapt to the needs of different application scenarios, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0051] In some embodiments, the beam splitter 30 may refer to an optical element 21 used to distribute or split optical signals, for splitting downlink optical signals from the optical transceiver assembly 10 to different optical communication terminals 8, and for combining second uplink optical signals from each optical communication terminal 8 into a single optical signal before transmitting it back to the optical transceiver assembly 10. During this process, the working mechanism of the beam splitter 30 allows multiple optical channels to be simultaneously activated, thereby achieving parallel transmission of multiple signals and improving system efficiency and communication capabilities.

[0052] In some embodiments, the first end of each optical splitter 30 is connected to the corresponding optical transceiver assembly 10 via a first optical fiber 2, and the second end of each optical splitter 30 is adapted to be connected to at least one optical communication terminal 8 via at least one second optical fiber 3 to send downlink optical signals to the corresponding optical communication terminal 8 or transmit the second uplink optical signal of the optical communication terminal 8.

[0053] In some embodiments, at least one optical splitter 30 may be one, two, five, ten, or other numbers of optical splitters 30. At least one second optical fiber 3 may be one, two, five, ten, or other numbers of second optical fibers 3. At least one optical communication terminal 8 may be one, two, five, ten, or other numbers of optical communication terminals 8. The number of second optical fibers 3 corresponds to the number of optical communication terminals 8. The specific number is not limited herein.

[0054] According to the sensing system 1 of the present invention, the optical transceiver component 10 can transmit downlink optical signals to at least one beam splitter 30 via a first optical fiber 2. Each beam splitter 30 can transmit the downlink optical signals to a corresponding optical communication terminal 8 via at least one second optical fiber 3. Simultaneously, the optical transceiver component 10 can also perform optical communication with the optical sensor 20, transmitting the downlink optical signals along the optical fiber to the optical sensor 20. The optical sensor 20 can emit the downlink optical signals to obtain a first uplink optical signal and transmit the first uplink optical signal back to the optical transceiver component 10 along the optical fiber. Therefore, the sensing system 1 of the present invention achieves the fusion and multiplexing of optical communication and optical sensing, allowing multiple optical sensors 20 and multiple optical communication terminals 8 to share the optical transceiver component 10. This multiplexing design effectively improves the utilization rate of optical signals, avoids the need for separate configuration of optical elements and optical paths for each function in traditional designs, unifies thermal management, reduces unnecessary power consumption, simplifies the system structure, and reduces the number of devices, overall size, and material costs.

[0055] In some embodiments, the sensing system 1 further includes an optical channel control device. The optical channel control device is connected to at least one beam splitter 30 and at least one optical sensor 20 via optical fibers, respectively, and is used to realize the opening and closing and switching of the optical channel between the optical transceiver assembly 10 and the at least one optical sensor 20.

[0056] Specifically, the optical channel control device is mainly used to control the path selection of optical signals and determine whether an optical signal channel is established between the optical transceiver component 10 and the optical sensor 20. It achieves different optical channel switching by adjusting the connection status of the optical fiber. In particular, the optical channel control device can control the switching of the optical path in a timely manner through dynamic switching or adjustment mechanisms, thereby selecting the appropriate optical channel according to system requirements.

[0057] In some embodiments, the optical channel control device includes at least one optical switch 40. The optical switch 40 can refer to an optical element 21 used to control the optical signal transmission path, capable of selectively switching the optical path through different principles such as mechanical, electro-optic, and acousto-optic mechanisms. It is particularly important to note that the optical switch 40 allows at most one optical channel to be active at any given time to ensure that the optical signal is not transmitted on multiple paths simultaneously, thereby avoiding signal conflicts and interference.

[0058] In some embodiments, the optical switch 40 can be of different types, such as a mechanical optical switch 40, a magneto-optical effect optical switch 40, an electro-optical effect optical switch 40, an acousto-optical effect optical switch 40, a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) optical switch 40, and an all-optical switch 40. Preferably, the electro-optical effect optical switch 40 and the MEMS optical switch 40 are suitable for many application scenarios due to their fast response speed and lower implementation difficulty.

[0059] In some embodiments, the first common end of each optical switch 40 is connected to the third end of the corresponding optical splitter 30 via a third optical fiber 4, and at least one switching end of each optical switch 40 is connected to at least one optical sensor 20 via at least one fourth optical fiber 5. The optical switch 40 is used to realize the opening and closing and switching of the optical channel between the optical transceiver component 10 and at least one optical sensor 20, so as to ensure that the optical signal can be flexibly transmitted between different optical sensors 20.

[0060] In some embodiments, at least one optical switch 40 may be one optical switch 40, two optical switches 40, five optical switches 40, ten optical switches 40 or other numbers of optical switches 40. The specific number of optical switches 40 can be flexibly set according to factors such as the system's transmission bandwidth requirements, the number of optical sensors 20, the system's redundancy and reliability requirements, and is not specifically limited here.

[0061] In some embodiments, the first optical fiber 2, the second optical fiber 3, the third optical fiber 4, and the fourth optical fiber 5 can be single-mode optical fibers or multimode optical fibers. Single-mode optical fibers allow optical signals to propagate in a single mode, have low transmission loss, and are suitable for long-distance, high-speed signal transmission, but are more expensive and require precise optical alignment. Multimode optical fibers can transmit multiple modes of optical signals, are suitable for shorter-distance signal transmission, and are less expensive, but because different modes of optical signals propagate at different speeds, the signal is prone to attenuation and distortion during long-distance transmission.

[0062] In some embodiments, to adapt to automotive applications (such as high temperature, vibration, humidity, external damage, etc.), various protective materials can be placed around the optical fiber to form an optical cable. These protective materials can prevent the optical fiber from being physically damaged, while ensuring its stable operation in harsh environments. Furthermore, to reduce space occupation and lower costs, optical fibers can also be combined with electrical wires to form hybrid optoelectronic cables. Hybrid optoelectronic cables combine optical fibers and electrical cables, enabling the simultaneous transmission of optical and electrical signals, reducing wiring complexity and installation space requirements.

[0063] In some embodiments, an optical fiber can be understood as an optical link, which can be single-fiber bidirectional or dual-fiber bidirectional. Single-fiber bidirectional refers to using a single optical fiber for bidirectional communication (i.e., sending and receiving signals), where wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology can be used to divide the signal into different wavelengths for simultaneous transmission and reception. Single-fiber bidirectional can also refer to using two optical fibers, one for transmitting signals and the other for receiving signals, which reduces signal interference and improves transmission quality.

[0064] In some embodiments, a fiber optic link can consist of a single optical cable or multiple optical cables spliced ​​together. The fiber optic link can be in the form of a common cable or a flat film, a design that helps to adapt to different installation requirements and flexible cabling needs in vehicle environments.

