Control method and related apparatus
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/CN2026/081048
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2025-09-29
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-10-01
Smart Images
Figure CN2026081048_01102026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
A control method and related device
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510388066.0, filed on March 28, 2025, entitled "Light Emitting Device, LiDAR and Vehicle", and Chinese Patent Application No. 202511406822.4, filed on September 29, 2025, entitled "A Control Method and Related Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field
[0002] This application relates to the field of detection technology, specifically to a control method and related apparatus. Background Technology
[0003] LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a sensor that combines laser technology with photoelectric conversion technology. Its basic working principle is as follows: the transmitter emits a laser beam into the object space, and the receiver receives the reflected beam (or echo) from the object space. Information about the target in the object space is obtained from the reflected beam. This information helps the device to quickly identify and make decisions about surrounding objects, and it is widely used in many fields such as intelligent vehicles, smart transportation, and surveying.
[0004] With the rapid development of intelligent functions in devices, the performance requirements of terminals for lidar are becoming increasingly demanding. Lidar needs to possess both a large detection range and high-precision detection of targets at various distances within that range. Both the detection range and detection quality of lidar are strongly correlated with the design of its transmitter. How to design a lidar that can achieve high-precision detection across all distance segments is a hot research topic for engineers in the field of detection technology. Summary of the Invention
[0005] This application provides a control method and related apparatus. The control apparatus can control the first light-emitting area and the second light-emitting area to emit light beams simultaneously, which can improve resource utilization and increase the frame rate of the detection device. Moreover, the first light-emitting area and the second light-emitting area have different powers, which enables the light emitting device to emit high-power and low-power light beams at the same time, which can meet the detection needs in different scenarios, meet both short-range and long-range detection needs, and reduce the crosstalk problem caused by the simultaneous emission of light from the two light-emitting areas.
[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a control method for controlling a light emitting device to emit a light beam.
[0007] This method can be applied to devices that control optical emitting devices, such as those executed by a control device. The control device is a module with control capabilities and can be a standalone device or a module within a standalone device, such as a hardware and / or software module. For ease of description, the following explanation uses the control device as the executing entity of this method; however, in actual implementation, the executing entity can be named differently.
[0008] A control method is used to control a light emitting device including a first light-emitting region and a second light-emitting region. The first light-emitting region includes multiple first light-emitting units, and the second light-emitting region includes multiple second light-emitting units. The polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first light-emitting region is different from the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the second light-emitting region. The control method includes: controlling the first light-emitting region to emit a light beam in a first time period, and controlling the second light-emitting region to emit a light beam in a second time period, wherein the first time period and the second time period at least partially overlap. The power of the first light-emitting region is higher than the power of the second light-emitting region.
[0009] In this application, the control device can control the first and second light-emitting areas to simultaneously emit light beams, thereby improving resource utilization and increasing the frame rate of the detection device. Furthermore, the first and second light-emitting areas have different powers, allowing the light-emitting device to simultaneously emit high-power and low-power light beams, meeting the detection needs in different scenarios. Specifically, the high-power beam provides sufficient light energy for distant targets, enabling long-range detection, while the low-power beam provides precise light control for near-range targets, enabling near-range detection. This allows for simultaneous fulfillment of both near-range and long-range detection requirements, achieving the goal of identifying specific targets.
[0010] However, when the optical emitting device simultaneously emits high-power and low-power beams, the receiver of the detection device cannot accurately distinguish the echoes corresponding to the high-power and low-power beams within the field of view (FOV). This means the high-power beam will crosstalk with the low-power beam, causing distorted detection data output from the receiver, resulting in decreased accuracy and reduced detection performance. Some solutions reduce crosstalk over time by using separate high-power and low-power emission areas, but this leads to a decrease in frame rate and low resource utilization.
[0011] In this application, the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the first emitting region is different from that of the emitted beam generated by the second emitting region. This difference in polarization direction can suppress crosstalk caused by the simultaneous emission of high-power and low-power beams, thereby improving detection accuracy and efficiency. For example, the receiving end can use a polarization beam splitter to allow light with a polarization direction matched to that of the receiving end to pass through, thus physically avoiding cross-interference between signals from different emitting regions, and reducing crosstalk caused by simultaneous emission from different emitting regions.
[0012] In summary, the above-mentioned scheme can achieve high-precision and high-real-time detection at both long and short distances, solves the crosstalk problem caused by simultaneous emission of light from the same emission area, and can meet the detection needs in different scenarios.
[0013] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first emitting region is different from the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the second emitting region, including: there is an angle between the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first emitting region and the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the second emitting region, or the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first emitting region is perpendicular to the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the second emitting region.
[0014] In the above embodiment, the polarization directions of the emitted beams generated by the two light-emitting regions are at an angle or perpendicular, which can reduce the crosstalk problem caused by the simultaneous emission of light from the two light-emitting regions.
[0015] In another possible implementation of the first aspect, the emission power of the first light-emitting unit is higher than that of the second light-emitting unit.
[0016] In the above embodiment, the emission power of the first light-emitting unit in the first light-emitting region is higher than the emission power of the second light-emitting unit in the second light-emitting region, so that the power of the first light-emitting region is higher than the power of the second light-emitting region, enabling the light emitting device to emit high-power and low-power light beams at the same time, which can meet the detection requirements in different scenarios, such as simultaneously meeting the detection requirements at close range and long range during overlapping time periods.
[0017] In another possible implementation of the first aspect, both the first and second light-emitting regions are driven to emit light by current, and the current density applied to the first light-emitting region is higher than the current density applied to the second light-emitting region. Optionally, the current density is positively correlated with the pulse period frequency, duty cycle, and pulse width.
[0018] In the above embodiment, by controlling the current density of the current applied to the first light-emitting area to be higher than the current density of the current applied to the second light-emitting area, the power of the first light-emitting area is higher than the power of the second light-emitting area, so that the light emitting device can emit high-power and low-power light beams at the same time, which can meet the detection requirements in different scenarios, such as simultaneously meeting the detection requirements at close range and long range during overlapping periods.
[0019] In another possible implementation of the first aspect, the effective light-emitting area of the second light-emitting region is smaller than the effective light-emitting area of the first light-emitting region.
[0020] In the above embodiment, the effective light-emitting area of the second light-emitting region is smaller than that of the first light-emitting region, which can reduce the threshold current of the second light-emitting region. While reducing the driving current density of the second light-emitting region, the power of the second light-emitting region is reduced, and the power fluctuation between chips is kept within the normal range.
[0021] In another possible implementation of the first aspect, each of the plurality of first light-emitting units has the same light-emitting aperture, and each of the plurality of second light-emitting units has the same light-emitting aperture, wherein the aperture diameter of the second light-emitting unit is smaller than that of the first light-emitting unit.
[0022] In the above embodiments, the light emission aperture of the second light emission unit is smaller than that of the first light emission unit, which can reduce the effective light emission area of the second light emission region, thereby reducing the threshold current of the second light emission region. While reducing the driving current density of the second light emission region, the power of the second light emission region is reduced, and the power fluctuation between chips can be kept within the normal range.
