Multiband sensor system, method, and motor vehicle for ambient detection

Abstract

The present invention - An optical device (6) for generating an optical carrier signal (7), - A transmitting device (4) configured to emit electrical transmission signals (16, 17, 18) based on an optical carrier signal (7) and A sensor system (2) for peripheral detection having, - An electro-optic modulator (8) having a predetermined working point (10), - An electro-optic modulator (8) is configured to generate a plurality of optical oscillating signals (9) based on a predetermined working point (10) and an optical carrier signal (7), such that the plurality of optical oscillating signals (9) have different frequency bands (20, 21, 22), The present invention relates to a sensor system (2) having a transmitting device (4) configured to convert a plurality of optical transmitting signals (9) into a plurality of electrical transmitting signals (16, 17, 18), and to transmit the plurality of electrical transmitting signals (16, 17, 18) by at least one wireless-based transmitting unit (12, 13, 14). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method and a motorized vehicle (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sensor system for peripheral detection. The sensor system has an optical device for generating an optical carrier signal. The sensor system also has a transmission device configured to transmit an electrical transmission signal based on the optical carrier signal.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for operating the sensor system.

[0003] Similarly, the present invention relates to a motor vehicle having the sensor system.

[0004] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 0055387A1 discloses a coherent lidar system. This includes a light source configured to emit local oscillation light, a corresponding portion of the local oscillation light, and optical pulses that are each coherent. Furthermore, this lidar system has a laser and an amplifier. Furthermore, this lidar system has a receiver configured to receive the local oscillation light and the optical pulses and determine the distance to an object therefrom.

[0005] Furthermore, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 0072381A1 discloses a system and method for improved velocity resolution and improved signal-to-noise ratio in optically phase-coded distance detection. In this case, an electrical signal generated by mixing a first optical signal and a second optical signal can be received, the first optical signal is generated by modulation of the optical signal, and the second optical signal is generated to form a single value as a reaction to the transmission of the first optical signal. The Doppler frequency shift of the second optical signal can be determined, and a corrected electrical signal can be generated by adaptation of the electrical signal based on the Doppler frequency shift. The distance to an object can be determined based on the cross-correlation between the correlated electrical signal and the high-frequency signal.

[0006] Furthermore, U.S. Patent No. 11,032,009B1 discloses a method for transmitting signals from user equipment in a wireless communication system. Additionally, a method for generating optical signals related to data transmission includes combining an electrical signal of data with an optical signal, and transmitting the combined signal.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a sensor system that can be used more broadly and, nevertheless, minimizes complexity.

[0008] This problem is solved by the sensor system, method, and motorized vehicle described in the independent claim. Significant developments will become apparent from the dependent claims.

[0009] One aspect of the present invention is, - An optical device for generating an optical carrier signal, - A sensor system for ambient detection having a transmitting device configured to emit an electrical signal based on an optical carrier signal, - An electro-optic modulator having a predetermined working point, - An electro-optic modulator configured to generate multiple optical oscillating signals based on a predetermined working point and an optical carrier signal, such that the multiple optical oscillating signals have different frequency bands from each other. The present invention relates to a sensor system having a transmitting device configured to convert multiple optical transmission signals into multiple electrical transmission signals, and to transmit the multiple electrical transmission signals using at least one wireless-based transmitting unit.

[0010] The proposed sensor system can provide a radar system or lidar-radar-composite system with even lower complexity, yet with multiple frequency bands provided by a single, particularly single, electro-optic modulator.

[0011] Unlike current optically supported radar systems, the proposed sensor system has multiple frequency bands or radar frequency bands for object detection. The electro-optic modulator of the sensor system according to the present invention eliminates the need for separate phase shifters to generate each band, unlike well-known multiband optically supported radar systems. Conventionally, such radar bands or frequency bands were separated by subsequent optical filters, with the radar lamp modulated by a separate electro-optic modulator. The proposed sensor system improves upon this.

[0012] The proposed sensor system requires only one electro-optic modulator for generating radar and / or lidar signals in different frequency bands or bandwidths. For example, the sensor system may be a radar system or a lidar-radar system. For example, the sensor system can be used as a photonic multiband lidar-radar system.

[0013] Unlike conventional sensor systems, the proposed sensor system does not utilize separate hardware components for the individual generation of each frequency band. The proposed sensor system allows for the generation of various different frequency bands using the same component or unit, employing an electro-optic modulator.

[0014] Furthermore, the proposed sensor system enables the control of multiple bands or frequency bands by special hardware, particularly by a single piece of hardware such as an electro-optic modulator. This minimizes the cost and complexity of the entire system for peripheral detection, especially the sensor system. Another advantage of the sensor system according to the present invention is that, for example, the sensor system can omit mode-locked lasers (MLLs) and separately controlled phase shifters for generating different frequency bands. Similarly, optical band-pass filters that separate each band from each other before each individual frequency band is controlled separately can also be omitted. This can be omitted by the proposed sensor system.