[0065] According to the sensing system 1 of the present invention, the optical transceiver component 10 can transmit downlink optical signals to at least one beam splitter 30 via a first optical fiber 2. Each beam splitter 30 can transmit the downlink optical signals to a corresponding optical communication terminal 8 via at least one second optical fiber 3. Simultaneously, the optical transceiver component 10 can also transmit downlink optical signals to a corresponding optical switch 40 via at least one beam splitter 30. Each optical switch 40 can control the on / off state of a corresponding optical channel, thereby controlling the transmission of the downlink optical signal along a fourth optical fiber 5 to a corresponding optical sensor 20. This design, which distributes the same optical signal to multiple optical communication terminals 8 and multiple optical sensors 20 via beam splitters 30 and optical switches 40, achieves the fusion and multiplexing of optical communication and optical sensing. This allows multiple optical sensors 20 and multiple optical communication terminals 8 to share the optical transceiver component 10. This multiplexing design effectively improves the utilization rate of optical signals, avoids the need for separate configuration of optical elements 21 and optical paths for each function in traditional designs, and reduces unnecessary power consumption. Meanwhile, the dynamic switching function of the optical channel further simplifies the system structure, reduces the number of components, overall size and material cost, thereby improving the system's economy and wide applicability.

[0066] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1As shown, the optical splitter 30 includes an optical splitter 31. The function of the optical splitter 31 is to distribute downlink optical signals to multiple optical communication terminals 8. The optical splitter 31 includes a second common end and multiple branch ends. The second common end is connected to a corresponding optical transceiver assembly 10 via a first optical fiber 2, and at least one branch end is connected to at least one optical communication terminal 8 via at least one second optical fiber 3.

[0067] Specifically, the optical transceiver assembly 10 transmits the downlink optical signal to the second common terminal of the optical splitter 31. The first optical fiber 2 serves as the transmission channel for the optical signal, introducing the signal from the optical transceiver assembly 10 into the optical splitter 31. The optical signal received from the second common terminal is distributed to multiple branch terminals within the optical splitter 31. Each branch terminal is connected to a different optical communication terminal 8 via a second optical fiber 3 for optical signal transmission. These optical communication terminals 8 can be different control units or other communication devices within the vehicle. Each optical communication terminal 8 receives the distributed optical signal via the second optical fiber 3; these optical signals can carry data, control information, or other transmission content. During transmission, the optical signals received by the optical communication terminal 8 can be modulated, demodulated, or transmitted to other systems for further processing. Furthermore, after receiving the downlink optical signal, the optical communication terminal 8 can also transmit the second uplink optical signal back to the optical splitter 31 via the corresponding second optical fiber 3, and then, through a beam combining method, return the second uplink optical signal to the optical transceiver assembly 10 via the first optical fiber 2.

[0068] Therefore, through the design of the optical splitter 31, multiple optical communication terminals 8 can share the same optical transceiver component 10, avoiding the need to configure an optical transceiver component 10 separately for each optical communication terminal 8, thus saving hardware costs and space. The optical splitter 31 achieves efficient multiplexing of optical signals and reduces system power consumption and complexity by reducing the number of optical transceiver components 10. This design also improves resource utilization and meets the stringent requirements for space, cost, and power consumption in applications such as automotive and drones.

[0069] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the optical splitter 30 also includes a circulator 32. The circulator 32 is a unidirectional optical transmission device, meaning that optical signals entering from the first end of the circulator 32 are only output from the first end, and optical signals entering from the second end are only output from the third end. The main function of the circulator 32 is to ensure the correct transmission of downlink and uplink optical signals in the system by connecting the optical transceiver assembly 10, the optical splitter 31, and the optical switch 40 via optical fiber. Simultaneously, the circulator 32 enables the system to handle data transmission from multiple optical communication terminals 8 and multiple optical sensors 20, realizing the fusion and multiplexing of optical communication and optical sensing, and improving the utilization rate of optical signals.

[0070] In some embodiments, the first end of the circulator 32 is connected to a branch end of the optical splitter 31 via an optical fiber, the second end of the circulator 32 is connected to the optical channel control device via an optical fiber, and the third end of the circulator 32 is connected to the corresponding optical transceiver assembly 10 via the first optical fiber 2, so as to transmit the first uplink optical signal and the downlink optical signal.

[0071] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the sensing system 1 also includes an optical amplifier 50. The main function of the optical amplifier 50 is to enhance the energy intensity of the optical signal to compensate for signal attenuation and loss during optical fiber transmission. Since the optical signal is inevitably affected by absorption, scattering, and nonlinear effects of the optical fiber material during long-distance transmission, its intensity gradually decreases. Therefore, the optical amplifier 50 can effectively improve signal quality, ensuring that the optical signal maintains sufficient power and clarity during long-distance transmission. Furthermore, unlike other types of signal amplifiers, the optical amplifier 50 can directly amplify the optical signal without first converting it to an electrical signal, thus avoiding potential losses during signal conversion and improving system efficiency and reliability. In addition, the optical amplifier 50 not only enhances signal strength but also maintains the high-speed transmission and large bandwidth characteristics of optical communication while reducing signal distortion, ensuring accurate data transmission.

[0072] In some embodiments, the first end of the optical amplifier 50 is connected to the optical transceiver assembly 10 via the first optical fiber 2, and the second end of the optical amplifier 50 is connected to the beam splitter. The optical amplifier 50 is used to enhance the intensity of the optical signal and improve the sensing and detection effect. In this case, the emission power and sensitivity of the optical transceiver assembly 10 can be reduced to broaden its selection range.

[0073] Specifically, after the optical signal is transmitted from the optical transceiver assembly 10, the signal is first transmitted to the optical amplifier 50 through the first optical fiber 2. Inside the optical amplifier 50, the signal is boosted by a gain medium (such as an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA), a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), or a Raman fiber amplifier (RFA)). Subsequently, the enhanced optical signal is transmitted to the beam splitter 31 through the second optical fiber 3. The beam splitter 31 distributes or splits the signal and transmits it to multiple optical communication terminals 8 or optical switches 40 to ensure that all terminals can obtain a sufficiently strong optical signal.

[0074] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1As shown, each optical transceiver component 10 includes a driving circuit 11 and a laser 12. The driving circuit 11 controls the operating state of the laser 12 according to an input driving signal. This driving signal can come from a central control unit (such as an MCU, FPGA, DSP, or an upper-layer optical communication module). The driving circuit 11 adjusts the current or voltage to cause the laser 12 to generate a downlink optical signal, which is then transmitted to the beam splitter 31 via the first optical fiber 2.

[0075] In some embodiments, the driving circuit 11 is electrically connected to the laser 12, the laser 12 is connected to the beam splitter via the first optical fiber 2, and the driving circuit 11 is used to control the laser 12 to emit a downlink optical signal according to the driving signal.

[0076] In some embodiments, the laser 12 can be of different types to suit different application requirements, such as: VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser), FP (Fabry-Perot), DFB (Distributed Feedback Laser), EML (Electro-Absorption Modulated Laser), quantum dot laser, etc.

