LASER RADAR AND AUTOMATIC DRIVE DEVICE

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to the technical field of radar, and in particular, to a LiDAR device and an automated driving device.BACKGROUND

[0002] LiDAR is a radar system using laser beams to detect characteristics of a target object, such as position and speed. A working principle of the LiDAR is that an emission assembly first emits outgoing lasers for detection of the target object, and a receiving assembly then receives echo lasers reflected from the target object, and processes the received echo lasers, to obtain relevant information of the target object, for example, parameters such as distance, azimuth, height, speed, attitude, and even shape.

[0003] Single-point or multi-point laser ranging requires a proper optical-mechanical scanning system to obtain laser point cloud data with high resolution from a large field of view. Currently, common LiDAR scanning solutions on the market include conventional mechanical scanning, Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) scanning, and the like. When used for a long time and in harsh conditions, the reliability of the above scanning methods will be reduced. US 2019 / 011556 A1 discloses a solid state electronic scanning LIDAR system that includes a scanning focal plane transmitting element and a scanning focal plane receiving element whose operations are synchronized so that the firing sequence of an emitter array in the transmitting element corresponds to a capturing sequence of a photosensor array in the receiving element. During operation, the emitter array can sequentially fire one or more light emitters into a scene and the reflected light can be received by a corresponding set of one or more photosensors through an aperture layer positioned in front of the photosensors.SUMMARY

[0004] In view of the foregoing shortcomings of the prior art, embodiments of the present invention mainly aim to provide LiDAR and an automated driving device, to improve reliability of a product. The invention is set out in the appended set of claims.

[0005] A technical solution used in the embodiments of the present invention is as follows: LiDAR is provided, where the LiDAR includes an emission drive system, a laser transceiving system, and a control and signal processing system; the laser transceiving system includes an emission assembly and a receiving assembly; the emission assembly is configured to emit an outgoing laser, so that the outgoing laser scans to traverse a detection region; the receiving assembly includes an array detector, and the array detector includes a plurality of detection units; and the array detector is configured to synchronously and sequentially turn on the detection units to receive an echo laser, and the echo laser is the laser returned after the outgoing laser is reflected by an object in a detection region; the emission drive system is used to drive the emission assembly; and the control and signal processing system is used to control the emission drive system to drive the emission assembly, and used to control the receiving assembly to receive the echo laser, wherein the emission assembly includes a plurality of first emission assemblies, each first emission assembly includes a laser emission module and an optical deflection module, and each optical deflection module includes a plurality of deflection units arranged in the first direction; and the laser emission module is configured to emit the outgoing laser to the optical deflection module in the first direction, and the optical deflection module is configured to sequentially turn on the deflection units so that the outgoing laser is emitted in the second direction and scans in the first direction or the opposite direction of the first direction; and arrangement of the deflection units is consistent with arrangement of the detection units in the array detector; and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

[0006] Further embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

[0007] Beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present invention are as follows. In the embodiments of the present invention, the outgoing laser emitted by the emission assembly scans the detection region, and the corresponding detection units in the array detector are sequentially turned on to receive the echo laser, to complete scanning of the entire detection region by means of electronic scanning, which reduces or eliminates the use of a mechanical rotating component, thereby improving reliability of a LiDAR device and prolonging service life of the device.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] One or more embodiments are described by using examples with reference to diagrams in drawings corresponding to the embodiments. These example descriptions do not constitute a limitation to the embodiments. Elements with the same reference signs in the drawings indicate similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the diagrams in the drawings do not constitute a proportional limitation. FIG. 1 is a structural block diagram of LiDAR according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a structural block diagram of LiDAR according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an optical path of LiDAR using an array emitter according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an array detector in which a second detection unit is turned on according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an optical path of LiDAR using an array emitter and a one-dimensional MEMS micromirror according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an optical path of LiDAR using an array emitter and a one-dimensional MEMS micromirror according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an optical path of LiDAR using a laser and a plurality of groups of deflection units according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an optical path of a laser and a polarizer according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an optical path of LiDAR using a laser, a group of deflection units and a one-dimensional MEMS micromirror according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10a is a schematic diagram of another optical path of LiDAR using a laser, a plane mirror as a deflection unit, and a one-dimensional MEMS micromirror according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10b is a schematic diagram of an optical path of the laser and the plane mirror in FIG. 10a; FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an optical path of a laser and a plane mirror according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 12a is a schematic diagram of an optical path of LiDAR using a laser, a plane mirror as a deflection unit, and a one-dimensional MEMS micromirror according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 12b is a schematic diagram of an optical path of LiDAR using a laser, a plane mirror as a deflection unit, and a one-dimensional MEMS micromirror according to still another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a local optical path of LiDAR using a laser, a plane mirror as a deflection unit, a lens and a one-dimensional MEMS micromirror according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of an optical path of LiDAR including an optical shaping module according to an example; FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of an optical path of LiDAR including an optical shaping module according to another example; FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a deflection mechanism and the optical shaping module in FIG. 15; FIG. 17 is a schematic structural diagram of an automated driving device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 18 is a schematic structural diagram of an automated driving device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] Reference signs in the specific embodiments are as follows: LiDAR 100; emission drive system 1, laser transceiving system 2, and control and signal processing system 3; emission assembly 21, first emission assembly 210, laser emission module 211, array emitter 2111, light emission unit 2111a, laser 2112, emission optical module 212, first lens 212a, second lens 212b, deflection mechanism 213, optical deflection module 214, deflection unit 214a, optical shaping module 215, and reflector 216; receiving assembly 22, array detector 221, detection unit 221a, receiving optical module 222; and automated driving device 200 and driving device body 201. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Embodiments of the technical solution of the present invention are described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings. The following embodiments are only used to describe the technical solutions of the present invention more clearly, hence are only used as examples, and cannot be used to limit the protection scope of the present invention.

