A laser driving circuit, a laser radar and a movable platform

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of laser driver circuit, laser radar and movable platform, the circuit includes: controller, boost conversion module and laser;The input end of controller, boost conversion module is connected respectively in front stage circuit, and front stage circuit is used to power supply for laser driver circuit by power supply;Controller includes analog-digital converter;Analog-digital converter is used to real-time acquisition in front stage circuit on front stage voltage;Controller is connected with target switch tube in boost conversion module, and controller is used to control the conduction time of target switch tube according to front stage voltage;The output end of boost conversion module is connected with laser, and boost conversion module is used to output voltage for laser.The circuit can be matched with target time by controller calculation obtained with target voltage value, and the conduction time of target switch tube is controlled in combination with target time, so that the laser power of laser can meet the demand of laser radar, and also can improve the driving power of laser radar.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of lidar, and more particularly to a laser driver circuit, lidar, and a mobile platform. Background Technology

[0002] The laser is the core component of a lidar system. Driving the laser requires a positive high-voltage circuit, typically implemented using an open-loop boost scheme (specifically, an open-loop boost circuit or an open-loop boost converter, a type of DC-DC converter that uses a switching transistor to boost the input voltage to the output voltage). LiDAR systems are usually powered by car batteries, which have a wide operating range and fluctuate significantly. If the battery voltage were directly used as the input voltage of the open-loop boost circuit, the output voltage would be unstable. Therefore, traditional solutions first regulate the battery voltage to obtain a stable power supply, which is then used as the input to the open-loop boost circuit.

[0003] In the existing solution, the addition of a primary voltage regulator makes the open-loop boost circuit a secondary load of the battery. This reduces the power transfer from the battery to the open-loop boost circuit because the introduction of the primary voltage regulator results in additional power loss. This additional power loss leads to a decrease in the LiDAR drive power, which in turn exacerbates the temperature rise of the entire device. The temperature rise of the entire device limits the increase in laser drive power, thereby limiting the detection range of the LiDAR. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a laser driving circuit, the purpose of which is to improve the driving power of lidar.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution:

[0006] A laser driving circuit includes:

[0007] Controller, boost converter module, and laser;

[0008] The controller and the input terminals of the boost converter module are respectively connected to the front-end circuit, which is used to power the laser driver circuit through the power supply; the controller includes an analog-to-digital converter; the analog-to-digital converter is used to acquire the front-end voltage on the front-end circuit in real time; the controller is connected to the target switch in the boost converter module, and the controller is used to control the conduction time of the target switch according to the front-end voltage;

[0009] The output terminal of the boost converter module is connected to the laser, and the boost converter module is used to output voltage to the laser.

[0010] Optionally, the boost converter module further includes a protection element, a power inductor, an energy storage capacitor, and an isolation element; wherein the protection element is connected to the power inductor; and the isolation element is connected to the energy storage capacitor.

[0011] Optionally, the protection element includes a protection capacitor, wherein one end of the power inductor is connected to the pre-amplifier circuit and the protection capacitor, and the other end is connected to the isolation element and the target switch.

[0012] Optionally, the isolation element includes a protection diode, one end of the energy storage capacitor is connected to the protection diode and the laser respectively, and the other end is grounded.

[0013] Optionally, one end of the protection capacitor is connected to the pre-amplifier circuit and the power inductor, respectively, and the other end is grounded.

[0014] Optionally, one end of the target switching transistor is connected to the power inductor and the protection diode, respectively, and the other end is grounded.

[0015] Optionally, a fusible resistor may also be included, one end of which is connected to the laser and the other end is grounded.

[0016] Optionally, the controller further includes a processing module and a timing module connected to each other; the processing module is connected to the analog-to-digital converter and is used to substitute the input voltage value and the target voltage value into a preset formula to calculate the target time that matches the target voltage value; the timing module includes a timer connected to the target switch and is used to initialize the timer and monitor the duration for which the target switch is in the on state.

[0017] A lidar system, the lidar system including the laser driving circuit described above.

[0018] A mobile platform, wherein the aforementioned lidar is pre-installed on the mobile platform.

[0019] The technical solution provided in this application includes: a controller, a boost converter module, and a laser; the input terminals of the controller and the boost converter module are respectively connected to a pre-amplifier circuit, which supplies power to the laser driver circuit; the controller includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC); the ADC is used to acquire the pre-amplifier voltage in the pre-amplifier circuit in real time; the controller is connected to the target switch in the boost converter module, and the controller controls the conduction time of the target switch according to the pre-amplifier voltage; the output terminal of the boost converter module is connected to the laser, and the boost converter module outputs voltage to the laser. This application can calculate the target time matching the target voltage value through the controller, and control the conduction time of the target switch in combination with the target time, so that the laser power of the laser can meet the requirements of the lidar, and can also improve the driving power of the lidar. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a laser driving circuit provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a controller provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a lidar provided for an embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a mobile platform provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0026] In this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. The terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0027] like Figure 1 The diagram shown is a schematic of a laser driving circuit provided in an embodiment of this application. The laser driving circuit is applied to lidar and includes the structure shown below.