[0077] Among them, VCSEL is a semiconductor laser 12 that emits laser light from its top surface, suitable for short-distance high-speed communication, and features low power consumption and high efficiency. FP is a laser 12 that uses two mirrors to form a resonant cavity, utilizing the optical resonant cavity to enhance the stability and bandwidth of the laser output, suitable for medium-to-short-distance optical communication. DFB can achieve single-mode operation by introducing periodic refractive index changes in the active region, suitable for long-distance and high-precision communication. EML combines the functions of laser 12 and modulator, providing higher modulation bandwidth and better extinction ratio, suitable for ultra-high-speed optical communication. Quantum dot laser 12 uses quantum dot material as the gain medium, and has advantages such as low power consumption, high efficiency, and wide temperature range, suitable for high-performance and long-life applications.

[0078] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1As shown, the optical transceiver assembly 10 also includes a processing circuit 13 and a photodetector 14. The photodetector 14 receives the uplink optical signal and converts it into an uplink electrical signal. The processing circuit 13 receives the uplink electrical signal output from the photodetector 14 and performs further processing, such as amplification, filtering, demodulation, and data decoding.

[0079] In some embodiments, the processing circuit 13 is electrically connected to the photodetector 14, which is connected to the beam splitter via the first optical fiber 2. The photodetector 14 is used to convert the uplink optical signal into an uplink electrical signal.

[0080] Specifically, when the optical transceiver component 10 in the system transmits a downlink optical signal to excite the optical sensor 20 or the optical communication terminal 8 to operate, the uplink optical signal generated by reflection, scattering, or communication feedback can be transmitted through optical fiber to the beam splitter 31, and then guided by the beam splitter 31 to the photodetector 14 in the optical transceiver component 10. After receiving the optical signal, the photodetector 14 can convert the uplink optical signal into a corresponding uplink electrical signal. This conversion process depends on the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the photodetector 14, and its output electrical signal is a current or voltage signal. Then, the processing circuit 13 amplifies, filters, corrects, and performs analog-to-digital conversion on the uplink electrical signal converted by the photodetector 14, thereby extracting useful data information. In this way, the uplink optical signal can be efficiently converted and processed, providing real-time feedback and data support for the entire system.

[0081] In some embodiments, the photodetector 14 can be of different types to suit different application requirements, such as PIN, APD (Avalanche Photodiode), SPAD (Single-Photon Avalanche Diode), SiPM (Silicon Photomultiplier), etc.

[0082] PIN can refer to a laser 12 containing a PIN photodiode, which has high speed and high sensitivity, enabling precise detection of changes in optical signals. APD is a photodetector that increases photocurrent through the avalanche multiplication effect. APD utilizes the avalanche effect, where when a photon strikes a semiconductor, electrons are accelerated under the influence of an electric field and collide with other electrons, triggering an electron avalanche effect and causing a significant increase in the current of the optical signal. Due to its high sensitivity and high gain, APD is particularly suitable for applications requiring precise detection of weak optical signals, such as long-distance optical communication and imaging in low-light environments. SPAD is a special type of APD; compared to ordinary APDs, SPADs can accurately detect the presence of a single photon and are widely used in quantum communication, lidar, and other applications. SiPM is a solid-state photodetector based on the avalanche principle, possessing advantages such as high gain, small size, and low-voltage operation. It is suitable for high-precision photon counting applications, especially in scenarios requiring precise counting under low light intensity, such as high-energy physics experiments, medical imaging, and photonic communication.

[0083] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the optical transceiver assembly 10 may include multiple photodetectors 14. These photodetectors 14 are used to detect uplink optical signals of different wavelengths and convert them into corresponding uplink electrical signals for subsequent signal processing and data analysis. This is because the optical sensor 20 and the optical communication terminal 8 transmit uplink optical signals of different wavelengths; using multiple photodetectors 14 ensures that signals of each wavelength can be detected efficiently and accurately.

[0084] In some embodiments, the optical transceiver assembly 10 further includes a wavelength division multiplexer 15, which is connected to a photodetector 14 and a first optical fiber 2. The wavelength division multiplexer 15 is used to separate uplink optical signals of different wavelengths transmitted on the first optical fiber 2. This separation allows signals of different wavelengths to be transmitted to the corresponding photodetectors 14 for detection, thereby avoiding interference between signals and realizing parallel processing of multiple signals.

[0085] Specifically, the optical transceiver assembly 10 can emit a downlink optical signal with a wavelength of λ1. This signal can be transmitted to the optical splitter 31 via the first optical fiber 2. The optical splitter 31 can simultaneously broadcast the downlink optical signal to the optical switch 40 and multiple optical communication terminals 8. Among them, a portion of the λ1 downlink optical signal is distributed by the optical switch 40 and sequentially enters each optical sensor 20 and is emitted out for the scanning task of the lidar. After the downlink optical signals emitted by these optical sensors 20 are reflected by objects or obstacles, the wavelength of the first uplink optical signal reflected back is still λ1 (the same as the downlink optical signal).

[0086] Furthermore, the first uplink optical signal passes through the optical switch 40, enters from the second end of the circulator 32, exits from the third end, and is finally transmitted along the first optical fiber 2 to the optical transceiver assembly 10. The function of the circulator 32 is to ensure that the signal can flow correctly from the ports of the circulator 32 without signal loss.

[0087] Furthermore, another portion of the downlink optical signal of λ1 can be received by each optical communication terminal 8. This signal contains ID information, which is a unique identifier for each optical communication terminal 8. It allows the optical communication terminal 8 to respond only to signals with a specific ID. This design can avoid signal confusion or misreception, ensuring that each optical communication terminal 8 only processes the information it should process.

[0088] Furthermore, once each optical communication terminal 8 identifies the specific ID information, it will sequentially send a second uplink optical signal with a wavelength of λ2. The second uplink optical signal is transmitted along the second optical fiber 3 to the optical splitter 31, which can then transmit the second uplink optical signal along the first optical fiber 2 to the optical transceiver assembly 10.

[0089] Furthermore, the wavelength division multiplexer 15 in the optical transceiver assembly 10 can separate the uplink optical signals of different wavelengths (λ1 and λ2) transmitted on the first optical fiber 2. The uplink optical signals of λ1 and λ2 are then fed into their respective photodetectors 14. Each photodetector 14 is responsible for detecting the uplink optical signal of its corresponding wavelength and converting it into an uplink electrical signal for further processing by the processing circuit 13. This entire process achieves the fusion and multiplexing of optical communication and optical sensing, improving optical signal utilization, reducing power consumption, and decreasing the number of devices, overall size, and material costs.