[0011] It should be noted that unless otherwise specified, the technical or scientific terms used in the present invention should have general meanings understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs.

[0012] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that orientations or position relationships indicated by terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "above", "under", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", and "circumferential" are based on the orientations or position relationships shown in the drawings, are merely intended to describe the present invention and simplify the descriptions, but are not intended to indicate or imply that the indicated device or element shall have a specific orientation or be formed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation to the present invention.

[0013] In addition, the terms such as "first" and "second" are merely intended for a purpose of description, and shall not be understood as an indication or implication of relative importance or implicit indication of a quantity of indicated technical features. In the descriptions of the present invention, "a plurality of" and "several" means two or more (including two), unless otherwise specified.

[0014] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, terms such as "mounting", "connected", "connection", and "fixing" shall be understood in a general sense. For example, these technical terms may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integrated connection; or may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; or may be a direct connection, an indirect connection by using an intermediate medium, or an internal communication of two elements or an interaction of two elements. A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand specific meanings of the foregoing terms in the present invention according to a specific situation.

[0015] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, that a first feature is "above" or "under" a second feature may be that the first feature and the second feature are in direct contact, or the first feature and the second feature are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, that a first feature is "above", "over", and "on" a second feature may mean that the first feature is right above or diagonally above the second feature, or may merely indicate that a horizontal height of the first feature is greater than that of the second feature. That a first feature is "below", "under", and "beneath" a second feature may mean that the first feature is right below or diagonally below the second feature, or may merely indicate that a horizontal height of the first feature is less than that of the second feature.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention provides a LiDAR 100, including an emission drive system 1, a laser transceiving system 2 and a control and signal processing system 3. The laser transceiving system 2 includes an emission assembly 21 and a receiving assembly 22. The emission assembly 21 is configured to emit an outgoing laser, so that the outgoing laser scans the detection region; and the receiving module 22 is configured to receive an echo laser. The emission drive system 1 is used to drive the emission assembly 21. The control and signal processing system 3 is used to control the emission drive system 1 to drive the emission assembly 21, and used to control the receiving assembly 22 to receive the echo laser. The echo laser is a reflection of the outgoing laser that is reflected by an object in the detection region.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the emission assembly 21 includes a laser emission module 211 and an emission optical module 212. The laser emission module 211 is configured to emit the outgoing laser, and the emission optical module 212 is configured to collimate the outgoing laser and direct the collimated outgoing laser to the detection region. The laser emission module 211 includes a plurality of laser emission units, and the laser emission module 211 is configured to sequentially turn on the laser emission units to emit the outgoing laser, so that the outgoing laser scans detection regions. The emission optical module 212 may be an optical fiber and spherical lens group, a separate spherical lens group, or a cylindrical lens group, and the like.

[0018] The receiving assembly 22 includes an array detector 221. The array detector 221 includes a plurality of detection units, and each detection unit has a photosensitive region with an area less than that of the detection unit. The array detector 221 may be a receiving device in the form of an array, such as an Avalanche Photo Diode (APD) array, a Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) array, a Multi-Pixel Photon Counter (MPPC) array, or a photomultiplier tube (PMT) array, a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array, a pin array (PIN array), Charge-coupled Device (CCD), Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS), or the like. Specifically, the array detector 221 includes m*n detection units that can be separately controlled to be turned on or off, where m and n are integers greater than 1. The array detector 221 is configured to turn on the detection units synchronously and sequentially to receive the echo laser. For example, the array detector turns on a selected detection unit, to detect a detection region scanned by an outgoing laser emitted by the laser emission unit. The selected detection unit corresponds to a laser emission unit that emits the outgoing laser. In addition, the receiving assembly 22 also includes a receiving optical module 222. The receiving optical module 222 can be a spherical lens, a spherical lens group, a cylindrical lens group, or the like. The receiving optical module 222 is configured to focus the echo laser and direct the focused echo laser to the array detector 221.

[0019] The plurality of laser emission units in the laser emission module 211 and the plurality of detection units in the array detector 221 are in a one-to-one correspondence. For example, a laser emission unit at a position (1,1) corresponds to a detection unit at a position (1,1) for detection of a region R 11 ; a laser emission unit at a position (1,2) corresponds to a detection unit at a position (1,2) for detection of a region R 12 , and so on. The corresponding laser emission unit and detection unit are controlled to be turned on and off simultaneously. When the laser emission unit at the position (1,1) is turned on, the detection unit at the position (1,1) is turned on synchronously, to detect the region R 11 ; when the laser emission unit at the position (1,2) is turned on, the detection unit at the position (1,2) is turned on synchronously to detect the region R 12 , and so on until the last emission unit is turned on and the last detection unit is turned on synchronously, to detect the last region. Schematic description of the manner of synchronously and sequentially turning on the detection units is provided above, but should not be construed as limitation on the present invention. The laser emission unit at the last position can also be turned on first, and the corresponding detection unit is turned on synchronously. The detection regions are scanned in a reverse sequence of the foregoing sequence of (1, 1), (1,2) ... The laser emission units can be turned on in any sequence. After the laser emission unit and the corresponding detection unit complete one scan of the corresponding detection region, the laser emission unit and the detection unit are turned off synchronously.

[0020] The control and signal processing system 3 may be a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The FPGA is connected to the emission drive system 1, to control emission of the outgoing laser. The FPGA is also connected to a clock pin, a data pin, and a control pin of the receiving assembly 22 separately, to control receiving of the echo laser.