[0028] Controller 100, boost converter module 200 and laser 300.

[0029] The input terminals of the controller 100 and the boost converter module 200 are respectively connected to the front-end circuit, which is used to power the laser 300 drive circuit through the power supply; the controller 100 includes an analog-to-digital converter, which is used to acquire the front-end voltage on the front-end circuit in real time.

[0030] The controller 100 is connected to the target switch S1 in the boost converter module 200. The controller 100 is used to control the conduction of the target switch S1 according to the preceding voltage.

[0031] The output terminal of the boost converter module 200 is connected to the laser 300, and the boost converter module 200 is used to output voltage to the laser 300.

[0032] Optionally, the boost converter module 200 also includes a protection element, a power inductor L, an energy storage capacitor C2, and an isolation element; wherein the protection element is connected to the power inductor L; and the isolation element is connected to the energy storage capacitor C2.

[0033] Optionally, the protection element includes a protection capacitor C1, wherein one end of the power inductor L is connected to the pre-amplifier circuit and the protection capacitor C1, and the other end is connected to the isolation element and the target switch S1.

[0034] In some examples, the protection capacitor C1 is used to protect the power inductor L, specifically to provide overvoltage protection for the power inductor L.

[0035] Optionally, the isolation element includes a protection diode D, one end of the energy storage capacitor C2 is connected to the protection diode D and the laser 300 respectively, and the other end is grounded.

[0036] In some examples, the protection diode D is used to protect the energy storage capacitor C2, specifically to provide overcurrent protection for the energy storage capacitor C2.

[0037] In other embodiments, the isolation element includes a switching transistor, one end of which is connected to a power inductor L and the other end to an energy storage capacitor C2 and a laser 300. The switching transistor's on / off control terminal is connected to a control device, which can be a controller 100 or other independent control element. When S1 is on, the control device controls the switching transistor to turn off, and the preceding circuit charges the power inductor L. After S1 is off, the control device controls the switching transistor to turn on, charging the energy storage capacitor C2 through the functional inductor L.

[0038] Optionally, one end of the protection capacitor C1 is connected to the pre-amplifier circuit and the power inductor L, and the other end is grounded.

[0039] Optionally, one end of the target switch S1 is connected to the power inductor L and the protection diode D, respectively, and the other end is grounded.

[0040] Optionally, the laser 300 driving circuit also includes a fuse resistor, one end of which is connected to the laser 300 and the other end is grounded.

[0041] In some examples, the fusible resistor is used to protect the laser 300, specifically to provide short-circuit protection for the laser 300.

[0042] Optionally, the laser 300 driving circuit also includes a light-emitting switch F, one end of which is connected to the laser 300 / fuse resistor, and the other end is grounded. After the energy storage capacitor C2 is charged, the laser can be controlled to emit light by closing the light-emitting switch F.

[0043] Optionally, the controller 100 also includes a processing module and a timing module connected to each other; the processing module is connected to an analog-to-digital converter and is used to substitute the input voltage value and the target voltage value into a preset formula to calculate the target time that matches the target voltage value; the timing module includes a timer connected to the target switch and is used to initialize the timer and monitor the duration for which the target switch is in the on state.

[0044] In some examples, the internal structure of controller 100 can be seen in [reference needed]. Figure 2 As shown, the processing module 101 is connected to the analog-to-digital converter 102 and the timing module 103 respectively. Specifically, the processing module 101 includes a processor, the analog-to-digital converter 102 may include an ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) sampling circuit, and the timing module 103 may include a timer.

[0045] In a possible implementation, the processing module is specifically used to: determine the input voltage value of the laser 300 driving circuit based on the preceding voltage; determine the target time that matches the target voltage value based on the input voltage value; the target voltage value includes the desired output voltage value of the laser 300 driving circuit; the output voltage value is used to control the laser power of the laser 300; the target time characterizes the conduction time of the target switch S1; and control the conduction of the target switch S1 according to the target time so that the output voltage of the laser 300 driving circuit reaches the target voltage value.