[0090] In some embodiments, the driving circuit 11 is further configured to adjust the emission power of the laser 12 based on the power requirements of the sensing system 1. The driving circuit 11 can control the emission power of the laser 12 by adjusting the current, pulse width, or other parameters, thereby affecting the intensity of the optical signal emitted by the laser 12. According to changes in system requirements, the driving circuit 11 can dynamically adjust the power of the laser 12 to ensure that the system can always provide the required optical signal intensity under different operating conditions.

[0091] Specifically, such as Figure 2 As shown, let the emitting power of laser 12 be... The minimum transmit power requirement for the optical sensor is The minimum power requirement of optical communication terminal 8 is The additional loss of the beam splitter 31 is The insertion loss of circulator 32 is The insertion loss of the optical switch 40 is The total link loss (fiber optic cable, connector) is IL. Therefore, the emission power of laser 12 is... .in, For the loss of the first fiber 2, For the loss of the fourth fiber 5, This represents the loss of the second fiber 3.

[0092] In some embodiments, when the link includes an optical amplifier 50, the gain power is set to... Then the luminous power of laser 12 .

[0093] In some embodiments, the beam splitter 31 has an adjustable splitting ratio. The function of the beam splitter 31 is to distribute the input optical signal into different paths according to a certain ratio; the splitting ratio determines how the optical signal is distributed to different channels. Because the splitting ratio is adjustable, the user can adjust the signal distribution ratio according to their needs. The splitting ratio of each channel of the beam splitter 31 is shown below. .

[0094] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the traditional working process of lidar 1' is as follows: the domain controller 60' transmits control information to lidar 1' via electrical signals. Then, the drive circuit 11' sends electrical signals to cause multiple lasers 12' to emit light signals. These light signals are then irradiated onto multiple measurement points by a complex optical motion component 22'. The reflected light signals are then again incident on the photodetector 14' via the optical motion component 22'. The photodetector 14' converts the light signals into electrical signals and sends them to the processing circuit 13'. Finally, the electrical signals are output from lidar 1' and transmitted to the domain controller 60' via a long cable.

[0095] In embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 4 As shown, at least one optical transceiver component 10 is adapted to be disposed within the controller of the device in which the sensing system 1 is located. By integrating the optical transceiver component 10 into the controller of the device, on the one hand, the electrical signal transmission path can be significantly reduced, thereby effectively reducing power consumption and the overall cost of the system. On the other hand, the integrated design can centralize data processing within the controller, making full use of the controller's computing resources, thereby improving computing efficiency and processing speed. In addition, this design can also reduce the internal connection complexity of the system, reduce potential signal loss and interference, and improve the stability and reliability of the system.

[0096] In some embodiments, the optical channel control device is also adapted to be connected to the controller via the first electrical line 6 to realize time synchronization and management between the optical channel control device and the controller, or to realize the controller to control the optical channel switching state and optical channel dwell time of the optical channel control device.

[0097] Specifically, such as Figure 4 As shown, the controller sends a synchronization signal to the optical switch 40 in real time via the first circuit 6, ensuring that the optical switch 40 switches to the designated state at a precise moment. For example, the controller can control the optical switch 40 to switch from one optical path to another at a specific time point according to system requirements. Through this precise time synchronization, the system can ensure that data transmission between different optical channels does not interfere with each other, thereby improving system stability.

[0098] Furthermore, the controller can not only control the switching of the optical switch 40 (i.e., switching from one optical channel to another), but also control the duration for which the optical switch 40 remains in a specific state. By precisely adjusting the switching frequency and dwell time of the optical switch 40, the optical switch 40 can flexibly adjust the operating time of each signal channel. This fine-grained control can significantly improve the system's performance, making it adaptable to different task requirements.

[0099] In some embodiments, the first line 6 transmits signals at a low rate, has excellent electromagnetic compatibility, and uses thinner, lighter cables. This design reduces system complexity and physical size while ensuring efficient signal transmission and stable system operation.

[0100] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the optical sensor 20 includes at least one of an optical element 21 and an optical motion assembly 22. The optical element 21 is used to collimate or expand the downlink optical signal transmitted through the fourth optical fiber 5, and the optical motion assembly 22 is used to adjust the beam divergence angle according to the angle drive signal to emit the downlink optical signal transmitted through the fourth optical fiber 5 at the target divergence angle.

[0101] Collimation refers to focusing a light beam into a parallel beam, thereby reducing scattering during transmission, maintaining a longer transmission distance, and lower optical loss. Optical element 21 adjusts the beam's propagation angle to ensure the optical signal propagates as straight as possible during transmission. When collimated, the beam is emitted nearly parallel, and the spot falls within a very small area. High-precision, large-area detection can be achieved by using multiple fourth optical fibers 5 and optical elements 21. Beam expansion, on the other hand, increases the beam's divergence angle, allowing the beam to cover a wider area during projection. When expanded, the beam forms a certain diffusion angle, and the spot falls on a larger surface. A single fourth optical fiber 5 and optical element 21 can achieve large-area detection, but the accuracy is low, and it cannot distinguish specific locations and shapes.

[0102] In some embodiments, the optical motion component 22 functions to adjust the beam divergence angle according to the angle drive signal. By changing the beam divergence angle, the optical motion component 22 can dynamically adjust the coverage area of ​​the beam, enabling the system to flexibly adapt to different detection requirements. For example, when precise measurement of a specific target is required, the optical motion component 22 can reduce the beam divergence angle to improve the beam's focusing and detection accuracy; while when a wide scan of a certain area is required, the optical motion component 22 can increase the beam divergence angle to achieve wider detection.

[0103] In some embodiments, the optical element 21 is an optical device constructed at the end of the fourth optical fiber 5 or a stand-alone optical device. This means that the optical element 21 can be not only part of the optical fiber itself, but also an external optical device assembled on the optical fiber without the need for an external power source (i.e., a passive device).

[0104] Specifically, the optical element 21 can be directly integrated into the end of the fourth optical fiber 5. As an optical signal transmission channel, the end of the fourth optical fiber 5 can undergo specialized optical processing or design (such as forming an optical fiber sphere, fiber grating, etc.) to adjust the beam to the desired shape, achieving precise collimation or beam expansion. This design of integrating the optical element 21 at the fiber end simplifies the overall structure of the optical system, because the optical element 21 is integrated with the optical fiber, allowing the optical signal to be directly adjusted at the end. Since the optical signal is processed at the end of the transmission process, propagation loss and interference are reduced, improving the quality and stability of the optical signal.

[0105] In some embodiments, independent optical devices may include individual optical elements 21 such as lenses, optical prisms, and mirrors. These independent optical elements 21 can be connected to the end of an optical fiber, receive the optical signals transmitted through the fiber, and further perform functional adjustments such as collimation and beam expansion. Compared with integrated optical elements 21, independent optical devices can provide higher adjustment accuracy and flexibility, adapting to different optical needs.