[0021] In the embodiments of the present invention, the outgoing laser emitted by the emission assembly scans the detection region, and the corresponding detection units in the array detector 221 are sequentially turned on to receive the echo laser, to complete scanning of the entire detection region by means of electronic scanning, which reduces or eliminates the use of a mechanical rotating component, thereby improving reliability of a product and prolonging service life of the product.

[0022] Embodiments using different laser emission modules 211 are described in detail below.(1) Laser emission module 211 including a plurality of laser emission units

[0023] The laser emission module 211 includes a plurality of laser emission units, and the laser emission module 211 is configured to sequentially turn on the laser emission units to emit the outgoing laser, so that the outgoing laser scans all detection regions of the array detector 221. As shown in FIG. 3, in an embodiment, the laser emission module 211 is an array emitter 2111, and the laser emission units are m*n light emission units 2111a of the array emitter 2111 that can be separately controlled to be turned on or off. The array emitter 2111 is configured to sequentially turn on the light emission units 2111a to emit the outgoing laser, so that the outgoing laser scans all the detection regions of the array detector 221. For example, the array emitter 2111 is configured to sequentially turn on a first light emission unit to emit the outgoing laser. The first light emission unit includes one or more of the light emission units 2111a. The array detector 221 is configured to turn on a first detection unit synchronously and sequentially to receive the echo laser. The first detection unit includes one or more of the detection units 221a. The position of the first detection unit corresponds to the position of the first light emission unit. The echo laser received by the first detection unit is a reflection of the outgoing laser emitted by the first light emission unit and reflected by the object in the detection region. The emission optical module 212 is implemented as a first lens 212a. When the first light emission unit includes a plurality of light emission units 2111a, a scanning method is a method of regional emission and regional receiving, which can reduce a scanning period for a single frame and improve detection efficiency compared with a method of point-to-point emission and receiving.

[0024] The array emitter 2111 can be selected from a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) array, an Edge Emitting Laser (EEL) array, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) array, a Micro Light Emitting Diode (Micro LED) array, a Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) array, a Laser Diode (LD) array, or the like.

[0025] For example, during operation, the light emission unit 2111a at the position (1,1) is turned on and the detection unit 221a of the array detector 221 at the corresponding position (1,1) is synchronously turned on for receiving. After detection at this position is completed, light emission units 2111a and corresponding detection units 221a of the array detector 221 at positions (1,1) to (m,n) are sequentially turned on, thereby completing ranging of the entire detection region.

[0026] When the first light emission unit includes one light emission unit 2111a and the first detection unit includes one detection unit 221a, in this case, a method of point-to-point emission and receiving is used. In addition, when the first light emission unit includes one light emission unit 2111a, that is, single-point emission is performed, the array detector 221 may also be configured to turn on a second detection unit synchronously and sequentially to receive the echo laser, and the second detection unit includes one or more of the detection units around the first detection unit 221a. As shown in FIG. 4, a circle of detection units 221a (region B) around a region A of the first detection unit may be turned on for receiving. A neighboring region of the corresponding detection pixel of the array detector 221 is enabled for simultaneous receiving, which can improve detection accuracy and compensate for processing and installation errors.

[0027] When the first light emission unit includes a plurality of light emission units 2111a and the first detection unit includes a plurality of detection units 221a, in this case, a method of block-to-block emission and receiving is used. "Block" herein includes a linear light spot and a block light spot. In this case, the first light emission unit includes p*q light emission units, and the first detection unit includes p*q detection units, where p and q are integers greater than or equal to 1, and 1<p<m or 1<q<n. When either of p and q is 1, light spots of the outgoing laser and the echo laser are linear light spots, or in other cases, the light spots are block light spots. When p is less than m and q is less than n, the laser emission module is configured to turn on the laser emission units along a first direction and then an opposite direction of the first direction back and forth, or turn on the laser emission units row by row or column by column along the first direction constantly, where the first direction may be a horizontal direction or a vertical direction. When p is equal to m and q is less than n, the laser emission module is configured to turn on the laser emission units in the vertical direction. Because the number of units in the first light emission unit in the horizontal direction is equal to the number of the detection units 221a of the array detector 221 in the horizontal direction, the detection region only needs to be scanned once in the vertical direction. When p is less than m and q is equal to n, the laser emission module is configured to turn on the laser emission units in the horizontal direction. Because the number of units in the first light emission unit in the vertical direction is equal to the number of the detection units 221a of the array detector 221 in the vertical direction, the detection region only needs to be scanned once in the horizontal direction.

[0028] In the embodiments, the outgoing laser is emitted by setting the laser emission units that can be turned on sequentially, and the corresponding detection units 221a in the array detector 221 are sequentially turned on to receive the echo laser, to complete scanning of the entire detection region, and emission and receiving is implemented by means of electronic scanning without needing a mechanical rotating component, thereby improving reliability of a product and prolonging service life of the product.

[0029] The embodiments in which no rotating component is used are described above. In some embodiments, the entire detection region can also be scanned through electronic scanning in combination with rotating component scanning, for example, a strip-shaped (linear) emission array in combination with a one-dimensional scanning structure. As shown in FIG. 5, in another embodiment, the laser emission module 211 includes an array emitter 2111, the laser emission units are m*1 light emission units 2111a of the array emitter 2111 on-off of which can be separately controlled. The array emitter 2111 is configured to sequentially turn on the light emission units 2111a to emit outgoing laser, so that the outgoing laser scans in the first direction (direction X). The LiDAR 100 further includes a deflection mechanism 213, configured to receive the outgoing laser and reflect the outgoing laser toward the detection region of the array detector 221, so that the outgoing laser scans in a second direction (direction Y). The first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to complete scanning of the entire detection region. The deflection mechanism 213 may be selected as a device that can implement optical scanning, such as a MEMS micromirror, a reflector, or a transmission prism. In this embodiment, the deflection mechanism 213 is a one-dimensional MEMS micromirror.