[0023] In another possible implementation of the first aspect, a plurality of first light-emitting units are uniformly distributed in a first light-emitting area, and the plurality of first light-emitting units are arranged in an even number of columns in the first light-emitting area, with adjacent columns of first light-emitting units staggered. Along a first direction, the spacing between two adjacent first light-emitting units in the same column is less than or equal to twice the length of the first light-emitting unit along the first direction, where the first direction is the column direction of the plurality of first light-emitting units.
[0024] In another possible implementation of the first aspect, a plurality of second light-emitting units are uniformly distributed in the second light-emitting area, and the plurality of second light-emitting units are arranged in an even number of columns in the second light-emitting area, with adjacent columns of second light-emitting units staggered. Along the first direction, the spacing between two adjacent second light-emitting units in the same column is less than or equal to twice the length of the second light-emitting unit along the first direction, where the first direction is the column direction of the plurality of second light-emitting units.
[0025] In the above embodiments, the uniformity requirements of the near-field light spots in the first and second emitting regions can be met, reducing the power difference between different lines of the lidar. Furthermore, multiple emitting units are arranged in rows and columns, with adjacent columns of emitting units interleaved. This staggered arrangement of emitting units reduces the gaps between them, increases the energy density of the beam, and improves the uniformity of the radar's field of view detection. Especially when applied to scanning architectures, the staggered arrangement, forming an even number of columns, improves the uniformity of point cloud stitching and enhances detection performance. Additionally, the staggered arrangement of adjacent columns of emitting units also reduces the stitching gaps in the first direction, improving uniformity and benefiting both field-of-view stitching and point cloud stitching.
[0026] In another possible implementation of the first aspect, the light-emitting apertures in each of the plurality of first light-emitting units have the same shape, and the shape of the first light-emitting unit includes one of a circle, an ellipse, and a rectangle. And / or, the light-emitting apertures in each of the plurality of second light-emitting units have the same shape, and the shape of the second light-emitting unit includes one of a circle, an ellipse, and a rectangle.
[0027] The shape of the light-emitting unit exemplified in the above embodiments can improve the uniformity of light emission within the light-emitting area.
[0028] In another possible implementation of the first aspect, the first light-emitting region and the second light-emitting region are cathode isolated or anode isolated.
[0029] In the above embodiments, the first and second light-emitting regions are cathode-isolated, such as when the first and second light-emitting regions share an anode; or the first and second light-emitting regions are anode-isolated, such as when the first and second light-emitting regions share a cathode. Since the same light-emitting device exhibits smaller performance differences in voltage, current, and resistance, it is easier to maintain consistent performance during use. Therefore, by dividing the light into two sub-regions and implementing time-division emissivity on a sub-region basis, reliability and consistency are improved, it can be adapted to low-side driving, and drive design is simplified.
[0030] In another possible implementation of the first aspect, both the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit belong to vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs).
[0031] Secondly, this application provides a light emitting device, which includes a first light-emitting region and a second light-emitting region. The first light-emitting region includes a plurality of first light-emitting units, and the second light-emitting region includes a plurality of second light-emitting units. The polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first light-emitting region is different from the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the second light-emitting region. The power of the first light-emitting region is higher than the power of the second light-emitting region.
[0032] In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first emitting region is different from the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the second emitting region, including: there is an angle between the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first emitting region and the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the second emitting region, or the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first emitting region is perpendicular to the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the second emitting region.
[0033] In another possible implementation of the second aspect, the effective light-emitting area of the second light-emitting region is smaller than the effective light-emitting area of the first light-emitting region.
[0034] In another possible implementation of the second aspect, the light-emitting holes in each of the plurality of first light-emitting units are the same, the light-emitting holes in each of the plurality of second light-emitting units are the same, and the light-emitting hole diameter of the second light-emitting unit is smaller than that of the first light-emitting unit.
[0035] In another possible implementation of the second aspect, a plurality of first light-emitting units are uniformly distributed in a first light-emitting area, and the plurality of first light-emitting units are arranged in an even number of columns in the first light-emitting area, with adjacent columns of first light-emitting units staggered. Along a first direction, the spacing between two adjacent first light-emitting units in the same column is less than or equal to twice the length of the first light-emitting unit along the first direction, where the first direction is the column direction of the plurality of first light-emitting units.
[0036] In another possible implementation of the second aspect, a plurality of second light-emitting units are uniformly distributed in the second light-emitting area, and the plurality of second light-emitting units are arranged in an even number of columns in the second light-emitting area, with adjacent columns of second light-emitting units staggered. Along the first direction, the spacing between two adjacent second light-emitting units in the same column is less than or equal to twice the length of the second light-emitting unit along the first direction, where the first direction is the column direction of the plurality of second light-emitting units.
[0037] In another possible implementation of the second aspect, the light-emitting apertures in each of the plurality of first light-emitting units have the same shape, and the shape of the first light-emitting unit includes one of a circle, an ellipse, and a rectangle. And / or, the light-emitting apertures in each of the plurality of second light-emitting units have the same shape, and the shape of the second light-emitting unit includes one of a circle, an ellipse, and a rectangle.
[0038] In another possible implementation of the second aspect, the first light-emitting region and the second light-emitting region are cathode isolated or anode isolated.
[0039] In another possible implementation of the second aspect, both the first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit belong to a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL).
[0040] Thirdly, this application provides a control device, including a processing unit, for controlling a first light-emitting region to emit a light beam in a first time period and controlling a second light-emitting region to emit a light beam in a second time period, wherein the power of the first light-emitting region is higher than the power of the second light-emitting region, and the first time period and the second time period at least partially overlap. The first light-emitting region includes a plurality of first light-emitting units, the second light-emitting region includes a plurality of second light-emitting units, and the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first light-emitting region is different from the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the second light-emitting region.
[0041] Fourthly, this application provides a computing device including a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a program, and the processor executes the program stored in the memory to enable the computing device to implement the method described in any of the first aspects above.
[0042] Fifthly, this application provides a chip including a processor for executing computer execution instructions to cause a device on which the chip is mounted to perform the method described in any of the first aspects above.
[0043] In a sixth aspect, this application provides a lidar, which includes the light emitting device described in any of the second aspects above, and the lidar also includes a receiving device for receiving an echo beam, the echo beam including the return light of the beam emitted by the light emitting device.
[0044] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a terminal, which includes the light emitting device described in any of the second aspects, the control device described in the third aspect, the computing device described in the fourth aspect, the chip described in the fifth aspect, or the lidar described in the sixth aspect. The terminal is used to implement the method described in any of the first aspects. Optionally, the terminal is a robot, a drone, or a vehicle.
[0045] The solutions provided in the second to seventh aspects above are used to implement or cooperate with the methods provided in the first aspect above, and therefore can achieve the same or corresponding beneficial effects as the first aspect, which will not be elaborated here. Attached Figure Description
[0046] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an emitted beam provided in this application;
[0047] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a light emitting device provided in this application;
[0048] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a light emitting device provided in this application;
[0049] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of receiving the emitted beam of a light-emitting region provided in this application;
[0050] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of another light emitting device provided in this application;
[0051] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of another light emitting device provided in this application;
[0052] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the reception of the emitted beam of another light-emitting region provided in this application;
[0053] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of another light emitting device provided in this application;
[0054] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a launching system provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0055] Figure 10 is a flowchart illustrating a control method provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0056] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a control device provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0057] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a computing device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation
[0058] The rapid development of intelligent functions in equipment necessitates that detection devices possess both a large detection range and high-precision detection of targets within various distance zones of that range. The detection range and detection quality of a detection device are strongly correlated with the design of its transmitting end.