[0106] In some embodiments, the optical motion assembly 22 includes an optical element 21 and a motion mechanism 221, the motion mechanism 221 being used to adjust the divergence angle of the optical element 21 according to an angle drive signal. Specifically, the motion mechanism 221 can achieve beam angle adjustment in different ways, such as mechanical rotation, rotating mirrors, rotating prisms, or MEMS micromirrors. These methods can reflect or deflect the beam to different angles, thereby expanding the detection range or achieving precise beam pointing.

[0107] Mechanical rotation can refer to the reciprocating scanning of the fiber optic end at a certain angle, meaning the beam performs a periodic, reciprocating rotational scan within a certain range. A rotating mirror can change the propagation direction of the beam, directing it to different angles. A rotating prism can change the propagation path of the beam, thereby controlling its direction. MEMS micromirrors utilize tiny mirrors, controlled by voltage to vibrate and rapidly change the beam's direction. This method is commonly used in high-speed scanning, miniaturization, and precision control applications.

[0108] Preferably, compared with other adjustment methods, mechanical rotation has fewer parts, a simpler structure, and occupies less space, making it more suitable for applications with high size requirements, such as in-vehicle environments.

[0109] In some embodiments, the optical motion component 22 includes a drive power supply for providing electrical support to the motion mechanism 221. Specifically, the drive power supply drives the motor (such as a stepper motor, servo motor, etc.) in the motion mechanism 221 by outputting a stable voltage and current, thereby enabling the optical element 21 to perform rotational or displacement operations. The drive power supply ensures the stable operation of the motion mechanism 221 and avoids inaccurate adjustment of the optical element 21 or system instability due to power fluctuations.

[0110] In some embodiments, the driving power supply can be a DC power supply, an AC power supply, or a high-efficiency, low-power battery. The choice of driving power supply will directly affect the system's power consumption, size, and long-term operational stability.

[0111] In some embodiments, the drive unit receives an angle drive signal via the second circuit 7. The angle drive signal can be a digital signal or an analog signal, used to indicate the desired angle adjustment. The type of signal depends on the specific design requirements of the system; digital signals are suitable for high-precision control, while analog signals facilitate smooth adjustment.

[0112] In some embodiments, the optical motion component 22 further includes a drive unit connected to the motion mechanism 221 via a second electrical line 7 to send an angle drive signal to the motion mechanism 221. Driven by the angle drive signal, the motion mechanism 221 can change the exit, reception, and divergence angles of the light beam. The second electrical line 7 serves as a signal transmission channel, ensuring that the signal reaches the motion mechanism 221 efficiently and accurately, thereby achieving real-time angle adjustment of the optical element 21. The second electrical line 7 features low latency and high reliability to ensure the real-time performance and accuracy of signal transmission.

[0113] In some embodiments, the angle drive signal is a repetitive periodic signal. Specifically, the periodic signal can refer to the angle drive signal being generated periodically by the control system inside the optical motion component 22, without the need for external control commands. When the drive signal is generated internally by the system, its signal is periodic and periodically drives the optical element 21 to perform actions such as rotation or sweeping. This periodic signal ensures that the optical element 21 repeatedly adjusts the beam direction according to a set time interval, thereby guaranteeing continuous and stable scanning and data acquisition.

[0114] Alternatively, the angle drive signal is a drive signal determined based on the requirements of the device where sensor system 1 is located or the detection results of sensor system 1. Unlike repetitive periodic signals, this type of drive signal is adjusted in real time according to the operating state of the system or changes in the external environment. This angle drive signal is generated by the controller of the device where sensor system 1 is located.

[0115] Specifically, the drive signal determined based on the needs of the device in which the sensing system 1 is located is a signal dynamically adjusted according to the operational requirements of the device under specific tasks. For example, when an autonomous driving system is traveling at high speed, it may need a larger divergence angle to scan more distant targets; while when traveling at low speed, it may need a smaller divergence angle to improve near-range detection accuracy. In this case, the system can dynamically generate an angle drive signal that matches the current needs of the device. The drive signal determined based on the detection results of the sensing system 1 is a drive signal dynamically generated based on the feedback from the optical sensor 20 (e.g., detection results such as distance measurement, object position, and speed). For example, if the system detects a distant object, the controller may generate a larger angle drive signal to increase the divergence angle of the beam; if the system detects a nearby obstacle, it may reduce the divergence angle of the beam to provide higher measurement accuracy. This drive signal is based on real-time detection results, ensuring that the system can make adaptive adjustments according to specific circumstances.

[0116] In some embodiments, the optical sensor 20 includes a lidar sensing component. The lidar sensing component illuminates a target object by emitting a laser beam and obtains information such as the target's distance, speed, and direction by analyzing the light signal reflected back from the object. The lidar sensing component can provide high-precision 3D point cloud data, which can be used to build environmental models, identify obstacles, and track targets. Lidar sensing components have wide applications in autonomous driving, drones, industrial automation, and terrain surveying.

[0117] Furthermore, lidar sensing components can effectively detect objects at a distance, especially in complex environmental conditions (such as rain, fog, etc.). Compared to other sensors (such as cameras, ultrasonic sensors, etc.), lidar sensing components have stronger detection capabilities. In these harsh environments, lidar sensing components ensure the reliability and stability of the system through the penetrating power and accurate measurement of reflected signals from the laser beam.

[0118] The following is for reference. Figure 5 An electronic and electrical system according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0119] Figure 5 This is a block diagram of an electronic and electrical system according to an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the electronic and electrical system 100 includes the sensing system 1 described in the above embodiment. The electronic and electrical system 100 can be any device involved in power transmission, conversion, or management, and can be used in fields such as industry, energy, communications, automation, consumer electronics, transportation, and smart manufacturing.

[0120] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electronic and electrical system 100, by employing the sensing system 1 described in the above embodiment, allows the optical transceiver component 10 to transmit downlink optical signals to at least one beam splitter 30 via a first optical fiber 2. Each beam splitter 30 can transmit the downlink optical signal to a corresponding optical communication terminal 8 via at least one second optical fiber 3. Simultaneously, the optical transceiver component 10 can also transmit the downlink optical signal to a corresponding optical switch 40 via at least one beam splitter 30. Each optical switch 40 can control the on / off state of a corresponding optical channel, thereby controlling the transmission of the downlink optical signal along a fourth optical fiber 5 to a corresponding optical sensor 20. This design, which distributes the same optical signal to multiple optical communication terminals 8 and multiple optical sensors 20 via beam splitters 30 and optical switches 40, achieves the fusion and multiplexing of optical communication and optical sensing. This allows multiple optical sensors 20 and multiple optical communication terminals 8 to share the optical transceiver component 10. This multiplexing design effectively improves the utilization rate of optical signals, avoids the need for separate configuration of optical elements 21 and optical paths for each function in traditional designs, and reduces unnecessary power consumption. Meanwhile, the dynamic switching function of the optical channel further simplifies the system structure, reduces the number of components, overall size and material cost, thereby improving the system's economy and wide applicability.

