Circumferential Lidar Rotor Design for Compact Field of View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lidar assemblies require large spaces due to stacked laser and receiver units, leading to inefficiencies in space utilization, data transfer, and thermal management.
Innovation Solution
A compact lidar assembly design featuring a rotor with multiple sensor devices positioned at different circumferential locations, allowing for a gapless field of view and even data distribution, which optimizes space utilization, data transfer, and thermal management by distributing electronic and mechanical components across the rotor's volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple lasers and receiver units are stacked on top of one another, then the field of view coverage is achieved, but the space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical stacking arrangement (one dimension) to a circumferential distribution arrangement (another dimension) of sensor devices on the rotor. Multiple sensor devices are positioned at different circumferential positions around the rotation axis, allowing field of view coverage to be achieved through spatial distribution rather than vertical stacking, thereby reducing the height and overall volume of the lidar assembly.
2Volume of stationary object
If sensor devices are positioned at different circumferential positions, then space utilization is optimized, but the complexity of positioning and alignment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lidar assembly is segmented into multiple independent sensor devices positioned at different circumferential locations on the rotor. Each sensor device covers a specific angular range, and the rotor rotates to bring different sensor devices into the measurement position. This segmentation allows for simplified individual device design and mounting, as each sensor device only needs to be positioned relative to its own optical axis rather than requiring complex inter-device alignment.
3Productivity
If sensor devices are distributed across the rotor circumference, then data transfer is more evenly distributed, but the mechanical precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic rotation mechanism where the rotor rotates to bring different sensor devices into the measurement position at different times. This dynamic approach allows the system to achieve even data distribution across multiple sensor devices without requiring extremely tight static positioning precision. The rotational motion enables temporal separation of data acquisition from different sensors, reducing the stringency of mechanical alignment requirements compared to a static multi-sensor arrangement.
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 design achieves a compact and efficient lidar assembly with improved data transfer, reduced thermal hotspots, and enhanced time resolution for environmental detection, enabling reliable and temporally resolved acquisition of large objects.
Implementation Method 1
The rotor is disposed so as to rotate about an axis of rotation
Implementation Method 2
Each sensor device has at least one laser and detector pair
Data Source
AI summary
A lidar assembly. The lidar assembly includes a rotor, which is situated so as to rotate about an axis of rotation. The rotor has at least two sensor devices. Each sensor device has at least one laser and detector pair. Each sensor device is designed to acquire a separate sensor range of a gapless field of view area situated parallel to the axis of rotation. The sensor devices are disposed in different circumferential positions of the rotor.