[0059] The detection range of a detection device is related to the power of the emitted beam. Increasing the emission power of the transmitter can increase the maximum detection distance of the detection device, giving it a longer detection range. However, high-power beams typically have a small divergence angle and high collimation. The high collimation of the beam means that its coverage area at close range is extremely narrow, with a large blind zone at close range, resulting in poor close-range detection performance. For example, referring to Figure 1, a high-power beam has a small divergence angle and high collimation. At close range, the beam cross-section is extremely small. If the target is small (such as a small obstacle at close range) or not completely centered in the beam path, the high-power beam cannot illuminate the target, resulting in the target not being detected.
[0060] To achieve simultaneous near-range and long-range detection, some schemes divide the transmitting device into sections, with some sections performing high-power detection and others performing low-power detection, enabling the detection device to simultaneously perform near-range and long-range detection.
[0061] However, when the transmitting device simultaneously emits both high-power and low-power beams, the receiving end of the detection device cannot accurately distinguish between the echoes corresponding to the high-power beam and the echoes corresponding to the low-power beam within the field of view (FOV). This means the high-power beam will crosstalk with the low-power beam, causing distorted detection data output by the receiver, resulting in decreased accuracy and reduced detection performance. Some solutions reduce crosstalk over time by using separate high-power and low-power emission areas, but this leads to a decrease in frame rate and low resource utilization.
[0062] Considering the aforementioned disadvantages, this application provides a control method and related apparatus that can control the first and second light-emitting areas to emit light beams simultaneously, thereby improving resource utilization and increasing the frame rate of the detection device. Furthermore, the first and second light-emitting areas have different powers, enabling the light-emitting device to emit both high-power and low-power light beams simultaneously, which can meet the detection requirements in different scenarios, satisfy both short-range and long-range detection needs, and also reduce crosstalk problems caused by the simultaneous emission of light from these two light-emitting areas.
[0063] The light emitting device 10 provided in the embodiments of this application will be introduced below. The light emitting device 10 is used to generate an emitted light beam.
[0064] The light emitting device 10 includes a first light-emitting region and a second light-emitting region. The first light-emitting region includes multiple first light-emitting units, such as the two rows of first light-emitting units shown in Figure 2. The second light-emitting region includes multiple second light-emitting units, such as the two rows of second light-emitting units shown in Figure 2. The first and second light-emitting units are used to generate emitted light beams. For example, both the first and second light-emitting units are vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). The first and second light-emitting regions can operate simultaneously, that is, they can emit light beams at the same time, which can improve resource utilization and increase the frame rate of the detection device.
[0065] In one possible implementation, the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the first emitting region is different from that of the emitted beam generated by the second emitting region. For example, there is an angle between the polarization directions of the emitted beam generated by the first and second emitting regions, such as 30° or 50°. Even more exemplarily, the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the first and second emitting regions is perpendicular (or orthogonal) to the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the second emitting region. For example, referring to Figure 3, the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the first emitting region is a first direction (also referred to as the length direction / column direction formed by the arrangement of multiple emitting units in the emitting region), and the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the second emitting region is a direction perpendicular to the first direction (for ease of description, referred to as the second direction, such as the width direction / row direction formed by the arrangement of multiple emitting units in the emitting region of Figure 3), that is, the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the first and second emitting regions is perpendicular to the first direction. Alternatively, referring to Figure 3, the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the first emitting region is the second direction, while the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the second emitting region is the first direction. That is, the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the first emitting region is perpendicular to the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the second emitting region. In this way, the emitted beams emitted by different emitting regions have different polarizations, which can suppress crosstalk caused by the simultaneous emission of high-power and low-power beams through the difference in polarization direction, thereby improving detection accuracy and efficiency.
[0066] The power of the light-emitting region of the light-emitting device 10 can be designed. In one possible implementation, the power of the first light-emitting region and the second light-emitting region belong to different power ranges. For example, the driving circuits corresponding to the first light-emitting region and the second light-emitting region are independent of each other. When the driving circuit corresponding to the first light-emitting region drives the first light-emitting region, the output power of the first light-emitting region belongs to a higher power range. When the driving circuit corresponding to the second light-emitting region drives the second light-emitting region, the output power of the second light-emitting region belongs to a lower power range. The minimum power of the higher power range is higher than the maximum power of the lower power range, so that in terms of hardware structure, the power of the first light-emitting region and the second light-emitting region belong to different power ranges. For example, the first light-emitting area and the second light-emitting area are located on different chips. The first light-emitting area is located on the first VCSEL chip, and the second light-emitting area is located on the second VCSEL chip. The driving circuit in the first VCSEL chip drives the first light-emitting area to emit a light beam with a power that falls within a first power range, while the driving circuit in the second VCSEL chip drives the second light-emitting area to emit a light beam with a power that falls within a second power range. The lowest power in the first power range is higher than the highest power in the second power range. That is, the light-emitting power of the first VCSEL chip is higher than the light-emitting power of the second VCSEL chip, which makes the power of the first light-emitting area higher than the power of the second light-emitting area.
[0067] In another possible implementation, the power of the first and second light-emitting regions can be adjusted to different powers. For example, the driving circuits corresponding to the first and second light-emitting regions are the same; that is, the first and second light-emitting regions are driven to emit light by the same driving circuit. Adjustable devices in the driving circuit allow the driving circuit to transmit different currents or apply different voltages to the two light-emitting regions, thereby enabling the power of the first and second light-emitting regions to be adjusted to different powers in circuit control. For instance, the first and second light-emitting regions may be co-epitaxial, meaning they are located in different areas of the same chip, or they may be different light-emitting regions of the same VCSEL. In this case, the power of the first light-emitting region is adjusted to be higher than that of the second light-emitting region. See the detailed description below for further information.
[0068] Optionally, when the power of the first light-emitting area and the second light-emitting area belong to different power ranges, the power of the first light-emitting area and the power of the second light-emitting area can be adjusted within their respective power ranges. For example, if the power of the first light-emitting area belongs to a first power range, the power of the first light-emitting area may not be fixed. For instance, the power can be adjusted by using an adjustable device in the driving circuit corresponding to the first light-emitting area to control the current transmitted to or the voltage applied to the first light-emitting area, thereby adjusting the power of the first light-emitting area within the first power range. Similarly, if the power of the second light-emitting area belongs to a second power range, the power of the second light-emitting area may not be fixed. For instance, the power can be adjusted by using an adjustable device in the driving circuit corresponding to the second light-emitting area to control the current transmitted to or the voltage applied to the second light-emitting area, thereby adjusting the power of the second light-emitting area within the second power range.
[0069] When the power of different luminous regions belongs to different power ranges or is adjusted to different power, and the polarization direction of the emitted beams in different luminous regions is different, it is possible to achieve simultaneous near and far detection, which can improve resource utilization, increase the frame rate of the detection device, reduce crosstalk problems caused by simultaneous emission from different luminous regions, and improve detection accuracy and efficiency.