[0015] By using an electro-optical modulator in the sensor system, multiple frequency bands or radar bands can be generated or controlled by a single unit or hardware component. Therefore, the complexity, failure probability, and cost of the sensor system according to the present invention can be reduced compared to conventional sensor systems.

[0016] The omission of a phase shifter, which is not possible in conventional technology, reduces cost and complexity. The omission of a mode-locked laser (MLL), commonly used in systems to generate frequency bands, brings yet another advantage to the sensor system according to the present invention. MLLs, by their very nature, have a short lifespan and are very expensive. Therefore, systems with MLLs have a higher failure rate and cannot be implemented at a low cost. An additional optical band-pass filter is required for frequency band isolation, which is often very expensive and generates additional energy, such as additional heat dissipation, which must then be compensated for. This increases the system's output loss or cost. These listed disadvantages of using an MLL can be overcome by the proposed sensor system.

[0017] Unlike conventional technologies, the proposed sensor system requires only one electro-optic modulator to generate multiple frequency bands or radar bands. Furthermore, optical clock distribution allows the sensor system to be used in systems for large-scale equipment.

[0018] By slightly modifying the hardware, the sensor system can be used not only as a radar system but also as a radar-lidar-integrated system. By selecting the necessary components for the sensor system, it can be implemented in discrete, integrated, or partially integrated solutions.

[0019] In contrast to the lifespan issues of mode-locked lasers, electro-optic modulators have a relatively long lifespan, which is ultimately beneficial for sensor systems.

[0020] In particular, electro-optic modulators are configured to generate multiple optical signals having different frequency bands. To this end, electro-optic modulators can be operated at predetermined or special working points. For example, an electro-optic modulator can be operated at a working point where it can generate a number of harmonics, at least several, of possible identical amplitudes. In particular, an electro-optic modulator can be operated at a working point where it can generate at least two harmonic signals. A harmonic can be understood as a harmonic oscillation whose frequency is an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency. The fundamental frequency can be set by an optical carrier signal.

[0021] In particular, the Nyquist point can be used as the working point. Accordingly, electro-optical modulators can have a working mode that is defined, or is defined, based on the Nyquist point. The Nyquist point, or critical point, is understood to be a point that takes the Nyquist criterion into consideration, up to which the system is stable. Furthermore, taking the Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem into consideration, all components of a single signal can have frequencies lower than the Nyquist frequency, thereby allowing the sampled signal to be reconstructed with arbitrary accuracy. This is advantageous for the sensor system in question, as it allows for the appropriate evaluation and reconstruction of radar or sensor information for object detection, especially for ambient detection.

[0022] Using an electro-optic modulator, for example, three frequency bands simultaneously, or corresponding signals, can be utilized for purposes such as ambient detection. This is particularly preferable for improved location classification.

[0023] Multiple optically generated signals can be coherently generated, thereby ensuring their phases are equal. In this way, the multiple generated signals are linked together in phase synchronization.

[0024] The proposed sensor system can be applied to a variety of fields, such as aerospace, marine navigation, agriculture, the automotive industry, or automotive systems.

[0025] In particular, the sensor system can be applied to a motor vehicle with at least partially autonomous mobility or, in particular, a motor vehicle operating in a fully autonomous manner. In order to enable such automated driving, reliable environmental perception is essential. In this case, the surroundings or the environment are detected using sensors such as radar and / or lidar. Particularly important is the all-round 360-degree three-dimensional detection of the surroundings, by means of which all static and dynamic objects can be detected. For this purpose, the sensor system can be utilized. For example, the sensor system may be configured as a photonic radar system or a photonic lidar system, which is due to the co-integration of electronic and photonic components, particularly on a single semiconductor chip. In that case, the tracking of the FMCW signal as well as all signal processing and signal evaluation can be performed by a central station or a central computing device. For example, by means of an optical device, the signal transmission of a gigahertz signal as an optical carrier signal can be performed, particularly in the terahertz frequency range. A central station, which can also be referred to as a central electronic computing device, generates an optical carrier frequency, particularly an optical carrier signal. In particular, all data for environmental detection can be processed by the central station.

[0026] In particular, the spectral characteristics of the optical transmission signal may be the same as those of the electrical transmission signal.

[0027] For example, an optical device or an optical laser can generate a 77 gigahertz FMCW signal as a carrier signal.

[0028] For example, at least the optical device may be intended to directly and / or by means of an external component modulate an optical transmission signal or an optical carrier signal.

[0029] In particular, an electro-optical modulator can also be referred to as an electro-optical conversion unit or an electro-optical conversion device.

[0030] In one embodiment, the electro - optical modulator is intended to be configured to additionally consider a high - frequency signal provided to the electro - optical modulator for the generation of a plurality of optical transmission signals. The electro - optical modulator is configured to be able to generate or produce a plurality of optical transmission signals having different frequency bands from each other, and in particular to be able to operate. For this purpose, the electro - optical modulator operates at a predetermined operating point on the one hand, and the electro - optical modulator can be modulated, in particular additionally, with a high - frequency signal.

