Ball Lens LiDAR Array for High SNR Eye Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LiDAR systems face challenges in maintaining a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) while ensuring eye safety, as SNR decreases with distance and increasing laser power poses safety risks to pedestrians and drivers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an array of lasers and light detectors distributed across a ball lens, connected via electrical conduits or waveguides, with the option of remote positioning and frequency modulation using a spatial light modulator, allows for simultaneous interrogation of multiple directions, enhancing SNR without exceeding safe laser exposure limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If laser power is increased to improve SNR, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but eye safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical system into multiple transmitting beams and receiving beams that simultaneously interrogate different directions. By distributing the optical power across multiple beams rather than concentrating it in a single beam, the system achieves high SNR through parallel measurements while keeping the power density of each individual beam below eye safety thresholds.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If single direction interrogation is used to maintain eye safety, then laser power per beam is reduced, but SNR decreases with distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous simultaneous interrogation of multiple directions using arrays of transmitting and receiving beams. This continuous parallel measurement approach maintains high SNR at long distances by accumulating signal information across multiple simultaneous measurements, eliminating the need to increase power in any single beam direction.
3Measurement precision
If multiple directions are interrogated simultaneously using beam arrays, then SNR is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the transmitting and receiving beam functions into an integrated optical system where arrays of transmitting beams and receiving beams work together through a shared optical path and processing system. This merging approach achieves multiple simultaneous measurements while consolidating control electronics and signal processing resources, managing device complexity through functional integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly boosts the SNR, enabling reliable object detection at greater distances while adhering to safety standards by distributing optical power across multiple beams, thus increasing measurement time in each direction and maintaining eye safety.
Implementation Method 1
an array of components arranged on the lens surface for transmitting and detecting light
Implementation Method 2
a special light modulator is used to perform frequency light modulation for the transmitted beams
Implementation Method 3
an array of components arranged on the lens surface for transmitting and detecting light
Data Source
AI summary
Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) device, which has a capability to enable position and speed detection with high signal-to-noise ratio. It is achieved by interrogating many targets/directions simultaneously. The device utilizes a ball lens and an array of light emitting and collecting elements distributed on and coupled to a ball lens; these elements could be gratings connected with a light processing chip with an array of waveguides; alternatively, it could be an array of VCSELs and light detector elements distributed on and coupled to a ball lens; and yet, another alternative is a spatial light modulators (SLMs) for frequency modulation for the transmitted beams. The distance and speed of a target is determined using FMCW signal processing scheme with signal frequency and intensity multiplexing.