[0070] The following describes some possible designs for the optical emitting device 10.
[0071] In one possible implementation, the light emitting device 10 further includes a driving circuit. The light emitting device 10 transmits current (or applies voltage) to the first light-emitting region through the driving circuit to drive the first light-emitting region to emit light, and the light emitting device 10 transmits current (or applies voltage) to the second light-emitting region through the driving circuit to drive the second light-emitting region to emit light. Optionally, the driving circuit may be an N-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (NMOS) architecture.
[0072] Optionally, in the first time period, the driving circuit can transmit current to the first light-emitting area independently, causing the first light-emitting area to emit light in the first time period. Alternatively, in the first time period, the driving circuit can transmit current to the second light-emitting area independently, causing the second light-emitting area to emit light in the first time period. That is, in the same time period, the driving circuit can make the first light-emitting area and the second light-emitting area not operate simultaneously. Alternatively, in the first time period, the driving circuit can transmit current to both the first and second light-emitting areas simultaneously, causing both light-emitting areas to emit light simultaneously in the first time period. Alternatively, in the first time period, the driving circuit can transmit current to the first light-emitting area to emit light in the first time period, and in the second time period, the driving circuit can transmit current to the second light-emitting area to emit light in the second time period, with the first and second time periods at least partially overlapping, i.e., in the overlapping period, the driving circuit simultaneously transmits current to both the first and second light-emitting areas, causing both light-emitting areas to emit light simultaneously in the overlapping period.
[0073] In one possible implementation, the aperture size of the first light-emitting unit is different from that of the second light-emitting unit. The aperture can be the cross-sectional area of the light-emitting unit. For example, in Figure 2, the aperture size of the first light-emitting unit is the area filled by the black horizontal line, and the aperture size of the second light-emitting unit is the area filled by the black vertical line; the aperture sizes of the first and second light-emitting units are different. Optionally, if both the first and second light-emitting units are circular, the diameter of the first light-emitting unit is different from that of the second light-emitting unit.
[0074] In one possible implementation, the effective light-emitting area of the second light-emitting region is smaller than that of the first light-emitting region. The effective light-emitting area is the physical area of the light-emitting device capable of stably and efficiently outputting laser energy. For example, each of the multiple first light-emitting units has the same light-emitting aperture, and each of the multiple second light-emitting units has the same light-emitting aperture. The aperture diameter of the light-emitting aperture in each second light-emitting unit is smaller than the aperture diameter of the light-emitting aperture in each first light-emitting unit, so that the effective light-emitting area of the second light-emitting region is smaller than that of the first light-emitting region. For example, in Figure 2, the aperture diameter of the second light-emitting unit is smaller than the aperture diameter of the first light-emitting unit. Here, aperture diameter is the diameter or equivalent diameter of the hole. For a circular hole, the aperture diameter is the diameter of the circular hole; for a non-circular hole (such as a square hole or a strip hole), the aperture diameter is the equivalent aperture diameter, i.e., the diameter of a circular hole with the same cross-sectional area (or the same fluid / light transmittance). Thus, compared to the aperture of the first light-emitting unit, the aperture of the second light-emitting unit is smaller, which can reduce the effective light-emitting area of the second light-emitting region, thereby reducing the threshold current of the second light-emitting region. While reducing the driving current density of the second light-emitting region, the power of the second light-emitting region can be reduced, and the power fluctuation between chips can be kept within the normal range.
[0075] Optionally, the arrangement of the multiple first light-emitting units differs from the arrangement of the multiple second light-emitting units. For example, the number of columns formed by the multiple first light-emitting units in the first light-emitting area differs from the number of columns formed by the multiple second light-emitting units in the second light-emitting area. Even more exemplarily, the number of first light-emitting units in each column formed by the multiple first light-emitting units in the first light-emitting area differs from the number of second light-emitting units in each column formed by the multiple second light-emitting units in the second light-emitting area. For instance, in Figure 2, the multiple first light-emitting units are arranged in two columns in the first light-emitting area, with the first column containing 21 first light-emitting units and the second column containing 20 first light-emitting units. In Figure 2, the multiple second light-emitting units are arranged in two columns in the second light-emitting area, with the third column containing 25 second light-emitting units and the fourth column containing 26 first light-emitting units.
[0076] In one possible implementation, multiple first light-emitting units are uniformly distributed in the first light-emitting area, and / or multiple second light-emitting units are uniformly distributed in the second light-emitting area. For example, referring to Figure 2, the spacing between any two adjacent first light-emitting units in the first column is the same, and the spacing between any two adjacent first light-emitting units in the second column is the same. Similarly, referring to Figure 2, the spacing between any two adjacent second light-emitting units in the third column is the same, and the spacing between any two adjacent second light-emitting units in the fourth column is the same.
[0077] In another possible implementation, multiple first light-emitting units are arranged in an even-numbered column in the first light-emitting area, with adjacent columns of first light-emitting units staggered. For example, referring to Figure 2, multiple first light-emitting units are arranged in two columns in the first light-emitting area, and any first light-emitting unit in the first column is not aligned with any first light-emitting unit in the second column along a direction perpendicular to the first direction. Referring to Figure 4, when the light-emitting units in the light-emitting area are arranged in an even-numbered staggered column (as shown in Figure 4, two columns (or two rows) of light-emitting units), the light beam emitted by the light-emitting device is received by the detector (such as a single-photon avalanche diode, SPAD), which can improve the uniformity of light emission in the light-emitting area and reduce light emission inconsistency. For example, if the light emission inconsistency is reduced to 18%, the detection performance can be improved.
[0078] In another possible implementation, multiple second light-emitting units are arranged in an even-numbered column within the second light-emitting area, with adjacent columns of second light-emitting units staggered. For example, referring to Figure 2, multiple second light-emitting units are arranged in two columns within the second light-emitting area, and any second light-emitting unit in the third column is not aligned with any second light-emitting unit in the fourth column along a direction perpendicular to the first direction. Figure 2 only illustrates the columns formed by the arrangement of light-emitting units in the light-emitting area using a two-column example. In actual use, the columns formed by the arrangement of light-emitting units in the light-emitting area may be 4, 6, or other even-numbered columns, which will not be illustrated here.
[0079] In one possible implementation, along the first direction, the spacing between two adjacent first light-emitting units in the same column is less than or equal to twice the length of the first light-emitting unit along the first direction, where the first direction is the column direction of the multiple first light-emitting units. For example, referring to Figure 2, if the spacing between two adjacent first light-emitting units in the same column along the first direction is d1, and the length of the first light-emitting unit along the first direction is d2, then d1 ≤ 2d2. This satisfies the uniformity requirement of the near-field light spot within the first light-emitting area and reduces the power difference between different lines of the lidar.
[0080] In one possible implementation, along the first direction, the spacing between two adjacent second light-emitting units in the same column of second light-emitting units is less than or equal to twice the length of the second light-emitting unit along the first direction, where the first direction is the column direction of the multiple second light-emitting units. For example, referring to Figure 2, if the spacing between two adjacent second light-emitting units in the same column of second light-emitting units along the first direction is d3, and the length of the second light-emitting unit along the first direction is d4, then d3 ≤ 2d4. This satisfies the uniformity requirement of the near-field light spot within the second light-emitting area and reduces the power difference between different lines of the lidar.