[0030] Compared with LiDAR using a two-dimensional MEMS micromirror or another two-dimensional rotating component, only a one-dimensional MEMS micromirror is used to scan in one direction, and scanning in another direction is completed through electronic scanning, thereby improving reliability of the product.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 6, in another embodiment, the laser emission module 211 includes an array emitter 2111, the laser emission units are 1*n light emission units 2111a of the array emitter 2111 on-off of which can be separately controlled, and the array emitter 2111 is configured to emit an outgoing laser for scanning in the first direction (direction Y). The emission assembly 21 further includes a one-dimensional MEMS micromirror 213, configured to receive the outgoing laser and reflect the outgoing laser toward the detection region of the array detector 221, so that the outgoing laser scans in the second direction (direction X). The first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to complete scanning of the entire detection region.(2) Emission assembly 21 including an optical deflection module 214

[0032] As shown in FIG. 7, according to the invention, the emission assembly 21 includes a plurality of first emission assemblies 210 arranged in a horizontal direction. Each first emission assembly 210 includes a laser emission module 211 and an optical deflection module 214. Each optical deflection module 214 includes a plurality of deflection units 214a arranged in the first direction (direction Y). The laser emission module 211 is implemented as a laser device 2112. The laser emission module 211 is configured to emit an outgoing laser to the optical deflection module 214 in the first direction (direction Y), and the optical deflection module 214 is configured to sequentially turn on the deflection units 214a, so that the outgoing laser is emitted in the second direction (direction X) and scans in the first direction (direction Y) or a opposite direction (direction -Y) of the first direction. Arrangement of the deflection units 214a is consistent with arrangement of the detection units 221a in the array detector 221; and the first direction (direction Y) and the second direction (direction X) are perpendicular. The number of the first emission assemblies 210 is the same as the number of the detection units 221a in the array detector 221 in the horizontal direction. The array detector 221 includes m*n detection units 221a on-off of which can be separately controlled, where m and n are both integers greater than 1. The emission assembly 21 includes m first emission assemblies 210, and the optical deflection module 214 in each first emission assembly 210 includes n deflection units 214a arranged in the vertical direction (direction Y).

[0033] It can be understood that, in another embodiment, the first direction may also be the direction X, and the second direction may be the direction Y. In this case, the plurality of first emission assemblies 210 are arranged in the vertical direction, and the number of the first emission assemblies 210 is the same as the number of the detection units 221a in the array detector 221 in the vertical direction. The array detector 221 includes m*n detection units 221a on-off of which can be separately controlled, where m and n are both integers greater than 1. The emission assembly 21 includes n first emission assemblies 210, and the optical deflection module 214 in each first emission assembly 210 includes m deflection units 214a arranged in the horizontal direction (direction X).

[0034] The scanning method according to the invention shown in FIG. 7 is described below.

[0035] Point scanning: A laser emission module 211 in each first emission assembly 210 emits an outgoing laser. First, deflection units 214a in a first emission assembly 210 in a first column are sequentially turned on, so that the outgoing laser emitted by the first emission assembly 210 scans in the first direction (direction Y) or the opposite direction (direction -Y) of the first direction; after the last deflection unit 214a in the first emission assembly 210 is turned on, then deflection units 214a in the first emission assembly 210 in a second column are sequentially turned on, so that the outgoing laser emitted by the first emission assembly 210 scans in the first direction (direction Y) or the opposite direction (direction -Y) of the first direction; and so on...until the deflection units 214a in the first emission assembly 210 in the last column are sequentially turned on and the column completes scanning through the outgoing laser, thereby completing scanning of the entire detection region. It should be understood that the first deflection unit 214a in each first emission assembly 210 can also be turned on in sequence, then the second deflection unit 214a in each first emission assembly 210 be turned on in sequence, ..., and finally, the last deflection unit 214a in each first emission assembly 210 are turned on in sequence, thereby completing the scanning of the entire detection region.

[0036] Row scanning: A laser emission module 211 in each first emission assembly 210 emits an outgoing laser. Deflection units 214a in each first emission assembly 210 are sequentially turned on. For example, the first deflection unit 214a in each first emission assembly 210 is turned on simultaneously, then the second deflection unit 214a in each first emission assembly 210 is turned on simultaneously, ..., and finally, the last deflection unit 214a in each first emission assembly 210 is turned on simultaneously, so that outgoing lasers emitted by all the first emission assemblies 210 scan synchronously in the first direction (direction Y) or the opposite direction (direction -Y) of the first direction, thereby completing scanning of the entire detection region. That is, the outgoing lasers of each first emission assembly 210 complete scanning in the first direction (direction Y) or the opposite direction (direction -Y) of the first direction synchronously. The first deflection unit 214a may be the first one of the deflection units counted from the top to the bottom, or the first one of the deflection units counted from the bottom to the top.