[0031] This high - frequency signal can be, for example, an RF signal (Radio Frequency Signal). Such a high - frequency signal can include a frequency range from 9 kilohertz to the terahertz frequency range.

[0032] In one embodiment, the transmitting device is intended to have at least one optoelectronic conversion unit, whereby a plurality of optical transmission signals can be converted into a plurality of electrical transmission signals. For example, a plurality of optical transmission signals can be transmitted to the transmitting device via an optical transmission path or an optical transmission section. For example, this can be done through a fiber - optic connection. Then, the transmitted plurality of optical transmission signals can be converted by one or more optoelectronic conversion units or optoelectronic conversion devices, whereby a plurality of electrical transmission signals are provided or can be provided for transmission to at least one radio - based transmitting unit, for example a radar sensor.

[0033] As an addition or alternative, the transmitter may have at least one frequency manipulator, which can modify at least one frequency band of one of a plurality of electrical oscillating signals. For example, the transmitter may have multiple frequency manipulators or mixers. At least one frequency manipulator can convert one frequency band of a plurality of oscillating signals, or multiple frequency bands of a plurality of electrical oscillating signals, to a higher or lower frequency band based on a defined bandwidth. In this way, frequency conversion can be performed by a frequency manipulator. In other words, a frequency manipulator can manipulate at least one frequency band of a plurality of electrical oscillating signals for oscillating, particularly for ambient detection.

[0034] As an addition or alternative, the transmitting device has at least one electrical amplifier for amplifying at least one frequency band of one of a plurality of electrical oscillating signals. In addition to the at least one electrical amplifier, the transmitting device may have another electrical amplifier. In particular, an amplifier may be provided for each of the plurality of electrical oscillating signals, so that each frequency band of each electrical oscillating signal can be electrically amplified for oscillating.

[0035] In one embodiment, the sensor system is intended to have an optical transmitting unit of a transmitter. The optical transmitting unit is configured to directly transmit at least one of a plurality of optical transmitting signals. In other words, the transmitter can have different transmitting means. Thus the transmitter, and consequently the sensor system, may have at least one wireless-based transmitting unit as well as at least one optical transmitting unit. Accordingly, the sensor system according to the present invention may be configured as a radar-lidar composite system. Thus the sensor system has extended functionality and can be used more broadly. Thus the sensor system has two measurement principles. This works favorably when detecting surroundings, and especially when detecting objects in the surroundings. This is particularly advantageous for use in autonomously operating vehicles.

[0036] A transmitting device can be called a composite device capable of detecting objects and / or their surroundings by signals, such as wireless, electrical, electromagnetic, or optical signals.

[0037] A wireless-based transmitting unit may be a device capable of detecting its surroundings by wireless, electrical, and / or electromagnetic signals. Thus, a wireless-based transmitting unit may be, for example, a radar unit. An optical transmitting unit or optical-based transmitting unit may be a unit and / or device that detects objects and / or its surroundings by optical signals, for example, by light from a laser and / or a light-emitting diode (LED). For example, an optical transmitting unit may be a lidar unit.

[0038] Multiple optically transmitted signals generated or produced can be provided or transmitted via the optical transmission section of the optical transmission unit of the wireless-based transmission unit, thereby enabling the direct transmission of different signals having different frequency bands as optically transmitted signals for ambient detection, and indirect transmission as electrical signals through conversion and / or manipulation. In this way, a sensor system can be provided that can be used as both a lidar system and a radar system.

[0039] In one embodiment, the sensor system is further intended to have a receiving device having at least one wireless-based receiving unit for receiving at least one electrical received signal. In addition, the receiving device may have at least one mixer that can modify the frequency band of at least one electrical received signal. Furthermore, the sensor system has a computing device configured to process the electrical received signal.

[0040] A wireless-based receiving unit can be used to receive electrical signals, such as at least one electrical receiving signal.

[0041] For example, at least one received electrical signal may correspond to one of several transmitted electrical signals. In particular, when an transmitted electrical signal is emitted into the surroundings and hits an object, a reflected signal can bounce back. This may be, for example, an received electrical signal. In particular, the received electrical signal contains surrounding information, especially radar information. For example, for each transmitted electrical signal, the corresponding reflected electrical signal from the surroundings can be received by the transmitting device.

[0042] At least one received electrical signal, or multiple received electrical signals, can be appropriately preprocessed and modified with respect to their frequency band by, for example, at least one mixer or frequency manipulator, and in particular, can be upmixed or downmixed.

[0043] The computing device may be a central computing device in particular. The computing device may be connected or linked, for example, to a transmitting device and / or a receiving device in a signal engineering or data engineering manner. The receiving device may have corresponding output and input sections, thereby being able to transmit, for example, received electrical signals to the computing device, thereby enabling evaluation or processing of each signal. Peripheral detection can be performed in this manner.

[0044] For example, central processing of data, signals, and information is performed on a central computing device, particularly with respect to peripheral detection.

[0045] For example, a computing device can be used to control the transmitting and / or receiving devices. In particular, the computing device can be used as a control and evaluation unit for the sensor system, especially for the transmitting and receiving devices.