[0081] In one possible implementation, the shape of the light-emitting aperture in each of the plurality of first light-emitting units is the same, and the shape of the first light-emitting unit includes one of the following: circular, elliptical, rectangular, etc. And / or, the shape of the light-emitting aperture in each of the plurality of second light-emitting units is the same, and the shape of the second light-emitting unit includes one of the following: circular, elliptical, rectangular. For example, referring to Figure 2, the shape of both the first and second light-emitting units is circular. Referring to Figure 5, the shape of both the first and second light-emitting units is circular. Referring to Figure 6, the shape of both the first and second light-emitting units is rectangular.
[0082] The shape of the light-emitting unit in the above embodiments can improve the uniformity of light emission within the light-emitting area. For example, referring to Figure 7, when the shape of the light-emitting unit in the light-emitting area is rectangular, the uniformity of light emission within the light-emitting area can be improved when the light beam emitted by the light-emitting device is received by the detector (such as a SPAD), thereby improving the detection performance.
[0083] In one possible implementation, the length formed by arranging multiple first light-emitting units in the first light-emitting region is the same as the length formed by arranging multiple second light-emitting units in the second light-emitting region. For example, referring to Figure 3, the length formed by arranging multiple first light-emitting units in the first light-emitting region is d5, and the length formed by arranging multiple second light-emitting units in the second light-emitting region is d6, where d5 equals d6.
[0084] In one possible implementation, the first and second light-emitting regions are cathode-isolated or anode-isolated. Exemplarily, the beam-splitting regions of the light-emitting device are designed to be separated at the cathodes of the light-emitting device but share a common anode. Referring to Figure 8, the first light-emitting region includes cathode 1, the second light-emitting region includes cathode 2, and the anodes of both the first and second light-emitting regions are anode 1. The driving circuit in Figure 8 is an NMOS architecture, including charging capacitor 1, high voltage 1, NMOS-1, charging capacitor 2, high voltage 2, and NMOS-2. High voltage 1 provides voltage to the second light-emitting region, and NMOS-1 drives the second light-emitting region; high voltage 2 provides voltage to the first light-emitting region, and NMOS-2 drives the first light-emitting region.
[0085] For another example, the beam-splitting design of the light-emitting device separates the anodes of the light-emitting device but shares a common cathode. For instance, the first light-emitting region includes a first anode, the second light-emitting region includes a second anode, and the cathodes of both the first and second light-emitting regions are the first cathodes. Thus, the cathodes of the first and second light-emitting regions are isolated, such as when the first and second light-emitting regions share an anode, or when the anodes of the first and second light-emitting regions are isolated, such as when the first and second light-emitting regions share a cathode. Since the same light-emitting device shares an anode or cathode, the performance differences in voltage, current, and resistance are smaller, making it easier to maintain consistent performance during use. Therefore, by dividing the light into two sub-regions and implementing time-division emissivity on a sub-region basis, reliability and consistency are better, it can be adapted to low-side driving, and drive design is simplified.
[0086] The architecture of the transmission system to which this application can be applied is described below. Please refer to Figure 9, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a transmission system 100 provided in an embodiment of this application. The transmission system 100 includes the aforementioned light emitting device 10 (e.g., the light emitting device 10 shown in Figure 2) and a control device 20.
[0087] The light emitting device 10 is used to generate an emitted light beam, as detailed in the above description.
[0088] The control device 20 has control capabilities and is used to control the light emitting device 10 to generate an emitted light beam. Exemplarily, the control device 20 controls a first emitting region in the light emitting device 10 to emit a light beam in a first time period, and controls a second emitting region in the light emitting device 10 to emit a light beam in a second time period. The power of the first emitting region is higher than that of the second emitting region. The first and second time periods at least partially overlap, meaning the control device 20 can control the first and second emitting regions to simultaneously emit light beams during the overlapping time periods. Furthermore, since the power of the first emitting region is higher than that of the second emitting region, the light emitting device can simultaneously emit high-power and low-power light beams, meeting the detection requirements in different scenarios. The high-power beam enables long-distance detection, while the low-power beam enables short-distance detection, simultaneously satisfying both short-distance and long-distance detection needs. The polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first emitting region is different from that generated by the second emitting region, which can reduce crosstalk problems caused by the simultaneous emission of light from these two regions.
[0089] In some possible implementations, the control device 20 may include a hardware module with computing capabilities and / or a software module with computing capabilities. Examples based on hardware and software implementations are described below.
[0090] As an example of hardware implementation, the control device 20 may include at least one processor, which is a module with processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor may be a circuit with instruction read and execute capabilities, such as a central processing unit (CPU), microprocessor, microcontroller unit (MCU), graphics processing unit (GPU), or digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor implements a certain function through the logic of hardware circuitry, where the logic is fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor may be a hardware circuit implemented using an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). In reconfigurable hardware circuitry, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and configuring the hardware circuitry can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the corresponding function. Furthermore, the processor can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), tensor processing unit (TPU), deep learning processing unit (DPU), etc. In some implementations, the control device 20 includes at least one processor integrated as a system-on-chip (SOC), which is commonly referred to as an SOC by those skilled in the art. The SOC may include at least one processor; when the SOC includes multiple processors, the types of processors can be different, such as including a CPU and an MCU.
[0091] Optionally, the control device 20 may be integrated with the light emitting device 10.
[0092] Please refer to Figure 10, which is a schematic flowchart of a control method provided in an embodiment of this application. Optionally, this method can be applied to a launch system, such as the launch system 100 shown in Figure 9, and can be executed by the control device 20 in the launch system 100. For ease of description, the following description uses the control device as the executing entity.
[0093] The control method shown in Figure 10 may include step S1001.
[0094] S1001, the control device controls the first light-emitting area to emit a light beam in the first time period and controls the second light-emitting area to emit a light beam in the second time period.
[0095] The control device has control capability and can control the light emitting device to generate an emitted beam, such as the control device 20 shown in Figure 9, as described in the relevant description in Figure 9.
[0096] The light emitting device includes a first light-emitting area and a second light-emitting area. The first light-emitting area includes multiple first light-emitting units, and the second light-emitting area includes multiple second light-emitting units. For details, please refer to the aforementioned related introduction.
[0097] The polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the first emitting region is different from that of the emitted beam generated by the second emitting region. For example, there is an angle between the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the first emitting region and the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the second emitting region, such as an angle of 30° or 50°. Even more exemplarily, the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the first emitting region is perpendicular (or orthogonal) to the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the second emitting region.
[0098] Optionally, the control device can control the operation of the light-emitting area by transmitting a control signal to the driving circuit in the light-emitting device. For example, the control device can transmit a first control signal to the driving circuit, which instructs the driving circuit to transmit current to the first light-emitting area during a first time period, causing the first light-emitting area to emit light during the first time period. Alternatively, the control device can transmit a second control signal to the driving circuit, which instructs the driving circuit to transmit current to the second light-emitting area during a second time period, causing the second light-emitting area to emit light during the second time period. The first and second time periods at least partially overlap. That is, during non-overlapping time periods, the control device can cause the first and second light-emitting areas to operate differently via the driving circuit; during overlapping time periods, the control device can transmit current to both the first and second light-emitting areas simultaneously via the driving circuit, causing both areas to emit light simultaneously during the overlapping time periods.