[0037] Column scanning: If a plurality of first emission assemblies 210 are arranged in the vertical direction, and the deflection units 214a in each first emission assembly 210 are arranged in the horizontal direction, the foregoing row scanning is switched to column scanning. The scanning process is similar to that of the row scanning. Details are not described herein again. The first deflection unit 214a may be the first one of the deflection units counted from left to right, or the first one of the deflection units counted from right to left.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 8, the deflection unit 214a is a controllable polarizer. The controllable polarizer is configured to reflect the outgoing laser when in an on state, and has reflectivity close to 100%, which can reflect almost all the incident outgoing lasers. The controllable polarizer is configured to transmit the outgoing laser when in an off state, and has transmittance close to 100%, which can transmit almost all the incident outgoing lasers to the next polarizer. States of different controllable polarizers are controlled, so that the outgoing laser can be controlled to be emitted at different positions of the controllable polarizers. For example, the first controllable polarizer is turned on and other controllable polarizers are turned off, so that almost all the outgoing lasers are emitted at a position of the first controllable polarizer, instead of being incident to the other controllable polarizers (energy of the outgoing laser incident to the other controllable polarizers is very small and can be ignored); and the second controllable polarizer is turned on and the other controllable polarizers are turned off, so that 100% of the outgoing lasers passing through the first controllable polarizer are transmitted, and are incident to the second controllable polarizer and emitted at the position of the second controllable polarizer, ..., and so on until the last controllable polarizer is turned on, so that all the outgoing lasers are emitted at the position of the last controllable polarizer.

[0039] In this embodiment, a plurality of first emission assemblies 210 are provided, and on-off of the deflection units 214a in each first emission assembly 210 are controlled, to complete scanning of the entire detection region, and emission and receiving is implemented by means of electronic scanning without needing a mechanical rotating component, thereby improving reliability of a product and prolonging service life of the product.

[0040] If only one first emission assembly 210 is used to scan in the first direction, a deflection mechanism 213 further needs to be added to scan in the second direction, to scan the entire detection region. As shown in FIG. 9, in another embodiment, the emission assembly 21 includes a laser emission module 211 and an optical deflection module 214. The optical deflection module 214 includes a plurality of deflection units 214a arranged in the first direction. The laser emission module 211 is configured to emit an outgoing laser to the optical deflection module 214 in the first direction (direction X). The deflection units 214a in the optical deflection module 214 are configured to deflect and then emit the outgoing laser; and each deflection unit 214a is configured to individually control transmittance and reflectivity of an outgoing laser passing the deflection unit. The foregoing controllable polarizer may also be used as a deflection unit 214a. The LiDAR 100 further includes a deflection mechanism 213. The deflection mechanism 213 is configured to receive the outgoing laser and reflect the outgoing laser toward the detection region of the array detector 221, so that the outgoing laser scans the entire detection region. The deflection mechanism 213 may be selected as a device that can implement optical scanning, such as a MEMS micromirror, a reflector, or a transmission prism. In this embodiment, the deflection mechanism 213 is a one-dimensional MEMS micromirror. The one-dimensional MEMS micromirror is configured to complete scanning in a direction. In this embodiment, compared with LiDAR using a two-dimensional MEMS micromirror or another two-dimensional rotating component, only a one-dimensional MEMS micromirror is used to scan in one direction, and scanning in another direction is completed through electronic scanning, thereby improving reliability of the product.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 10a, in some embodiments, a difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is that, the deflection units 214a are implemented as plane mirrors (referring to FIG. 10b), and each plane mirror is configured to deflect a preset proportion of the outgoing laser for emission. Preset proportions of the outgoing laser reflected by plane mirrors may be the same or different.

[0042] Each plane mirror has a same or different transmittance or reflectivity, so that the outgoing laser is reflected from each plane mirror in a preset fixed proportion. A prepared plane mirror has a fixed transmittance or reflectivity. In some embodiments, the transmittance or reflectivity of each plane mirror is calculated in advance according to an actual application need, and the corresponding plane mirror is selected or prepared according to the determined transmittance or reflectivity, so that energy of the outgoing lasers reflected by each plane mirror is the same or approximately same. For example, there are 5 plane mirrors in total. The first plane mirror has transmittance of 80% and reflectivity of 20%, and therefore, energy of the outgoing laser reflected by the first plane mirror is 20% of the total energy of the outgoing laser. The second plane mirror has transmittance of 75% and reflectivity of 25%, and therefore, a ratio of energy of the outgoing laser reflected by the second plane mirror to the total energy of the outgoing laser is 80%*25%=20%. The third plane mirror has transmittance of 67% and reflectivity of 33%, and therefore, a ratio of energy of the outgoing laser reflected by the third plane mirror to the total energy of the outgoing laser is 80%*75%*33%=19.8%, which is approximately 20%. The fourth plane mirror has transmittance of 50% and reflectivity of 50%, and therefore, a ratio of energy of the outgoing laser reflected by the fourth plane mirror to the total energy of the outgoing laser is 80%*75%*67%*50%=20.1%, which is approximately 20%. The fifth plane mirror has transmittance of 0% approximately and reflectivity of 100% approximately, and therefore, a ratio of energy of the outgoing laser reflected by the fifth plane mirror to the total energy of the outgoing laser is 80%*75%*67%*50%*100%=20.1%, which is approximately 20%. If the foregoing plane mirrors are selected, the energy of the outgoing laser reflected by each plane mirror is about 20% of the total energy of the outgoing laser.