[0046] Accordingly, for example, various transmitting and / or receiving devices can be controlled, operated, or managed by the same central computing device.

[0047] The computing device can be linked to a transmitting device and / or a receiving device via one or more glass fibers and / or electrical lines.

[0048] In one embodiment, the receiving device is intended to have at least one optical receiving unit for receiving optically received signals, and the computing device is configured to process the optically received signals, and in particular, the receiving device has an optical demodulator for demodulating the optically received signals. Thus, the sensor system can be used as a lidar-radar combined system. In addition to the wireless-based receiving unit, the receiving device may have at least one optical receiving unit or optical receiving device. Using the optical receiving unit, for example, an optical signal corresponding to one of a plurality of directly transmitted optically transmitted signals can be received. Thus, the sensor system has both the radar measurement principle and the lidar measurement principle as its measurement principle.

[0049] The optical receiving unit may be integrated, for example, with the wireless-based receiving unit, either internally or on the surface of the receiving device. It is equally possible that the optical receiving unit and the wireless-based receiving unit are separate units of the receiving device.

[0050] Furthermore, the receiving device may have multiple optical receiving units, thereby enabling it to receive multiple transmitted optical signals in a manner similar to that of the transmitted optical signals.

[0051] An optical demodulator can recover the active signal that has been modulated by the carrier wave beforehand, for example, the carrier signal in the baseband. In particular, the in-mode orthogonal phase method (I&Q method) can be performed, thereby obtaining phase information when a high-frequency carrier signal is demodulated.

[0052] As an addition or alternative, the receiving device may have at least one optical-electronic conversion unit, which can modulate an optical output signal based on at least one of a plurality of optical transmission signals and at least one electrical transmission signal. For example, an optical-electronic conversion unit or optical-electronic conversion device, which may be called a detector, can modulate at least one received electrical transmission signal and at least one of the optical transmission signals. Thus, the optical-electronic conversion unit can be supplied with at least one electrical transmission signal in addition to a corresponding optical transmission signal, thereby generating an optical output signal by modulation. This may further include peripheral information, thereby allowing this optical output signal to be transmitted to a computing device for further evaluation or processing.

[0053] In particular, optical-electronic conversion units can supply an electrical received signal and an optical transmitted signal having at least substantially the same frequency band.

[0054] In one embodiment, the sensor system has another optical device for generating another optical carrier signal. Furthermore, the sensor system has another electro-optic modulator configured to generate multiple optical signals based on the other optical carrier signal such that the multiple optical signals have different frequency bands from each other. In addition, the sensor system has at least one optical-electronic conversion unit in the receiving device, which can modulate the optical output signal based on at least one of the multiple optical signals and at least one electrical received signal. Thus, the multiple optical output signals of the electro-optic modulator can be omitted here as an option for generating or modulating the optical output signal, because the receiving device receives a supply of various optical signals having different frequency bands from another broadband light source.

[0055] For example, an optical device, which can be called a light source, can be used to supply another optical carrier signal to the receiving device. The other optical transmission signal may be identical to the optical carrier signal. Another electro-optic modulator may be configured similarly to the electro-optic modulator already described.

[0056] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for operating a sensor system based on the above aspect or a preferred development thereof. An electro-optic modulator is operated in a specific operating mode in which a plurality of optical oscillating signals are generated such that the plurality of optical oscillating signals have different frequency bands from each other.

[0057] In particular, the sensor system described above can be operated using the method immediately described above. In this case, the electro-optic modulator can be operated at a working point that can generate as many harmonics as possible of the same amplitude. This allows the electro-optic modulator to generate a variety of different frequency bands. In this way, the sensor system can be used more broadly, especially for improved detection of the surroundings.

[0058] In one embodiment of another aspect (method), an electro-optic modulator is intended to operate such that, when in a particular operating mode, the Nyquist point is defined as the working point of the electro-optic modulator. This allows for the generation of multiple harmonic signals. The Nyquist point, in particular, offers the advantage that multiple optical oscillating signals are in phase with each other. Thus, a stable signal can be generated and transmitted for ambient detection.

[0059] Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a motorized vehicle having a sensor system based on the above-described aspect or a preferred development thereof. In particular, the motorized vehicle described above includes a sensor system based on the above-described aspect.

[0060] In particular, a motorized vehicle is a vehicle that operates assisted, or at least partially autonomously. Specifically, a motorized vehicle is a highly automated motorized vehicle that includes various driver assistance systems. These driver assistance systems can, for example, retrieve surrounding information by utilizing proposed sensor systems. In particular, a motorized vehicle may have multiple such sensor systems.

[0061] Multiple transmitters and receivers may be arranged inside and / or on the surface of a motorized vehicle. These may further be linked to a central computing unit integrated, for example, at the center of the motorized vehicle.

[0062] The motorized vehicle according to the present invention is preferably configured as an automobile, particularly as a passenger car or truck, or as a minibus or motorcycle. In addition, such sensor technology can be equipped in streetcars, subways, railways, boats, aircraft, satellites, and other mobile units.