[0121] In some embodiments, the electronic and electrical system 100 includes at least one controller. This controller can function as a vehicle-level computing, management, and control unit, responsible for managing all or part of the functions of the entire system (including intelligent driving, cockpit management, powertrain, chassis control, etc.), rather than simply the computing and control of a single LiDAR. This configuration enables more efficient functional integration and improves the system's collaborative operation capabilities.

[0122] In some embodiments, the controller may be a domain controller or a central controller. For example, in the appendix Figure 2 , 3 In 4, 6, and 8, the controller is taken as a domain controller 60. In some embodiments, the controller can be one domain controller 60, two domain controllers 60, five domain controllers 60, ten domain controllers 60, or other numbers of domain controllers 60. The number of domain controllers 60 can be set according to factors such as the complexity of the sensing system 1, the size and processing requirements of the data volume, the reliability and redundancy requirements of the system, the network and communication architecture, power consumption and cost, quality and volume, etc., and no specific restrictions are made here.

[0123] In some embodiments, at least one optical transceiver component 10 of the sensing system 1 is disposed within the controller. This integrated design allows multiple optical transceiver components 10 to share a controller, such as a domain controller 60, shortens the electrical signal transmission path, reduces the size of the lidar, and combines multiple optical transceiver components 10 into one, reducing cost and power consumption, and also facilitating unified heat dissipation management.

[0124] In some embodiments, the controller is connected to the optical channel control device of the sensing system 1 via the first electrical line 6 to achieve time synchronization with the optical channel control device and to manage or control the optical channel switching state and optical channel dwell time of the optical channel control device.

[0125] Specifically, such as Figure 4 As shown in the diagram, taking domain controller 60 as an example, domain controller 60 sends a synchronization signal to optical switch 40 in real time via the first electrical line 6 to ensure that optical switch 40 switches to a specified state at a precise time. For example, domain controller 60 can control optical switch 40 to switch from one optical path to another at a specific time point according to system requirements. Through this precise time synchronization, the system can ensure that data transmission between different optical channels does not interfere with each other, thereby improving system stability.

[0126] Furthermore, the domain controller 60 can not only control the switching of the optical switch 40 (i.e., switching from one optical channel to another), but also control the duration for which the optical switch 40 remains in a specific state. By precisely adjusting the switching frequency and dwell time of the optical switch 40, the optical switch 40 can flexibly adjust the operating time of each signal channel. This fine-grained control can significantly improve system performance, making it adaptable to different task requirements.

[0127] In some embodiments, the controller is also connected to the optical motion component 22 of the sensing system 1 via the second electrical line 7. The controller is used to send an angle drive signal to the optical motion component 22 according to the needs of the electronic and electrical system 100 or the detection results of the sensing system 1.

[0128] Specifically, the driving circuit 11 controls the laser 12 to emit downlink optical signals via driving signals. These downlink optical signals are transmitted to the optical switch 40 via the first optical fiber 2. Under the switching action of the optical switch 40, the downlink optical signals are sequentially transmitted to each optical element 21 or optical motion component 22. The optical element 21 collimates the light beam, while the optical motion component 22 adjusts the emission direction of the light beam according to the angle driving signal sent by the domain controller 60 along the second electrical line 7. This angle driving signal is based on the requirements of the electronic and electrical system 100 or the detection results of the sensing system 1, ensuring that the optical motion component 22 adjusts the beam direction to meet the system's requirements for a specific detection area. The first uplink optical signal reflected back from the measured point re-enters the optical element 21 or optical motion component 22, returns to the optical switch 40 via the fourth optical fiber 5, and is then transmitted to the domain controller 60 via the first optical fiber 2. These signals are received and processed by the photodetector 14 and processing circuit 13 in the optical transceiver assembly 10 for subsequent data analysis.

[0129] In some embodiments, the electronic and electrical system 100 further includes at least one optical communication terminal 8, which is connected to a branch end of the beam splitter 31 of the sensing system 1 via at least one second optical fiber 3. This connection design allows multiple optical communication terminals 8 to share the same optical transceiver component 10, avoiding the need to configure a separate optical transceiver component 10 for each terminal 8, thus saving hardware costs and space. The beam splitter 31 achieves efficient multiplexing of optical signals and reduces system power consumption and complexity by decreasing the number of optical transceiver components 10. This design also improves resource utilization and meets the stringent requirements for space, cost, and power consumption in applications such as automotive and drones.

[0130] In some embodiments, the optical communication terminal 8 includes at least one of a camera and a display screen. The camera, as the optical communication terminal 8, is primarily responsible for capturing optical image information. In the electronic and electrical system 100, the camera can be used to monitor the operating status of the equipment, environmental changes, and surrounding objects or conditions in real time. For example, in an autonomous driving system, the camera can be used to capture image or video data of the in-vehicle environment, transmitting this data as visual input to the system for further processing and decision-making.

[0131] In some embodiments, the display screen serves to present the operating status, fault alarms, sensor data, images, and other information of the electronic and electrical system 100 or the sensing system 1 to the operator through a visual interface. The display screen is one of the interactive interfaces of electronic devices and can display real-time data, alarm information, graphical user interfaces (GUIs), etc. For example, in industrial control systems, the display screen can be used to display sensor data, equipment health status, warning information, etc. in real time, helping operators to react promptly.

[0132] Based on the sensing system and electronic and electrical system of the above embodiments, a third aspect of the present invention provides an electronic and electrical device.

[0133] In the embodiments, the electronic and electrical device includes the sensing system of the above embodiments, and / or, the electronic and electrical device includes the electronic and electrical system of the above embodiments, or the electronic and electrical device includes both a sensing system and an electronic and electrical system. It is understood that in some embodiments, the electronic and electrical device may also include other basic or necessary components, which are not listed here.

[0134] According to the electronic and electrical equipment of the present invention, the optical transceiver component can transmit downlink optical signals to at least one beam splitter via a first optical fiber. Each beam splitter can transmit the downlink optical signals to a corresponding optical communication terminal via at least one second optical fiber. Simultaneously, the optical transceiver component can also communicate optically with an optical sensor, transmitting the downlink optical signal along the optical fiber to the optical sensor. The optical sensor can emit the downlink optical signal to obtain a first uplink optical signal and transmit the first uplink optical signal back to the optical transceiver component along the optical fiber. Therefore, the sensing system of the present invention achieves the fusion and multiplexing of optical communication and optical sensing, enabling multiple optical sensors and multiple optical communication terminals to share the optical transceiver component. This multiplexing design effectively improves the utilization rate of optical signals, avoids the need for separate configuration of optical elements and optical paths for each function in traditional designs, unifies thermal management, reduces unnecessary power consumption, simplifies the system structure, and reduces the number of devices, overall size, and material costs.

[0135] In some embodiments, the electronic and electrical equipment includes at least one of the following: vehicle 200, light rail, train, ship, drone, airplane, rocket, street light signal, video surveillance equipment, automated industrial equipment, and communication base station.

