Beam-Steered LiDAR Illumination for Wide Field Coverage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Lidar systems face inefficiencies in power usage and design flexibility due to fixed light emitters that illuminate the entire field of view, limiting the ability to efficiently detect objects in a larger area without increasing power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A Lidar system with a beam-steering device that scans light into discrete segments of a photodetector array, allowing for a horizontally elongated field of illumination that covers the entire field of view with a smaller light emitter, reducing power consumption and enhancing design flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a fixed light emitter illuminates the entire field of view, then the field of view is fully covered, but power consumption increases and design flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the field of view into multiple discrete segments and uses a beam-steering device to direct light from a smaller light emitter to sequentially illuminate different segments. This segmentation allows the system to cover the entire field of view while using less power and providing design flexibility, as the light emitter only needs to illuminate one segment at a time rather than the entire field of view simultaneously.
2Device complexity
If a smaller light emitter is used, then power consumption and complexity are reduced, but the ability to illuminate the entire field of view is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a beam-steering device that dynamically redirects light from a smaller light emitter to sequentially cover different areas of the field of view. This dynamic beam steering allows a compact light emitter to effectively illuminate a larger field of view by changing the direction of light emission over time, thus resolving the contradiction between emitter size and illumination area.
3Productivity
If light is scanned into discrete segments, then detection efficiency improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the field of view into discrete areas and uses a beam-steering device to sequentially illuminate and detect each segment. This segmentation approach improves detection efficiency by concentrating light and detection resources on one area at a time, while the added system complexity is managed through the use of controllable beam-steering mechanisms that can be integrated into existing Lidar systems.
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
The solution enables a larger field of view to be illuminated with less power, improving detection efficiency and reducing the complexity and cost of the light emitter, while maintaining effective environmental mapping capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
Light is emitted into the field of view of the photodetector and the photodetector detects light that is reflected by an object in the field of view
Implementation Method 2
The time of flight of the reflected photon detected by the photodetector is used to determine the distance of the object that reflected the light
Implementation Method 3
A Lidar system with a beam-steering device that scans light into discrete segments of a photodetector array, allowing for a horizontally elongated field of illumination
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A Lidar system includes an array of photodetectors. The system includes a beam-steering device and a light emitter aimed at the beam-steering device. The beam-steering device is designed to aim light from the light emitter into a field of illumination positioned to be detected by a segment of the array of photodetectors. The segment is smaller than the array. The system includes a computer having a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor to adjust the aim of the beam-steering device to move the field of illumination relative to the array of photodetectors.