[0043] In another embodiment, to satisfy a detection requirement for high resolution of interest, energy of an outgoing laser reflected by a plane mirror which is configured to deflect the outgoing laser to a region of interest in the detection region may be greater than energy of an outgoing laser reflected by other plane mirrors. For example, there are 5 plane mirrors in total, a central region is a region of interest, energy of an outgoing laser reflected by 3 plane mirrors which are configured to deflect the outgoing laser to the central region needs to be greater than energy of an outgoing laser reflected by the other two plane mirrors. The first plane mirror has transmittance of 90% and reflectivity of 10%, and therefore, energy of the outgoing laser reflected by the first plane mirror is 10% of the total energy of the outgoing laser. The second plane mirror has transmittance of 71% and reflectivity of 29%, and therefore, a ratio of energy of the outgoing laser reflected by the second plane mirror to the total energy of the outgoing laser is 90%*29%=26.1%. The third plane mirror has transmittance of 58% and reflectivity of 42%, and therefore, a ratio of energy of the outgoing laser reflected by the third plane mirror to the total energy of the outgoing laser is 90%*71%*42%=26.8%. The fourth plane mirror has transmittance of 28% and reflectivity of 72%, and therefore, a ratio of energy of the outgoing laser reflected by the fourth plane mirror to the total energy of the outgoing laser is 90%*71%*58%*72%=26.7%. The fifth plane mirror has transmittance of 0% and reflectivity of 100% approximately, and therefore, a ratio of energy of the outgoing laser reflected by the fifth plane mirror to the total energy of the outgoing laser is 90%*71%*58%*28%*100%=10.4%. The foregoing plane mirrors are selected so that the energy of outgoing laser reflected by the three plane mirrors which are configured to deflect the outgoing laser to the central region needs to be greater than energy of outgoing laser reflected by the other two plane mirrors. The transmittance or reflectivity of a plane mirror can be determined based on an actual situation. After the transmittance or reflectivity of each plane mirror is determined, a corresponding plane mirror(s) is / are selected or prepared to meet the actual detection need.

[0044] In this embodiment, different from the foregoing controllable polarizers, the plane mirrors cannot be controlled to be turned on and off. Plane mirrors in the first emission assembly 210 reflect the outgoing laser almost simultaneously (transmission time of light in each plane mirror is negligible). The outgoing laser of the first emission assembly 210 in the first direction can cover the detection region in this direction, and therefore, the first emission assembly 210 does not scan the detection region in the first direction (direction Y), and the deflection mechanism 213 scans in the second direction (direction X) to scan the entire detection region.

[0045] Regarding angles of the plane mirrors, all the plane mirrors can be at 45 degrees, so that the outgoing lasers are evenly distributed in stripes. However, in this case, a deflection mechanism 213 with a larger area needs to be provided to receive the outgoing lasers reflected by all the plane mirrors. Therefore, the angles of the plane mirrors can be adapted to change the deflection direction, so that the outgoing laser passing through the plane mirrors can arrive and be focused, thereby reducing the size of the deflection mechanism 213. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, included angles between a plurality of plane mirrors and outgoing lasers emitted by the laser emission module 211 are successively decreased in the first direction, so that an outgoing laser passing through each plane mirror is focused toward the center.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 12a, the deflection mechanism 213 is exactly located at a focal position at which the outgoing laser is focused. When the deflection mechanism 213 is at this position, the size of the deflection mechanism 213 can be minimized. Certainly, the deflection mechanism 213 may also be located at a non-focus position, for example, a position shown in FIG. 12b. In this case, the deflection mechanism 213 has a larger size than that in FIG. 12a.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 13, in another embodiment, in addition to the first lens 212a used by the emission optical module 212 to collimate the outgoing laser emitted by the laser 2112, the emission optical module 212 of the LiDAR 100 further includes a second lens 212b, and the second lens 212b is configured to focus the outgoing laser deflected by each plane mirror and direct the outgoing laser to the deflection mechanism 213. There is an optical path gap between outgoing laser beams collimated by the first lens 212a, and therefore, a light spot reflected by the deflection mechanism 213 is a non-continuous linear light spot, and there is a blind spot during detection. A second lens 212b is provided along an optical path for the outgoing laser beams reflected by the plane mirrors to focus the beams, so that the light spot incident on the deflection mechanism 213 is a continuous gapless linear light spot, and therefore, the light spot reflected by the deflection mechanism 213 is also a continuous gapless linear light spot to avoid a blind spot during detection.(3) Emission assembly 21 including an optical shaping module 215

[0048] As shown in FIG. 14, in an example, the emission assembly 21 includes a laser emission module 211 and an optical shaping module 215, and LiDAR 100 further includes a deflection mechanism 213. The laser emission module 211 is implemented as a laser 2112. The laser emission module 211 is configured to emit an outgoing laser to the optical shaping module 215, and the optical shaping module 215 is configured to focus the outgoing laser and direct the outgoing laser to the deflection mechanism 213. The deflection mechanism 213 is configured to receive the outgoing laser and reflect the outgoing laser to the detection region of the array detector 221. The outgoing laser incident to the detection region is a linear light spot, and the deflection mechanism 213 is also configured to scan the linear light spot across the entire detection region. The optical shaping module 215 may be selected from a cylindrical lens or a micro-cylindrical-lens array. The deflection mechanism 213 may be selected as a device that can implement optical scanning, such as a MEMS micromirror, a reflector, or a transmission prism. In this embodiment, the deflection mechanism 213 is a one-dimensional MEMS micromirror. The one-dimensional MEMS micromirror is configured to complete scanning in a direction.

[0049] To reduce the size of the product, a reflection module may also be provided in the optical path. For example, in this embodiment, a reflector 216 is provided between the first lens 212a and the optical shaping module 215.