[0136] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 As shown, the electronic and electrical equipment can be vehicle 200, which can be any means of transportation that can use the sensing system 1 for automatic driving or enhanced driving safety, such as cars, trucks, buses, vans, public buses, special vehicles 200, etc.

[0137] In some embodiments, at least one controller, such as a central controller or a domain controller 60, may be provided in the vehicle 200. This controller is a vehicle-level computing, management, and control unit responsible for all or part of the management and control of intelligent driving, cockpit, power, chassis, etc.

[0138] In some embodiments, the controller is provided with at least one optical transceiver component 10, which can realize the mutual conversion between optical signals and electrical signals.

[0139] The following embodiment uses a domain controller 60 as an example for illustration. Of course, the controller can also be a central controller.

[0140] In some embodiments, the sensing system 1 includes at least one optical switch 40, the common end of which is connected via an optical fiber to a corresponding optical transceiver assembly 10 in the domain controller 60. The sensing system 1 also includes a plurality of optical elements 21 and a plurality of optical motion components 22. The optical elements 21 and optical motion components 22 are disposed around the periphery of the vehicle 200 and are used to transmit and receive optical signals. The plurality of switching ends of the optical switch 40 are correspondingly connected to the optical elements 21 and optical motion components 22 via optical fibers extending to the periphery of the vehicle 200.

[0141] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 As shown, a sensor array consisting of multiple optical elements 21 is arranged on both sides of the front of the vehicle 200 to enhance the perception capabilities of the vehicle 200 in front and to the left and right sides, and to detect obstacles, pedestrians, other vehicles 200, and road conditions around the vehicle 200. Specifically, the sensor array emits a dense array of light signals through the optical elements 21, and can also receive light signals reflected from objects for environmental detection. This system, which uses sensor arrays arranged on both sides of the front of the vehicle for detection, can be defined as the sensing subsystem A in the sensing system 1.

[0142] It should be noted that at any given moment, the optical switch 40 switches to only one optical channel. That is, as the optical switch 40 switches sequentially, the corresponding optical element 21 will sequentially emit and receive light signals. After one cycle (i.e., all optical channels have been switched), the sensor array will have collected enough light signals to form a dense light signal array. After processing, the light signal array can form a point cloud, which represents three-dimensional data reflecting the environment surrounding the vehicle 200. This point cloud data can be used to generate environmental maps, detect the distance and shape of objects, etc.

[0143] In some embodiments, using a sensor array instead of the originally complex optical element 21 can significantly reduce the size.

[0144] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 As shown, at least one optical motion component 22 is disposed at the center of the front of the vehicle or the front end of the roof. The optical motion component 22 includes an optical element 21 and a motion mechanism 221. The motion mechanism 221 is used to adjust the optical element 21 according to an angle drive signal, thereby changing the exit angle and divergence angle of the light beam. This allows the light beam to adapt to different detection requirements, such as a wider detection range or higher resolution. Such a system, which uses the optical motion component 22 disposed at the center of the front of the vehicle or the front end of the roof for detection, can be defined as the sensing subsystem B in the sensing system 1.

[0145] In some embodiments, such as Figure 7 As shown, the domain controller 60 can determine the current motion state of the vehicle 200 based on the steering wheel angle from inside the vehicle 200, signals from external sensors (such as cameras and lidar), or navigation information from the vehicle 200. When the domain controller 60 determines that the vehicle 200 needs to turn, it can send a signal to the optical motion component 22 to adjust the beam's exit angle so that it illuminates the new target direction. This helps to more accurately detect the area after the vehicle 200 has turned. When the domain controller 60 determines, based on signals from external sensors (cameras, lidar, etc.), that the detection resolution needs to be improved, it sends a signal to the optical motion component 22 to reduce the beam's divergence angle. This allows the beam to be more focused on a specific target object, thereby improving detection accuracy.

[0146] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 As shown, at least one optical element 21 is respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle body. This optical element 21 can amplify or split the light beam to cover the area on the side of the vehicle body that needs to be sensed. This system, which uses optical elements 21 arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle body for detection, can be defined as the sensing subsystem C in the sensing system 1. The sensing subsystem C has low resolution and cannot accurately distinguish the specific position or shape of an object, but it has a simple structure and low cost. It can be used to realize safety functions such as side approach warning and side collision warning, and issue a warning when there is a potential hazard on the side of the vehicle 200.

[0147] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 As shown, at least one optical motion component 22 is respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the rear of the vehicle. Each optical motion component 22 includes an optical element 21 and a motion mechanism 221. The motion mechanism 221 is used to adjust the optical element 21 according to an angle drive signal, thereby changing the exit angle of the light beam to adapt to different detection requirements. This system, which uses optical motion components 22 arranged on the left and right sides of the rear of the vehicle for detection, can be defined as the sensing subsystem D in the sensing system 1. The sensing subsystem D uses a narrow beam to sequentially scan the area behind the vehicle 200, achieving high resolution and low frequency. It can be used to implement safety functions such as rear approach warning and reversing collision warning. The system can detect obstacles or other vehicles 200 behind the vehicle in a timely manner to avoid collisions.

[0148] In some embodiments, the domain controller 60 can control the switching and dwell time of the optical switch 40 to control the acquisition frequency of each sensor subsystem. For example, when the vehicle 200 accelerates or exceeds a certain speed, the acquisition time percentage of sensor subsystem A is increased; when the vehicle 200 turns left, the acquisition time percentage of left-side sensor subsystems A, B, C, and D is increased; when the vehicle 200 reverses, the acquisition time percentage of sensor subsystems C and D is increased.

[0149] In some embodiments, such as Figure 8 As shown, when the electronic and electrical equipment 100 is a vehicle 200, at least one optical communication terminal 8 (such as a camera and display screen), at least one beam splitter 31, and at least one circulator 32 are installed in the vehicle 200. The optical transceiver component 10 in the domain controller 60 is connected to the common end of the beam splitter 31 via a first optical fiber 2. The second branch ends of the beam splitter 31 are respectively connected to multiple optical communication terminals 8 via multiple second optical fibers 3. The first end of the circulator 32 is connected to one branch end of the beam splitter 31 via an optical fiber, the second end of the circulator 32 is connected to the first common end of the optical switch 40 via an optical fiber, and the third end of the circulator 32 is connected to the corresponding optical transceiver component 10 via the first optical fiber 2 to transmit a first uplink optical signal and a downlink optical signal. The circulator 32 enables the system to handle data transmission from multiple optical communication terminals 8 and multiple optical sensors 20, realizing the fusion and multiplexing of optical communication and optical sensing, improving optical signal utilization, reducing power consumption, simplifying the system structure, and reducing the number of devices, overall size, and material costs.

[0150] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example.