[0063] For example, the units of a sensor system may be distributed and located in a motorized vehicle, particularly for ambient detection. In particular, the sensor system may be an ambient detection system.

[0064] Such sensor systems can be applied particularly in motorized vehicles, rail-running vehicles, water vehicles, or automated systems, or in aerospace technology. In particular, sensor systems can be used for ambient detection or for detecting objects or environmental pollution.

[0065] Each embodiment of an individual aspect of the present invention can be considered a preferred embodiment of other aspects, and in particular all other aspects. In particular, each embodiment of an individual aspect can be considered a preferred embodiment of all other aspects, and vice versa.

[0066] A peripheral sensor system can be understood as a sensor system that can generate sensor data or sensor signals that reflect, display, or reproduce the surroundings of the peripheral sensor system. In particular, the ability to detect electromagnetic signals or other signals from the surroundings is not sufficient to consider a sensor system as a peripheral sensor system. For example, cameras, radar systems, lidar systems, and / or ultrasonic sensor systems can be understood as peripheral sensor systems.

[0067] Advanced forms of the motorized vehicle and method according to the present invention, which have the constituent elements already described in relation to the advanced forms of the sensor system according to the present invention, also belong to the present invention. For this reason, corresponding advanced forms of the motorized vehicle and method according to the present invention will not be described again here.

[0068] The present invention also includes combinations of the constituent elements of each embodiment described above.

[0069] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The following will be shown for this purpose. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0070] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing a motorized vehicle having the sensor system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the computing and transmitting devices of the sensor system. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram showing the transmitter in Figure 2, which additionally includes an optical transmitter. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the receiving device of the sensor system 2. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the receiving device of the sensor system 2 in Figure 1. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the receiving device of the sensor system 2 in Figure 1.

[0071] The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention. In these embodiments, the components described are individual constituent elements of the present invention that should be considered independently of each other, and these are considered to be independent developments of the present invention, and accordingly are considered to be constituent elements of the present invention, either individually or in combinations other than those illustrated. Furthermore, the embodiments described may be supplemented by other constituent elements of the present invention that have already been described.

[0072] In each drawing, components with the same function are assigned the same reference numeral.

[0073] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that different embodiments are described, each of which can be applied individually or in combination. That is, any embodiment can be applied in conjunction with each of the different embodiments of the present invention unless it is explicitly stated that it is merely an alternative.

[0074] Furthermore, for convenience, only one object is usually referred to below. However, unless explicitly noted, the present invention may have multiple applicable objects. In this sense, terms such as "ein," "eine," and "eines" are understood to suggest that at least one object is used in the simplest embodiments.

[0075] Where a method is described below, unless explicitly specified otherwise by context, the individual steps of the method can be arranged and / or combined in any order. Furthermore, unless it is clearly evident otherwise, the methods can be combined with each other.

[0076] The numerical values ​​listed should generally not be understood as exact values, but rather include tolerances ranging from + / -1% to + / -10%.

[0077] References to standards or specifications are interpreted as references to standards or specifications that were in effect at the time of the application and / or—to the extent that priority is claimed—at the time of the priority application. However, this is not understood to mean that the applicability of successor or alternative standards or specifications is generally excluded.

[0078] Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of motorized vehicle 1. The motorized vehicle may be configured, for example, as a highly automated vehicle, or at least as a vehicle that operates partially autonomously.

[0079] The motorized vehicle 1 may have, for example, a sensor system 2. The sensor system 2 can be used to detect the surroundings 3 of the motorized vehicle 1. For example, the sensor system 2 may be a component of the driver assistance system of the motorized vehicle 1. In particular, the sensor system 2 provides a reasonable amount of information for the driver assistance system or the vehicle driving system, especially with respect to the surroundings 3.

[0080] In addition to its use in motorized vehicles 1, the sensor system 2 can also be used in systems outside of vehicles. For example, the sensor system 2 can be applied to automation systems, aerospace technology, aviation technology, or communication technology.

[0081] Figure 1 shows an example in which the sensor system 2 is integrated into the motorized vehicle 1 for illustrative purposes.

[0082] Figure 2 illustrates one of several embodiments of the sensor system 2, particularly in a block diagram.

[0083] Figure 2 shows, as an example, the transmitter 4 and computing device 5 of the sensor system 2. The computing device 5 is responsible for signal processing, signal evaluation, and / or signal processing for the sensor system 2.

[0084] The computing device 5 may be, for example, the central unit or central control unit of the sensor system 2.

[0085] The sensor system 2 includes an optical device 6, which can provide or generate an optical carrier signal 7 or an optical transmission signal. The optical device 6 may be integrated into the computing device 5, as illustrated in Figure 2.

[0086] The optical device 6 may be, for example, a laser device or a light source.

[0087] In Figure 2, the optical device 6 is integrated into the computing device 5. However, this is only one possible example. Similarly, the optical device 6 may be configured as a separate unit.