[0050] In this example, the optical shaping module 215 is provided between the laser emission module 211 and the deflection mechanism 213. Therefore, the optical shaping module 215 focuses the outgoing laser and then directs the outgoing laser to the deflection mechanism 213, so that an outgoing laser spot reflected by the deflection mechanism 213 is a linear light spot, to avoid a blind spot during detection. Compared with LiDAR using a two-dimensional MEMS micromirror or another two-dimensional rotating component, in this embodiment, the optical shaping module 215 shapes the outgoing laser into a linear light spot in the first direction, and scans in the second direction by using only the one-dimensional MEMS micromirror, thereby improving reliability of the product.

[0051] The position of the optical shaping module 215 can also be adjusted. As shown in FIG. 15, in another example, a laser emission module 211 is configured to emit an outgoing laser to a deflection mechanism 213; the deflection mechanism 213 is configured to receive the outgoing laser and reflect the outgoing laser to the optical shaping module 215; the optical shaping module 215 is configured to shape the outgoing laser into a linear light spot and then direct the linear light spot to the detection region of the array detector 221; and the deflection mechanism 213 is further configured to scan the linear light spot across the entire detection region. The optical shaping module 215 is a cylindrical lens or a micro-cylindrical-lens array. For example, a cross-section of the optical shaping module 215 in a rotation plane of the deflection mechanism 213 is arc-shaped and is symmetrical around the deflection mechanism 213, as shown in FIG. 16. The deflection mechanism 213 may be implemented as a device that can implement optical scanning, such as a MEMS micromirror, a reflector, or a transmission prism. In this embodiment, the deflection mechanism 213 is a one-dimensional MEMS micromirror. The one-dimensional MEMS micromirror is configured to complete scanning in a direction.

[0052] In this example, the optical shaping module 215 is provided on the optical path of the outgoing laser reflected by the deflection mechanism 213. The optical shaping module 215 shapes the outgoing laser reflected by the deflection mechanism 213 into the linear light spot and then emits the linear light spot to the detection region of the array detector 221, and a finally emitted outgoing laser spot is the linear light spot, thereby avoiding the blind spot during detection. Compared with LiDAR using a two-dimensional MEMS micromirror or another two-dimensional rotating component, in this embodiment, the optical shaping module 215 shapes the outgoing laser into a linear light spot in the first direction, and scans in the second direction by using only the one-dimensional MEMS micromirror, thereby improving reliability of the product.

[0053] Based on the forgoing LiDAR 100, an embodiment of the present invention proposes an automated driving device 200, including a LiDAR 100 in one of the forgoing embodiments. The automated driving device 200 may be a car, an airplane, a boat, or other related apparatuses where the LiDAR is used for intelligent sensing and detection. The automated driving device 200 includes a driving device body 201 and the LiDAR 100 in one of the forgoing embodiments. The LiDAR 100 is mounted on the driving device body 201.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 17, the automated driving device 200 is an unmanned vehicle, and the LiDAR 100 is mounted on a side of the vehicle body. As shown in FIG. 18, the automated driving device 200 is also an unmanned vehicle, and the LiDAR 100 is mounted on a roof of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A LiDAR device (100), comprising an emission drive system (1), a laser transceiving system (2), and a control and signal processing system (3), wherein: the laser transceiving system (2) comprises an emission assembly (21) and a receiving assembly (22), wherein: the emission assembly (21) is configured to emit an outgoing laser, so that the outgoing laser scans a detection region, the receiving assembly (22) comprises an array detector (221), wherein the array detector (221) comprises a plurality of detection units (221a) and the array detector (221) is configured to turn on the detection units (221a) synchronously with the emission of the emission assembly to receive an echo laser, the echo laser being a reflection of the outgoing laser that is reflected by an object in the detection region; the emission drive system (1) is configured to drive the emission assembly (21); and the control and signal processing system (3) is configured to control the emission drive system (1) to drive the emission assembly (21), and configured to control the receiving assembly (22) to receive the echo laser, characterized in that, the emission assembly (21) comprises a plurality of first emission assemblies (210), each first emission assembly (210) comprising a laser emission module (211) and an optical deflection module (214), wherein each optical deflection module (214) comprises a plurality of deflection units (214a) arranged in a first direction, and the laser emission module (211) is configured to emit the outgoing laser to the optical deflection module (214) in the first direction, and the optical deflection module (214) is configured to sequentially turn on the deflection units (214a) so that the outgoing laser is emitted in a second direction and scans in the first direction or in an opposite direction of the first direction; and arrangement of the deflection units (214a) is consistent with arrangement of the detection units (221a) in the array detector (221); and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

2. The LiDAR device (100) according to claim 1, wherein: the emission assembly (21) comprises a laser emission module (211), and the laser emission module (211) comprises a plurality of laser emission units and is configured to sequentially turn on the laser emission units to emit the outgoing laser, so that the outgoing laser scans all detection regions of the array detector (221); and preferably: the array detector (221) comprises m*n detection units (221a), m and n being integers greater than 1, and the array detector (221) is configured to turn on a selected detection unit (221a) to detect a detection region scanned by the outgoing laser emitted by the laser emission units.

3. The LiDAR device (100) according to claim 2, wherein: the laser emission module (211) is an array emitter (2111), and the laser emission units are m*n light emission units (2111a) of the array emitter (2111), wherein the light emission units (2111a) are separately controllable to be turned on or off; and the array emitter (2111) is configured to sequentially turn on the light emission units (2111a) to emit the outgoing laser, so that the outgoing laser scans all the detection regions of the array detector (221), wherein preferably the array emitter (2111) comprises a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser array, an edge emitting laser array, a light emitting diode array, a micro light emitting diode array, a pulsed laser deposition array, or a laser diode array.

