Coaxial Light Source-Sensor Layout for Compact LiDAR Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LiDAR systems are bulky and suffer from light loss due to additional optical parts in the light path, affecting their efficiency in detecting obstacles in autonomous driving and other applications.
Innovation Solution
A light source-integrated light sensing system with monolithically integrated light-emitting and light-receiving devices having coaxial optical axes, arranged in a structure that allows for efficient light reception and emission, including a substrate with light-emitting and light-receiving material layers and a lens structure to adjust emitting and incident angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional optical parts are disposed on the light path between the light source and object and between the object and sensor, then the system can perform light detection and ranging functions, but the system becomes bulky and causes light loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light source and light sensor into a single integrated device structure. The light-emitting device and light-receiving device are disposed in an integrated manner with substantially coaxial optical axes, eliminating the need for separate optical components and reducing system bulkiness while maintaining light detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated light source device performs multiple functions: it includes both light-emitting devices for illuminating the object and light-receiving devices for detecting reflected light. This multi-functional design replaces what would traditionally require separate optical components, reducing system volume while maintaining full LiDAR functionality
2Reliability
If additional optical parts are disposed on the light path, then the system can perform light detection and ranging functions, but light loss occurs when light passes through these optical parts
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the light source and sensor in a single device with coaxial optical axes, the patent eliminates multiple optical interfaces and components that would cause light loss. The direct coaxial arrangement minimizes the number of optical parts light must pass through, reducing energy loss while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary optical parts from the light path. By using an integrated structure where the light source and sensor are coaxially aligned, the system removes intermediate optical components that would otherwise cause light loss, keeping only the essential light-emitting and light-receiving functions
3Productivity
If light-emitting and light-receiving devices are integrated monolithically with coaxial optical axes, then light reception efficiency is improved and system bulkiness is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated light source device is segmented into distinct light-emitting devices and light-receiving devices, each with specific functions. This segmentation allows for systematic arrangement with coaxial optical axes while maintaining manageable manufacturing complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different functional characteristics to different regions of the integrated device. The light-emitting devices and light-receiving devices are positioned in specific locations with coaxial alignment, optimizing light reception efficiency while managing manufacturing complexity through localized functional differentiation
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 configuration enhances light reception efficiency and reduces system bulkiness, improving the ability to analyze objects by ensuring that the light source and sensor axes are closely aligned, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the LiDAR system.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of light-emitting devices disposed on the substrate and arranged to have a first optical axis, and a plurality of light-receiving devices disposed on the substrate and arranged to have a second optical axis that is parallel with the first optical axis
Implementation Method 2
a lens structure positioned on the light receiving-emitting unit device to adjust an emitting angle of light emitted from the one or more light-receiving devices
Data Source
AI summary
A light sensing system includes a plurality of light-emitting devices arranged to have a first optical axis and a plurality of light-receiving devices arranged to have a second optical axis, the second optical axis being parallel with the first optical axis. The plurality of light-emitting devices and the plurality of light-receiving devices are formed to have a monolithically integrated structure, and the first optical axis and the second optical axis are substantially coaxial to each other, thus improving the efficiency of light reception.