[0088] The sensor system 2 has, for example, an electro-optic modulator 8 integrated into or located in the computing device 5. Using the electro-optic modulator 8, multiple optical transmission signals 9 (simplified in the illustration) can be generated or produced based on an optical carrier signal 7. In particular, the electro-optic modulator 8 is configured to embody radar lamps, radar signals, or transmission signals in different bandwidths or frequency bands. Accordingly, the sensor system requires only one electro-optic modulator 8 for this purpose. To realize this, the electro-optic modulator 8 operates at a predetermined or specific working point. At this time, the working point is operated or controlled to generate as many harmonics as possible, i.e., harmonic oscillations, whose frequencies are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. The fundamental frequency can again be provided by the optical carrier signal 7. These harmonics can have the same amplitude. To particularly favorably embody this, the Nyquist point can be used as the working point 10.

[0089] Based on the working point 10 and the optical carrier signal 7, multiple optical oscillator signals 9 can be generated such that each optical oscillator signal 9 has a different frequency band. To this end, an electro-optic modulator 8 can be optionally modulated with a high-frequency signal 11. This signal may be an RF signal in particular.

[0090] For surrounding area detection, the sensor system 2 has at least one transmitting device 4 having at least one wireless-based transmitting unit 12. In this embodiment, three or more wireless-based transmitting units 12, 13, 14 are shown. The wireless-based transmitting units 12, 13, 14 may be radar sensor-based units or devices.

[0091] The multiple optical transmission signals 9 that are generated can be transmitted to the transmitting device 4 or to another transmitting device of the sensor system 2, for example, via an optical transmission section, for example, via a glass fiber.

[0092] The transmitting device 4 may have, for example, at least one optical-to-electrical conversion unit 15. This conversion unit 15 optoelectronically converts multiple optical transmission signals 9 into multiple electrical transmission signals 16, 17, and 18. After conversion, the electrical transmission signals 16, 17, and 18 are separated accordingly by a distributor 19, particularly according to their respective frequency bands. The distributor 19 may be, for example, a "1x3 power divider". Furthermore, a narrowband optoelectronic converter or an electrical band-pass filter can also be used as the distributor 19. Following the distributor 19, the electrical transmission signals 16, 17, and 18 are separated or divided according to their respective frequency bands 20, 21, and 22. For example, the electrical transmission signals 16, 17, and 18, and similarly the multiple optical transmission signals 9, may be coherent with each other and, in particular, in phase with each other. Accordingly, the proposed sensor system 2 can be operated or used to perform measurements simultaneously or synchronously in multiple, or three in Figure 2, different frequency bands. This is particularly preferable for position classification related to ambient detection.

[0093] After the electrical oscillating signals 16, 17, and 18 are separated, they are modified, in particular upmixed, with respect to their respective frequency bands 20, 21, and 22 by frequency manipulators 23, 24, and 25 or frequency mixers. Subsequently, the respective electrical amplifiers 26, 27, and 28 can amplify or boost the respective frequency bands 20, 21, and 22. After the electrical oscillating signals 16, 17, and 18 have been upmixed and amplified, they can be radiated or illuminated into the surroundings 3 for ambient detection by their respective radio-based transmitting units 16, 17, and 18, which can be called antennas, for example.

[0094] For example, the transmitter 4 can be called a transmitting module. The transmitter 4 can be controlled or operated using, for example, a computing device 5, thereby enabling it to transmit at least one radar-based signal, namely signals 16, 17, and 18. In particular, the embodiment shown in Figure 2 illustrates the use of the sensor system 2 as a radar system. In this case, a multiband radar can be created by the electro-optic modulator 8 according to the present invention. In particular, this can be called a "Nyquist pulse multiband radar".

[0095] The computing unit 5 may be a unit spatially and / or physically separated from the transmitting unit 4. In this case, the computing unit 5 and the transmitting unit 4 can be connected via multiple optical transmission paths or optical transmission sections to enable the exchange or transmission of optical signals. In another embodiment, the transmitting unit 4 and the computing unit 5 can also be integrated as a common unit.

[0096] Figure 2 illustrates that the transmitter 4 can transmit signals in different frequency bands 20, 21, and 22. Similarly, it is conceivable that a separate transmitter 4 could be used for each transmission signal or frequency band.

[0097] In particular, the sensor system 2 can be appropriately designed or configured depending on the use case.

[0098] Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the sensor system 2, illustrating its use as a lidar-radar composite system. The embodiment in Figure 2 is again referenced for the generation of multiple optical transmission signals 9 and the transmission of multiple electrical transmission signals 16, 17, and 18. The embodiment in Figure 3 differs from the embodiment in Figure 2 in that the sensor system 2 additionally includes at least one optical transmission unit 29. This optical transmission unit 29 may be a lidar-based sensor in particular. The optical transmission unit 29 can be used to directly transmit at least one of the multiple optical transmission signals 9 for ambient detection. After the generation of the multiple optical transmission signals 9, the optical transmission signals 9 can be distributed or branched by an optical unit 30, which may be configured, for example, as a "1x2 splitter". In this way, the optical transmission signals 9 can be transmitted to wireless-based transmission units 12, 13, and 14 for conversion into electrical transmission signals 16, 17, and 18, as already described in Figure 2. In addition, the optical transmission signal 9 can be transmitted to at least one optical transmission unit 29 or another optical transmission unit.