[0099] As another example, the control device may transmit a first trigger signal to the drive circuit at the beginning of a first time period, the first trigger signal instructing the drive circuit to begin transmitting current to the first light-emitting area so that the first light-emitting area begins to emit light; and transmit a second trigger signal to the drive circuit at the end of the first time period, the second trigger signal instructing the drive circuit to stop transmitting current to the first light-emitting area so that the first light-emitting area stops emitting light, thus causing the first light-emitting area to emit light during the first time period. Similarly, the control device may transmit a third trigger signal to the drive circuit at the beginning of a second time period, the third trigger signal instructing the drive circuit to begin transmitting current to the second light-emitting area so that the second light-emitting area begins to emit light; and transmit a fourth trigger signal to the drive circuit at the end of the second time period, the fourth trigger signal instructing the drive circuit to stop transmitting current to the second light-emitting area so that the second light-emitting area stops emitting light, thus causing the second light-emitting area to emit light during the second time period.
[0100] In one possible implementation, the power of the first light-emitting region is higher than the power of the second light-emitting region, that is, the light-emitting power of the first light-emitting region is higher than the light-emitting power of the second light-emitting region. For example, the emission power of the first light-emitting unit is higher than the emission power of the second light-emitting unit, such that the power of the first light-emitting region is higher than the power of the second light-emitting region.
[0101] In one possible implementation, the power of the first and second light-emitting areas belongs to different power ranges. For example, the driving circuits corresponding to the first and second light-emitting areas are independent of each other. When the driving circuit for the first light-emitting area drives the first light-emitting area, its output power falls within a higher power range. When the driving circuit for the second light-emitting area drives the second light-emitting area, its output power falls within a lower power range. The minimum power of the higher power range is higher than the maximum power of the lower power range. Therefore, in terms of hardware structure, the power of the first and second light-emitting areas belongs to different power ranges. In this case, the control device can be connected to the driving circuits for the first and second light-emitting areas respectively, thereby controlling the operation of these two driving circuits.
[0102] In another possible implementation, the power of the first and second light-emitting areas can be adjusted to different power levels. For example, the driving circuits corresponding to the first and second light-emitting areas are identical; that is, the first and second light-emitting areas are driven to emit light by the same driving circuit. Adjustable devices in the driving circuit allow the driving circuit to transmit different currents or apply different voltages to the two light-emitting areas, thereby enabling the power of the first and second light-emitting areas to be adjusted to different power levels for circuit control. In this case, a control device can be connected to the driving circuit to control its operation. Optionally, the control device can be integrated with the driving circuit.
[0103] In one possible scenario, taking the first and second light-emitting areas as examples where they are driven to emit light by the same driving circuit, the control device can adjust the power of the first and second light-emitting areas by transmitting control signals to the driving circuit. For example, the control device can control the current density of the current transmitted from the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area and the current transmitted from the driving circuit to the second light-emitting area to be different, thus making the power of the two light-emitting areas different, thereby adjusting the power of the first and second light-emitting areas. For instance, the control device can transmit a third control signal to the driving circuit, indicating that the current density of the current transmitted from the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is a first current density; the control device can also transmit a fourth control signal to the driving circuit, indicating that the current density of the current transmitted from the driving circuit to the second light-emitting area is a second current density, where the first current density is higher than the second current density. In other words, the current density of the current transmitted from the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is higher than the current density of the current transmitted from the driving circuit to the second light-emitting area, meaning the current density applied to the first light-emitting area is higher than the current density applied to the second light-emitting area, thereby making the power of the first light-emitting area higher than the power of the second light-emitting area.
[0104] The following describes two possible implementation methods where the current density of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is higher than the current density of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the second light-emitting area.
[0105] In implementation method 1, the voltage applied by the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is higher than the voltage applied by the driving circuit to the second light-emitting area, resulting in a higher current density in the current transmitted from the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area than in the current transmitted from the driving circuit to the second light-emitting area. For example, the control device may transmit a fifth control signal to the driving circuit, indicating that the voltage applied by the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is a first voltage. The control device may also transmit a sixth control signal to the driving circuit, indicating that the voltage applied by the driving circuit to the second light-emitting area is a second voltage, where the first voltage is higher than the second voltage. In other words, the higher voltage applied by the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area results in a higher current density in the current transmitted from the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area than in the second light-emitting area, thereby making the power of the first light-emitting area higher than the power of the second light-emitting area.
[0106] Implementation method 2 involves adjusting the current parameters of the current transmitted from the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area and the current transmitted to the second light-emitting area, so that the current density of the current transmitted from the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is higher than the current density of the current transmitted from the driving circuit to the second light-emitting area. For example, the current parameters include the pulse period frequency, duty cycle, and pulse width of the current, and the current density is positively correlated with the pulse period frequency, duty cycle, and pulse width.
[0107] For example, the pulse period frequency of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is higher than the pulse period frequency of the current transmitted to the second light-emitting area, such that the current density of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is higher than the current density of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the second light-emitting area. For example, the control device may transmit a seventh control signal to the driving circuit, which indicates that the pulse period frequency of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is a first pulse period frequency. The control device may also transmit an eighth control signal to the driving circuit, which indicates that the pulse period frequency of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the second light-emitting area is a second pulse period frequency, wherein the first pulse period frequency is higher than the second pulse period frequency.
[0108] For example, the duty cycle of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is greater than the duty cycle of the current transmitted to the second light-emitting area, such that the current density of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is higher than the current density of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the second light-emitting area. For instance, the control device may transmit a ninth control signal to the driving circuit, which indicates that the duty cycle of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is a first duty cycle. The control device may also transmit a tenth control signal to the driving circuit, which indicates that the duty cycle of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the second light-emitting area is a second duty cycle, wherein the first duty cycle is greater than the second duty cycle.
[0109] For example, the pulse width of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is greater than the pulse width of the current transmitted to the second light-emitting area, such that the current density of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is higher than the current density of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the second light-emitting area. For instance, the control device may transmit an eleventh control signal to the driving circuit, which indicates that the pulse width of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is a first pulse width. The control device may also transmit a twelfth control signal to the driving circuit, which indicates that the pulse width of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the second light-emitting area is a second pulse width, wherein the first pulse width is greater than the second pulse width.
[0110] Of course, the above implementations can be combined with each other. For example, the current parameters of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the two light-emitting areas and the voltage applied to the two light-emitting areas can be adjusted synchronously so that the current density of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the first light-emitting area is higher than the current density of the current transmitted by the driving circuit to the second light-emitting area.
[0111] When the power of different luminous regions belongs to different power ranges or is adjusted to different power, and the polarization direction of the emitted beams in different luminous regions is different, this application can realize simultaneous near and far detection, which can improve resource utilization, increase the frame rate of the detection device, reduce crosstalk problems caused by simultaneous emission from different luminous regions, and improve detection accuracy and efficiency.