[0046] In a possible implementation, the processing module is further configured to: obtain the corresponding target voltage value based on the laser 300 driving command sent by the lidar; substitute the input voltage value and the target voltage value into a preset formula to calculate the target time matching the target voltage value; the preset formula is as follows: In the formula Represents the target time. Represents the target voltage value. Represents the input voltage value. The inductance value representing the power inductor L, This represents the capacitance value of the energy storage capacitor C2.

[0047] In a possible implementation, the timing module is specifically used for: pre-initializing the timer; and starting the timer to start timing when the processing module controls the target switch S1 to be in the on state. The processing module is also used for: when the timer reaches the target time, controlling the target switch S1 to be in the off state so that the output voltage of the laser 300 driving circuit reaches the target voltage value.

[0048] Compared to existing laser driving circuits, in the laser driving circuit shown in this embodiment, the boost converter module is directly connected to the vehicle battery through the front-end circuit. As long as the controller knows the input voltage value of the boost converter module, it can control the output voltage value of the laser driving circuit by adjusting the conduction time of the target switch S1, thereby controlling the laser power. Compared with existing laser driving circuits, there is one less stage of voltage regulation power supply, which can avoid power loss and significantly improve the driving power of the laser.

[0049] The structure shown above can calculate the target time that matches the target voltage value through the controller, and control the conduction of the target switch in combination with the target time, so that the laser power of the laser can meet the requirements of the lidar, and can also improve the driving power of the lidar.

[0050] Optionally, embodiments of this application also provide a lidar, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 3 As shown, the lidar includes the laser driving circuit described above.

[0051] Optionally, this application embodiment also provides a mobile platform, on which a lidar including a laser driving circuit as shown above is pre-installed. The mobile platform can be a vehicle, robot, aircraft, ship, or other equipment. The lidar can be disposed on the surface or inside the mobile platform. See also Figure 4 As shown, the mobile platform takes a vehicle as an example. The vehicle is equipped with a laser radar with a laser driving circuit as shown above. The laser radar can be installed on the outside of the vehicle (such as on the roof) or inside the vehicle (such as on the windshield).

[0052] While several specific implementation details are included in the foregoing discussion, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of this application. Certain features described in the context of individual embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented individually or in any suitable sub-combination in multiple embodiments.

[0053] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and an explanation of the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of disclosure in this application is not limited to technical solutions formed by specific combinations of the above-described technical features, but should also cover other technical solutions formed by arbitrary combinations of the above-described technical features or their equivalents without departing from the above-described concept. For example, technical solutions formed by substituting the above features with (but not limited to) technical features with similar functions disclosed in this application.

Claims

1. A laser driving circuit, characterized in that, include: Controller, boost converter module, and laser; The controller and the input terminals of the boost converter module are respectively connected to the front-end circuit, which is used to power the laser driver circuit through the power supply; the controller includes an analog-to-digital converter; the analog-to-digital converter is used to acquire the front-end voltage on the front-end circuit in real time; the controller is connected to the target switch in the boost converter module, and the controller is used to control the conduction time of the target switch according to the front-end voltage; The output terminal of the boost converter module is connected to the laser, and the boost converter module is used to output voltage to the laser.

2. The laser driving circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The boost converter module further includes a protection element, a power inductor, an energy storage capacitor, and an isolation element; wherein the protection element is connected to the power inductor; and the isolation element is connected to the energy storage capacitor.

3. The laser driving circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that, The protection element includes a protection capacitor, wherein one end of the power inductor is connected to the pre-amplifier circuit and the protection capacitor, and the other end is connected to the isolation element and the target switch.

4. The laser driving circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that, The isolation element includes a protection diode, one end of the energy storage capacitor is connected to the protection diode and the laser respectively, and the other end is grounded.

5. The laser driving circuit according to claim 3, characterized in that, One end of the protection capacitor is connected to the pre-amplifier circuit and the power inductor, respectively, and the other end is grounded.

6. The laser driving circuit according to claim 4, characterized in that, One end of the target switching transistor is connected to the power inductor and the protection diode, respectively, and the other end is grounded.

7. The laser driving circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a fuse resistor, one end of which is connected to the laser and the other end is grounded.

8. The laser driving circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller also includes a processing module and a timing module connected to each other; the processing module is connected to the analog-to-digital converter and is used to substitute the preceding voltage and the target voltage value into a preset formula to calculate the target time that matches the target voltage value; the timing module includes a timer connected to the target switch and is used to initialize the timer and monitor the duration for which the target switch is in the on state.

9. A lidar, characterized in that, The lidar includes the laser driving circuit according to any one of claims 1-8.

10. A mobile platform, characterized in that, The mobile platform is pre-installed with the lidar as described in claim 9.

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