4. The LiDAR device (100) according to claim 3, wherein: the array emitter (2111) is configured to sequentially turn on a first light emission unit (2111a) to emit the outgoing laser, the first light emission unit (2111a) comprising one or more of the light emission units (2111a); and the array detector (221) is configured to turn on a first detection unit (221a) synchronously and sequentially to receive the echo laser, wherein the first detection unit (221a) comprises one or more of the detection units (221a), a position of the first detection unit (221a) corresponds to a position of the first light emission unit (2111a), and the echo laser received by the first detection unit (221a) is a reflection of the outgoing laser emitted by the first light emission unit (2111a) and reflected by the object in the detection region.

5. The LiDAR device (100) according to claim 4, wherein: the first light emission unit (2111a) comprises one light emission unit (2111a), and the first detection unit (221a) comprises one detection unit (221a); and the array detector (221) is further configured to turn on a second detection unit (221a) synchronously with the emission of the first light emission unit to receive the echo laser, the second detection unit (221a) comprising one or more detection units (221a) around the first detection unit (221a).

6. The LiDAR device (100) according to claim 4, wherein the first light emission unit (2111a) comprises p*q ones of the light emission units (2111a), and the first detection unit (221a) comprises p*q ones of the detection units (221a), wherein p and q are integers greater than or equal to 1, and 1<p<m or 1<q<n, wherein preferably when p is less than m and q is less than n, the laser emission module (211) is configured to turn on the laser emission units along a first direction and then an opposite direction of the first direction back and forth, or turn on the laser emission units row by row or column by column along the first direction; or when p is equal to m and q is less than n, the laser emission module (211) is configured to turn on the laser emission units in a vertical direction; or when p is less than m and q is equal to n, the laser emission module (211) is configured to turn on the laser emission units in a horizontal direction.

7. The LiDAR device (100) according to claim 2, wherein the laser emission module (211) is an array emitter (2111), and the laser emission units are m*1 light emission units (2111a) of the array emitter (2111) separately controllable to be turned on or off, or the laser emission units are 1*n light emission units (2111a) of the array emitter (2111) separately controllable to be turned on or off, wherein the array emitter (2111) is configured to sequentially turn on the light emission units (2111a) to emit the outgoing laser, so that the outgoing laser scans in a first direction; and the LiDAR device (100) further comprises a deflection mechanism (213) configured to receive the outgoing laser and reflect the outgoing laser toward the detection regions of the array detector (221), so that the outgoing laser scans in a second direction, the first direction being perpendicular to the second direction, wherein preferably the deflection mechanism (213) is a MEMS micromirror, a reflector or a transmission prism.

8. The LiDAR device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the array detector (221) comprises an avalanche photodiode array, a silicon photomultiplier tube array, a multi-pixel photon counter array, a photomultiplier tube array, a single-photon avalanche diode array, a pin array, a charge-coupled device or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor.

9. The LiDAR device (100) according to claim 8, wherein: all the first emission assemblies (210) are configured to enable the laser emission modules (211) of the first emission assemblies (210) to simultaneously emit the outgoing laser in the first direction, or the first emission assemblies (210) sequentially enable the laser emission modules (211) to emit the outgoing laser along the first direction in an arrangement sequence; or the array detector (221) comprises m*n detection units (221a) separately controllable to be turned on or off, m and n being integers greater than 1, and the emission assembly (21) comprises m first emission assemblies (210), and an optical deflection module (214) in each first emission assembly (210) comprises n deflection units (214a) arranged along the first direction; or the emission assembly (21) comprises n first emission assemblies (210), and an optical deflection module (214) in each first emission assembly (210) comprises m deflection units (214a) arranged along the second direction; or the deflection units (214a) are controllable polarizers configured to reflect the outgoing laser when in an on state and allow the outgoing laser to pass through when in an off state.

10. The LiDAR device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the emission assembly (21) comprises a laser emission module (211) and an optical deflection module (214), wherein the optical deflection module (214) comprises a plurality of deflection units (214a) arranged in a first direction, the laser emission module (211) is configured to emit the outgoing laser to the optical deflection module (214) in the first direction, and each deflection unit (214a) in the optical deflection module (214) is configured to deflect and then emit a preset proportion of outgoing laser; and the LiDAR device (100) further comprises a deflection mechanism (213), wherein the deflection mechanism (213) is configured to receive the outgoing laser and reflect the outgoing laser toward the detection region of the array detector (221), so that the outgoing laser scans the entire detection region, and wherein preferably the deflection mechanism (213) is a MEMS micromirror, a reflector or a transmission prism.

11. The LiDAR device (100) according to claim 10, wherein: the deflection unit (214a) is a plane mirror, and each plane mirror has a fixed transmittance or reflectivity, and preferably outgoing laser has an equivalent amount of energy reflected by the plane mirrors, or energy of outgoing laser reflected by a plane mirror which is configured to deflect the outgoing laser to a region of interest in the detection region is greater than energy of an outgoing laser reflected by other plane mirrors; or included angles between the plurality of deflection units (214a) and the outgoing laser emitted by the laser emission module (211) are successively decreased in the first direction, so that an outgoing laser passing through each deflection unit (214a) is focused toward the center; or the LiDAR device (100) further comprises a lens configured to focus the outgoing laser deflected by each deflection unit (214a) and direct the outgoing laser to the deflection mechanism (213).

12. The LiDAR device (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein: the emission assembly (21) further comprises an emission optical module (212) configured to collimate the outgoing laser emitted by the laser emission module (211); and the receiving assembly (22) further comprises a receiving optical module (222) configured to focus the echo laser and emit the focused echo laser to the array detector (221).

13. An automated driving device (200), comprising a driving device body (201) and a LiDAR device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the LiDAR device (100) is mounted at the driving device body (201).