[0112] Optionally, when the power of the first light-emitting area and the second light-emitting area belong to different power ranges, the power of the first light-emitting area and the power of the second light-emitting area can be adjusted within their respective power ranges. For example, if the power of the first light-emitting area belongs to a first power range, the power of the first light-emitting area may not be fixed. For instance, the power can be adjusted by using an adjustable device in the driving circuit corresponding to the first light-emitting area to control the current transmitted to or the voltage applied to the first light-emitting area, thereby adjusting the power of the first light-emitting area within the first power range. Similarly, if the power of the second light-emitting area belongs to a second power range, the power of the second light-emitting area may not be fixed. For instance, the power can be adjusted by using an adjustable device in the driving circuit corresponding to the second light-emitting area to control the current transmitted to or the voltage applied to the second light-emitting area, thereby adjusting the power of the second light-emitting area within the second power range.
[0113] In the embodiment shown in Figure 10, the control device can control the first and second light-emitting areas to simultaneously emit light beams, which can improve resource utilization and increase the frame rate of the detection device. Furthermore, the first and second light-emitting areas have different powers, allowing the light emitting device to simultaneously emit high-power and low-power light beams, meeting the detection needs in different scenarios. The high-power beam can provide sufficient light energy for distant targets, enabling long-distance detection, while the low-power beam can provide precise light control for close-range targets, enabling close-range detection. This simultaneously meets the detection needs for both close and long distances, achieving the goal of identifying specific targets.
[0114] Furthermore, the polarization direction of the emitted beam from the first emitting region differs from that of the emitted beam from the second emitting region. This difference in polarization direction can suppress crosstalk caused by the simultaneous emission of high-power and low-power beams, thereby improving detection accuracy and efficiency. For example, the receiving end can use a polarization beam splitter to allow only light with a polarization direction matched to that of the receiving end to pass through, thus physically cutting off crosstalk between signals from different emitting regions and reducing crosstalk caused by simultaneous emission from different regions.
[0115] The foregoing has described the application scenarios and methods provided by the embodiments of this application. The apparatus of the embodiments of this application is provided below. It is understood that the various apparatuses provided in the embodiments of this application, such as control devices, computing devices, chips, etc., include hardware structures, software units, or combinations of hardware and software structures to perform the functions described in the above method embodiments. Those skilled in the art should readily recognize that the apparatus and modules within it can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software in conjunction with the various functions described in the embodiments disclosed herein. Whether a function is executed by hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different apparatus implementation methods to implement the aforementioned method embodiments in different application scenarios, and different implementation methods of the apparatus should not be considered beyond the scope of the embodiments of this application.
[0116] Several possible devices are listed below.
[0117] Please refer to Figure 11, which is a schematic diagram of a control device provided in an embodiment of this application, namely control device 1100. Optionally, the control device 1100 can be an independent device, such as the control device 20 in the transmission system 100 shown in Figure 9. Alternatively, the control device 1100 can also be a component in an independent device (such as a node), such as a chip or integrated circuit. The control device 1100 is used to implement the steps performed by the control device in the control method shown in Figure 10.
[0118] As shown in Figure 11, the control device 1100 includes a processing unit 1101. The processing unit 1101 is used to perform one or more of the aforementioned data processing and instruction execution operations, such as determining, adjusting, controlling, generating, deciding, and judging. For example, the processing unit 1101 controls a first emitting region to emit a light beam in a first time period and controls a second emitting region to emit a light beam in a second time period. The power of the first emitting region is higher than the power of the second emitting region, and the first and second time periods at least partially overlap. The first emitting region includes multiple first emitting units, and the second emitting region includes multiple second emitting units. The polarization direction of the emitted light beam from the first emitting region is different from the polarization direction of the emitted light beam from the second emitting region.
[0119] It further includes other operations for implementing the control method.
[0120] For related descriptions, please refer to the description of the embodiment shown in Figure 10, which will not be described in detail here.
[0121] Please refer to Figure 12, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a computing device provided in an embodiment of this application. A computing device is a device with processing capabilities. The device here can be a physical device, such as a server (e.g., a rack server) or a host, or it can be a virtual device, such as a virtual machine or a container.
[0122] As shown in Figure 12, the computing device 120 includes a processor 1201, a memory 1202, and one or more programs, and may include a communication interface 1203. It should be understood that this application does not limit the number of processors and memories in the computing device 120.
[0123] Processor 1201 is the module that performs calculations. For an introduction to the processor, please refer to the description above.
[0124] The memory 1202 provides storage space, in which application data, user data, operating system, and computer programs can be optionally stored. The memory 1202 may include read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices capable of storing static information and instructions, random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices capable of storing information and instructions, or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital universal optical discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer, but is not limited thereto.
[0125] The memory 1202 can exist independently and be connected to the processor 1201 via a bus. Alternatively, the memory 1202 can be integrated with the processor 1201.
[0126] The communication interface 1203 is used to provide information input or output to the at least one processor. And / or, the communication interface 1203 can be used to receive data transmitted externally and / or transmit data externally. The communication interface 1203 can be a wired link interface, such as an Ethernet cable, or a wireless link interface (Bluetooth, general wireless transmission, and other wireless communication technologies, etc.). Optionally, the communication interface 1203 may also include a transmitter (such as a radio frequency transmitter, antenna, etc.) or a receiver coupled to the interface.
[0127] In this embodiment, one or more programs are stored in the memory 1202 in the form of program code and configured to be executed by the processor 1201. The programs include instructions for implementing the steps in the control method shown in FIG10. That is, the memory 1202 stores executable instructions, and the processor 1201 executes the executable instructions to implement the steps in the control method shown in FIG10. In other words, the memory 1202 stores instructions for executing the control method shown in FIG10.
[0128] This application also provides a chip, which includes a processor for executing computer execution instructions to enable a device on which the chip is mounted to implement the aforementioned control method, such as the control method shown in FIG10.
[0129] This application also provides a lidar system, which includes the aforementioned light emitting device, such as the light emitting device 10 shown in FIG2. The lidar system also includes a receiving device for receiving an echo beam, which includes the return light of the beam emitted by the light emitting device. For example, the light emitting device 10 can be applied to a lidar system with a polarization transceiver architecture, serving as a polarization transmitter to improve the lidar's anti-crosstalk capability and the ability to identify specific targets. Optionally, the lidar system may include the aforementioned transmitting system 100.
[0130] This application embodiment also provides a terminal, which includes the aforementioned light emitting device (light emitting device 10 as shown in FIG2), or the aforementioned control device (such as control device 20 or control device 1100), or the aforementioned computing device 120, or the aforementioned chip, or the aforementioned lidar. The terminal is used to implement the aforementioned control method, such as the control method shown in FIG10. Optionally, the terminal is a robot, a drone, or a vehicle.
[0131] This application also provides a computer program product containing instructions. The computer program product may be a software or program product containing instructions, capable of running on a computing device or stored on any usable medium. The computer program instructions are used to implement the aforementioned control method, such as the control method shown in FIG10.
[0132] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium. This computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program, the computer program including instructions for implementing the aforementioned control method, such as the control method shown in FIG10.