[0099] For example, the optical transmission unit 29 may be a component of the transmission device 4. Similarly, the optical transmission unit 29 may be configured separately from the transmission device 4.

[0100] In this way, the embodiment shown in Figure 3 allows for the combination of a radar system and a lidar system, i.e., a combination with the sensor system 2. The computing device 5 can perform common control and evaluation. Furthermore, the radar signal and the lidar signal, or the wireless-based signal and the optical-based signal, may be coherent with each other, and the computing device 5 can provide combined signal processing for the transmitting units 12, 13, 14, and 29.

[0101] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the receiver 31 of the sensor system 2. For example, the receiver 31 may be in combination with the transmitter 4. In that case, they may be integrated into at least partially a single device. For example, the transmitter 4 and receiver 31 in the combination may be combined by a switchable or controllable component, thereby allowing switching between receiving and transmitting operations as needed.

[0102] The receiving device 31 has at least one radio-based receiving unit 32, 33, 34. This may be a radar-based receiving unit. Using the radio-based receiving unit 32, 33, 34, at least one electrical received signal 35, 36, 37 can be received. The received signal or received signals 35, 36, 37 may be signals reflected from the surroundings 3 that correspond to the electrical transmitted signals 16, 17, 18.

[0103] In particular, the transmitting device 4 and the receiving device 31 may be complementary to each other.

[0104] For example, the received electrical signals 35, 36, and 37 can be downmixed by at least one mixer 38, 39, or 40. In particular, the frequency bands of the received signals 35, 36, and 37 are modified or adapted. In addition, the received signals 35, 36, and 37 can be amplified by amplifiers 41, 42, and 43 according to their signal strength. Subsequently, the received electrical signals 35, 36, and 37 can be provided by an electrical output unit. These can be transmitted to a computing device 5 or other evaluation or processing unit.

[0105] Figure 5 shows an extended version of the receiving device 31 in Figure 4 in another embodiment.

[0106] In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the receiving device 31 is configured to perform optical reverse transmission. In this configuration, the multiband optical transmission signal 9 can be further divided into individual optical carriers or individual frequency bands by optical filters 44, 45, and 46. To this end, the optical transmission signal 9 can be divided or selected via unit 59, for example, via a "1x4 power splitter". For example, optical filters 44, 45, and 46 can be configured to apply a time-of-flight method such as "Time-of-Flight (ToF)". The divided and filtered transmission signal 9 can then be modulated in accordance with, or together with, the received electrical reception signals 35, 36, and 37. To this end, at least one optical-electronic conversion unit 47, 48, and 49 can be used. In this way, for example, the optical output signal 50 is modulated based on the transmission signal 9 and the received signals 35, 36, and 37. To this end, after the process of conversion units 47, 48, and 48, these signals can be combined via unit 51, for example, via a "1x3 power combiner," thereby providing an optical output signal 50, for example, to an optical output unit. This can then be provided or transmitted to the computing device 5 or other processing unit.

[0107] Figure 6 shows an alternative to the receiver 31 in Figure 5. Here too, a receiver circuit with an optical output section similar to that shown in Figure 5 is shown, but here, the respective frequency bands of a different broadband light source are utilized. For this purpose, a different optical device 52 can be used. This can generate a different optical carrier signal 53. This carrier signal 53 may be the same as the carrier signal 7. The different optical device 52 may be a different light source. For example, a different electro-optic modulator 54, which may be configured identically to the electro-optic modulator 8, can generate multiple optical signals 55, 56, and 57 based on the carrier signal 53. In this way, the carrier signal 53 can also be divided into multiple bands or frequency bands. For this purpose, a distributor 58 such as a "1x3 power splitter" can be used. The modulator 54 can also be operated at the same working point 10 in a similar manner to the modulator 8. Subsequently, the respective bandwidths or frequency bands of signals 55, 56, and 57 can be divided by optical filters 44, 45, and 46, and then modulated. At this time, conversion units 47, 48, and 48 can also be used. In this way, an optical output signal can be generated by modulation based on the optical signals 55, 56, and 57 and the received electrical signals 35, 36, and 37.

[0108] The use of a broadband light source would be yet another alternative to device 52.

[0109] Similarly, for each of the received signals 35, 36, and 37, it is conceivable to modulate the light from one or more light sources separately.

[0110] Furthermore, for use as a lidar-radar composite system, the sensor system 2 may have at least one optical receiving unit for receiving optically received signals. This optically received signal may correspond to the directly transmitted signal 9. For this purpose, the computing device 5 may be configured to process the optically received signal. Furthermore, the optically received signal can be demodulated by an optical demodulator.

[0111] The embodiments shown in Figures 2 to 6 can be combined in various ways depending on the use case or application field of the sensor system 2.

