Coaxial Fiber Optic Scanner for 3D LiDAR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber optic scanners for 3D laser radar systems are costly due to the high number of optical components required, which complicates the design and increases the overall size and weight of the unit.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a coaxial fiber optic scanner design that combines transmit and receive optics into a single system, using a central light guide split into two coaxial cross-sectional areas for transmitting and receiving light, significantly reducing the number of optical elements and production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a biaxial optical transceiver system with separate transmit and receive optics is used, then the system can transmit and receive laser signals, but the number of optical components increases, leading to higher costs, larger size, and greater weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate transmit and receive optics into a single coaxial optical system. The same optical components (objective lens, beam splitter, scanning mirrors) are used for both transmitting laser light to the scene and receiving reflected light, eliminating the need for duplicate optical paths and reducing the total number of components while maintaining full transmit and receive functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The optical components in the coaxial system are designed to serve multiple functions. The objective lens both transmits outgoing laser light and collects incoming reflected light. The beam splitter alternately directs light for transmission and reception. The scanning mirrors perform both outgoing and incoming light scanning, enabling a single optical subsystem to handle the complete transmit-receive cycle
2Reliability
If separate transmit and receive optics are used, then the system can operate bidirectionally, but the overall size and weight of the unit increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate transmit and receive optical subsystems into one integrated coaxial scanner. By sharing common optical components (objective, beam splitter, mirrors, fiber arrays) between transmit and receive functions, the total mass of optical elements is reduced by approximately half compared to a biaxial system with duplicate components, directly reducing the weight of the moving scanner unit
3Reliability
If more optical components are used, then the system can handle both transmit and receive functions, but production costs increase due to the high cost of optical components
Solution Approach 1:
The coaxial design merges transmit and receive optical paths into a single system, reducing the number of expensive optical components (objectives, beam splitters, scanning mirrors, fiber arrays) from duplicate sets in a biaxial system to a single shared set. This halving of component count directly reduces material costs, assembly costs, and calibration costs, making the system more cost-effective to manufacture while preserving full bidirectional functionality
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 design simplifies the system, reduces size and weight, makes it less sensitive to temperature fluctuations, and allows for a more compact and flexible optics unit with reduced adjustment complexity, while maintaining high optical efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a motor driven reflector arranged to guide light emerging from the circularly arranged ends of the individual light guides into the central light guide
Data Source
AI summary
Fiber optic scanner and method for transmitting and receiving optical signals and range imaging camera including fiber optic scanner. The fiber optic scanner includes a light guide array including individual light guides arranged such that a first end has first ends of the individual light guides arranged in an image plane of collimating optics and a second end has second ends of the individual light guides arranged in a circular manner. A central light guide includes a first end arranged at a center of the circularly arranged second ends of the individual light guides and a motor driven reflector arranged to guide light emerging from the circularly arranged ends of the individual light guides into the central light guide. The central light guide further includes two coaxially arranged cross sectional areas that are structured and arranged to guide transmitted light through a central one of the two coaxially arranged cross sectional areas and to guide received light through an outer one of the two coaxially arranged cross sectional areas.