[0133] The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be stored by a control device and / or computing device, or a data storage device such as a data center containing one or more available media. The available media can be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media, or semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state drives).
[0134] In this application, the terms "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that something is an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of terms such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.
[0135] In this application, "at least one" in the embodiments refers to one or more items, and "more than one" refers to two or more items. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, (a and b), (a and c), (b and c), or (a and b and c), where a, b, and c can be single or multiple. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship.
[0136] Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the use of ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of this application is for distinguishing multiple objects and is not for limiting the order, sequence, priority or importance of multiple objects.
[0137] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of the above embodiments can be implemented by hardware or by a program instructing related hardware. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as a read-only memory, a disk, or an optical disk.
[0138] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the protection scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.
Claims
1. A control method, characterized in that, A light emitting device for controlling a light emitting region including a first light emitting region and a second light emitting region, wherein the first light emitting region includes a plurality of first light emitting units and the second light emitting region includes a plurality of second light emitting units, and the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first light emitting region is different from the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the second light emitting region; The method includes: Control the first light-emitting area to emit a light beam during a first time period; The second light-emitting region is controlled to emit a light beam in a second time period, wherein the first time period and the second time period at least partially overlap. The power of the first light-emitting area is higher than that of the second light-emitting area.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first emitting region is different from the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the second emitting region, including: There is an angle between the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first light-emitting region and the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the second light-emitting region; Alternatively, the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the first emitting region is perpendicular to the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the second emitting region.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The emission power of the first light-emitting unit is higher than that of the second light-emitting unit.
4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, Both the first and second light-emitting regions emit light through current driving, and the current density of the current applied to the first light-emitting region is higher than that of the current applied to the second light-emitting region.
5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The effective light-emitting area of the second light-emitting region is smaller than that of the first light-emitting region.
6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The light-emitting holes in each of the plurality of first light-emitting units are the same, and the light-emitting holes in each of the plurality of second light-emitting units are the same; The aperture of the light-emitting hole in each second light-emitting unit is smaller than the aperture of the light-emitting hole in each first light-emitting unit.
7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The plurality of first light-emitting units are evenly distributed in the first light-emitting area; The plurality of first light-emitting units are arranged in an even number of columns in the first light-emitting area, and the adjacent columns of first light-emitting units are staggered; along the first direction, the distance between two adjacent first light-emitting units in the same column is less than or equal to twice the length of the first light-emitting unit along the first direction, and the first direction is the column direction of the plurality of first light-emitting units.
8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The plurality of second light-emitting units are uniformly distributed in the second light-emitting area; The plurality of second light-emitting units are arranged in an even number of columns in the second light-emitting area, and adjacent columns of second light-emitting units are staggered; along the first direction, the spacing between two adjacent second light-emitting units in the same column is less than or equal to twice the length of the second light-emitting unit along the first direction, where the first direction is the column direction of the plurality of second light-emitting units.
9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The light-emitting holes in each of the plurality of first light-emitting units have the same shape, and the shape of the light-emitting holes in each first light-emitting unit includes one of the following: circular, elliptical, and rectangular. And / or, the shape of the light-emitting hole in each of the plurality of second light-emitting units is the same, and the shape of the light-emitting hole in each second light-emitting unit includes one of the following: circular, elliptical, and rectangular.
10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The first light-emitting area and the second light-emitting area are either cathode-isolated or anode-isolated.
11. The method according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, Both the first and second light-emitting units are vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs).
12. A light emitting device, characterized in that, The light emitting device includes a first light-emitting region and a second light-emitting region. The first light-emitting region includes a plurality of first light-emitting units, and the second light-emitting region includes a plurality of second light-emitting units. The polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the first emitting region is different from the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the second emitting region; The power of the first light-emitting area is higher than that of the second light-emitting area.
13. The light emitting device according to claim 12, characterized in that, The polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first emitting region is different from the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the second emitting region, including: There is an angle between the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first light-emitting region and the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the second light-emitting region; Alternatively, the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the first emitting region is perpendicular to the polarization direction of the emitted beam generated by the second emitting region.
14. The light emitting device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The effective light-emitting area of the second light-emitting region is smaller than that of the first light-emitting region.
15. The light emitting device according to any one of claims 12-14, characterized in that, The light-emitting holes in each of the plurality of first light-emitting units are the same, and the light-emitting holes in each of the plurality of second light-emitting units are the same; The aperture of the light-emitting hole in each second light-emitting unit is smaller than the aperture of the light-emitting hole in each first light-emitting unit.
16. The light emitting device according to any one of claims 12-15, characterized in that, The plurality of first light-emitting units are evenly distributed in the first light-emitting area; The plurality of first light-emitting units are arranged in an even number of columns in the first light-emitting area, and the adjacent columns of first light-emitting units are staggered; along the first direction, the distance between two adjacent first light-emitting units in the same column is less than or equal to twice the length of the first light-emitting unit along the first direction, and the first direction is the column direction of the plurality of first light-emitting units.
17. The light emitting device according to any one of claims 12-16, characterized in that, The plurality of second light-emitting units are uniformly distributed in the second light-emitting area; The plurality of second light-emitting units are arranged in an even number of columns in the second light-emitting area, and adjacent columns of second light-emitting units are staggered; along the first direction, the spacing between two adjacent second light-emitting units in the same column is less than or equal to twice the length of the second light-emitting unit along the first direction, where the first direction is the column direction of the plurality of second light-emitting units.
18. The light emitting device according to any one of claims 12-17, characterized in that, The light-emitting holes in each of the plurality of first light-emitting units have the same shape, and the shape of the light-emitting holes in each first light-emitting unit includes one of the following: circular, elliptical, and rectangular. And / or, the shape of the light-emitting hole in each of the plurality of second light-emitting units is the same, and the shape of the light-emitting hole in each second light-emitting unit includes one of the following: circular, elliptical, and rectangular.
19. The light emitting device according to any one of claims 12-18, characterized in that, The first light-emitting area and the second light-emitting area are either cathode-isolated or anode-isolated.
20. The light emitting device according to any one of claims 12-19, characterized in that, Both the first and second light-emitting units are vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs).
21. A control device, characterized in that, include: Processing unit, used for: Control the first luminous region to emit a beam of light in the first time period; The second light-emitting region is controlled to emit a light beam in a second time period, the power of the first light-emitting region is higher than the power of the second light-emitting region, and the first time period and the second time period at least partially overlap; The first light-emitting region includes a plurality of first light-emitting units, and the second light-emitting region includes a plurality of second light-emitting units. The polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the first light-emitting region is different from the polarization direction of the emitted light beam generated by the second light-emitting region.
22. A computing device, characterized in that, The computing device includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing a program, and the processor executing the program to cause the computing device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-11.
23. A lidar, characterized in that, The lidar includes a light emitting device as described in any one of claims 12-20, and the lidar further includes a receiving device. The receiving device is used to receive the echo beam, which includes the return light of the beam emitted by the light emitting device.
24. A terminal, characterized in that, The terminal includes an optical emitting device as described in any one of claims 12-20, a control device as described in claim 21, a computing device as described in claim 22, or a lidar as described in claim 23.
25. The terminal according to claim 24, characterized in that, The terminal can be a robot, drone, or vehicle.