[0112] In particular, the computing device 5, the transmitting device 4, and the receiving device 31 may be physically and / or spatially separated units. Alternatively, the transmitting device 4, the receiving device 31, and the computing device 5 may be configured as a common unit. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0113] 1. Motorized vehicle 2 Sensor System 3 Surroundings 4. Transmitter 5 Computing equipment 6 Optical equipment 7. Optical carrier signal 8. Electro-optic modulator 9. Multiple optical transmitting signals 10 work points 11 High-frequency signals 12, 13, 14 Wireless-based transmitting units 15 Optical-to-electronic conversion unit 16, 17, 18 Multiple electrical oscillating signals 19 Distributor 20, 21, 22 frequency bands 23, 24, 25 Frequency Manipulator 26, 27, 28 Amplifier 29 Optical transmission unit 30 Optical Units 31 Receiving device 32, 33, 34 Wireless-based receiving units 35, 36, 37 Electrical received signals 38, 39, 40 Mixer 41, 42, 43 Amplifiers 44, 45, 46 Optical filters 47, 48, 49 Optical-to-electronic conversion unit 50 Optical output signals 51 units 52 Another Optical Device 53 Another optical carrier signal 54 Another electro-optic modulator 55, 56, 57 Multiple optical signals 58 Distributor 59 Distributor

Claims

1. - An optical device (6) for generating an optical carrier signal (7), - A transmitting device (4) configured to emit electrical transmission signals (16, 17, 18) based on the optical carrier signal (7), - An electro-optic modulator (8) having a predetermined working point (10), It has, - The electro-optic modulator (8) is configured to generate a plurality of optical oscillator signals (9) based on the predetermined working point (10) and the optical carrier signal (7) such that the plurality of optical oscillator signals (9) have different frequency bands (20, 21, 22). - The transmitting device (4) is configured to convert the plurality of optical transmission signals (9) into a plurality of electrical transmission signals (16, 17, 18), and to transmit the plurality of electrical transmission signals (16, 17, 18) by at least one wireless-based transmitting unit (12, 13, 14). A sensor system (2) characterized by the following.

2. The sensor system (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electro-optic modulator (8) is configured to additionally consider a high-frequency signal (11) provided to the electro-optic modulator (8) for the generation of the plurality of optical transmitting signals (9).

3. - The transmitting device (4) has at least one optical-electronic conversion unit (15) which can convert the plurality of optical transmission signals (9) into the plurality of electrical transmission signals (16, 17, 18), and / or - The transmitting device (4) has at least one frequency manipulator (23, 24, 25) which can change at least one frequency band (20, 21, 22) of one of the plurality of electrical transmission signals (16, 17, 18), and / or - The transmitting device (4) has at least one electrical amplifier (26, 27, 28) for amplifying at least one frequency band (20, 21, 22) of one of the plurality of electrical transmission signals (16, 17, 18). A sensor system (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

4. A sensor system (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by an optical transmitting unit (29) of the transmitting device (4) configured to transmit at least one of the plurality of optical transmitting signals (9).

5. - A receiving device (31) having at least one wireless-based receiving unit (32, 33, 34) for receiving at least one electrical received signal (35, 36, 37), wherein the receiving device (31) has at least one mixer (38, 39, 40) which can change the frequency band (20, 21, 22) of at least one electrical received signal (35, 36, 37), and the receiving device (31), - A computing device (5) configured to process the aforementioned electrical received signals (35, 36, 37), A sensor system (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the above.

6. - The receiving device (31) has at least one optical receiving unit for receiving an optically received signal, and the computing device (5) is configured to process the optically received signal, in particular the receiving device (31) has an optical demodulator for demodulating the optically received signal, and / or - The receiving device (31) has at least one optical-electronic conversion unit, which can modulate the optical output signal (50) based on at least one of the plurality of optical transmission signals (9) and at least one of the electrical reception signals (35, 36, 37). The sensor system (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that

7. - Another optical device (52) for generating another optical carrier signal (53), - Another electro-optic modulator (54) is configured to generate a plurality of optical signals (55, 56, 57) based on the aforementioned other optical carrier signal (53), such that the plurality of optical signals (55, 56, 57) have different frequency bands (20, 21, 22), - At least one optical-electronic conversion unit (47, 48, 49) of the receiving device (31) is capable of modulating an optical output signal (50) based on at least one of the plurality of optical signals (55, 56, 57) and at least one electrical received signal (35, 36, 37), The sensor system (2) according to claim 5, characterized by the above.

8. A method for operating the sensor system (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, - The electro-optic modulator (8) operates in a specific operating mode, and in the specific operating mode of the electro-optic modulator (8), the plurality of optical oscillating signals (9) are generated such that the plurality of optical oscillating signals (9) have different frequency bands (20, 21, 22) from each other. method.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the electro-optic modulator (8) operates such that, in the specific operating mode, the Nyquist point is defined as the working point (10) of the electro-optic modulator (8).

10. A motorized vehicle having a sensor system (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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