[0151] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A sensing system, characterized in that, include: At least one optical transceiver component, the optical transceiver component being used for mutual conversion between optical signals and electrical signals, and for transmitting downlink optical signals or receiving uplink optical signals; At least one optical sensor, which is optically in communication with the optical transceiver assembly, is used to emit the downlink optical signal to obtain a first uplink optical signal; At least one optical splitter, the first end of each optical splitter being connected to the corresponding optical transceiver assembly via a first optical fiber, and the second end of each optical splitter being adapted to be connected to at least one optical communication terminal via at least one second optical fiber to send the downlink optical signal to the corresponding optical communication terminal or to transmit the second uplink optical signal of the optical communication terminal.

2. The sensing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensing system also includes: An optical channel control device is provided, which is connected to the at least one beam splitter and the at least one optical sensor via optical fiber, and is used to realize the opening and closing and switching of the optical channel between the optical transceiver assembly and the at least one optical sensor.

3. The sensing system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The optical channel control device includes: At least one optical switch, the first common terminal of each optical switch is connected to the third terminal of the corresponding beam splitter via a third optical fiber, and at least one switching terminal of each optical switch is connected to the at least one optical sensor via at least one fourth optical fiber.

4. The sensing system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The beam splitter includes: The optical splitter includes a second common end and multiple branch ends. The second common end is connected to the corresponding optical transceiver component through the first optical fiber, and at least one of the branch ends is connected to at least one optical communication terminal through at least one second optical fiber.

5. The sensing system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The beam splitter further includes: The circulator has a first end connected to a branch of the optical splitter via an optical fiber, a second end connected to the optical channel control device via an optical fiber, and a third end connected to the corresponding optical transceiver assembly via the first optical fiber to transmit the first uplink optical signal and the downlink optical signal.

6. The sensing system according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The sensing system also includes: An optical amplifier, wherein a first end of the optical amplifier is connected to the optical transceiver assembly via the first optical fiber, and a second end of the optical amplifier is connected to the beam splitter, the optical amplifier being used to enhance the intensity of the optical signal.

7. The sensing system according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, Each of the optical transceiver components includes: The system includes a driving circuit and a laser, wherein the driving circuit is electrically connected to the laser, and the laser is connected to the beam splitter via the first optical fiber. The driving circuit is used to control the laser to emit the downlink optical signal according to a driving signal.

8. The sensing system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The optical transceiver assembly further includes: The processing circuit and the photodetector are provided. The processing circuit is electrically connected to the photodetector. The photodetector is connected to the beam splitter through the first optical fiber. The photodetector is used to convert the uplink optical signal into an uplink electrical signal.

9. The sensing system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The optical transceiver assembly includes multiple optical detectors, which are used to detect uplink optical signals of different wavelengths. The optical transceiver assembly further includes a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM), which is connected to the photodetector and the first optical fiber. The WDM is used to separate the uplink optical signals of different wavelengths transmitted on the first optical fiber.

10. The sensing system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The driving circuit is also used to adjust the emission power of the laser based on the power demand of the sensing system.

11. The sensing system according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that, The at least one optical transceiver component is adapted to be installed within the controller of the device containing the sensing system.

12. The sensing system according to claim 11, characterized in that, The optical channel control device is also adapted to be connected to the controller via a first electrical line to realize time synchronization and management between the optical channel control device and the controller, or to realize the controller to control the optical channel switching state and optical channel dwell time of the optical channel control device.

13. The sensing system according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The optical sensor includes at least one of an optical element and an optical motion component; The optical element is used to collimate or expand the downlink optical signal transmitted through the fourth optical fiber. The optical motion component is used to adjust the beam divergence angle according to the angle drive signal so as to emit the downlink optical signal transmitted by the fourth optical fiber at the target divergence angle.

14. The sensing system according to claim 13, characterized in that, The optical element is an optical device constructed at the end of the fourth optical fiber or an independent optical device.

15. The sensing system according to claim 13, characterized in that, The optical motion assembly includes an optical element and a motion mechanism, wherein the motion mechanism is used to adjust the divergence angle of the optical element according to an angle drive signal.

16. The sensing system according to claim 15, characterized in that, The optical motion component includes a drive power supply, which supplies power to the motion mechanism, and the drive unit obtains the angle drive signal through a second circuit.

17. The sensing system according to claim 16, characterized in that, The optical motion component further includes a drive unit, which is connected to the motion mechanism via the second electrical circuit to send an angle drive signal to the motion mechanism.

18. The sensing system according to claim 17, characterized in that, The angle drive signal is a repetitive periodic signal or a drive signal determined according to the requirements of the device in which the sensing system is located or the detection results of the sensing system.

19. The sensing system according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The optical sensor includes a lidar sensing component.

20. An electronic and electrical system, characterized in that, The electronic and electrical system includes the sensing system according to any one of claims 1-19.

21. The electronic and electrical system according to claim 20, characterized in that, The electronic and electrical system further includes at least one controller, and at least one optical transceiver component of the sensing system is disposed within the controller.

22. The electronic and electrical system according to claim 21, characterized in that, The controller is connected to the optical channel control device of the sensing system via a first electrical line to achieve time synchronization with the optical channel control device and to manage or control the optical channel switching state and optical channel dwell time of the optical channel control device.

23. The electronic and electrical system according to claim 21, characterized in that, The controller is also connected to the optical motion component of the sensing system via a second electrical line. The domain controller is used to send an angle drive signal to the optical motion component according to the needs of the electronic and electrical system or the detection results of the sensing system.

24. The electronic and electrical system according to claim 20, characterized in that, The electronic and electrical system further includes at least one optical communication terminal, which is connected to the branch end of the beam splitter of the sensing system via at least one second optical fiber.

25. The electronic and electrical system according to claim 24, characterized in that, The optical communication terminal includes at least one of a camera and a display screen.

26. The electronic and electrical system according to any one of claims 20-25, characterized in that, The controller is either a domain controller or a central controller.

27. An electronic and electrical device, characterized in that, The electronic and electrical device includes the sensing system according to any one of claims 1-19, or the electronic and electrical device includes the electronic and electrical system according to any one of claims 20-26.

28. The electronic and electrical equipment according to claim 27, characterized in that, The electronic and electrical equipment includes at least one of the following: vehicles, light rail, trains, ships, drones, airplanes, rockets, streetlights, signal lights, video surveillance equipment, automated industrial equipment, and communication base stations.

29. The electronic and electrical equipment according to claim 27, characterized in that, The electronic and electrical equipment is a vehicle.

30. The electronic and electrical equipment according to claim 29, characterized in that, The sensing system includes multiple optical elements and multiple optical motion components; A sensing array consisting of multiple optical elements is provided on both sides of the front of the vehicle; At least one of the aforementioned optical motion components is disposed at the center of the front of the vehicle or at the front end of the roof; At least one of the aforementioned optical elements is respectively installed on the left and right sides of the vehicle body; as well as At least one of the aforementioned optical motion components is provided on each of the left and right sides of the rear of the vehicle body.

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