Dual-Reflecting Optical System for MEMS LiDAR Beam Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current MEMS type LiDAR systems face challenges in maintaining high spatial resolution during omnidirectional scanning due to beam diameter spread and are limited by the small movable angle of the MEMS mirror, which affects the achievable scanning angle and resolution.
Innovation Solution
An optical system comprising a first and second rotationally symmetric reflecting member with specific concave and convex cross-sectional shapes, respectively, and a prism, which refracts the light to maintain parallel optical paths and suppress beam spread, allowing for omnidirectional scanning with improved resolution even at small movable angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rotationally symmetric optical system is used for omnidirectional scanning, then the scanning coverage is improved, but the beam diameter spreads causing resolution decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into multiple reflection surfaces (first reflecting surface and second reflecting surface) with different functions. The first reflecting surface handles beam convergence while the second handling beam parallelization, allowing each segment to optimize for its specific function rather than compromising overall performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved reflection surfaces with specific radii of curvature. The first reflecting surface has a curvature designed to converge divergent beams from the MEMS mirror, while the second reflecting surface has curvature optimized to parallelize the reflected beams, maintaining beam quality through omnidirectional scanning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the movable angle of the MEMS mirror is increased to achieve broader scanning, then the scanning angle is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is designed to dynamically adapt to the small angular range of the MEMS mirror. The reflection surfaces are configured to efficiently redirect even small angular deviations into broad omnidirectional scanning coverage, maximizing the utility of the dynamic MEMS mirror within its physical constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the limited angular movement of the MEMS mirror into omnidirectional scanning by using multiple reflection surfaces that redirect light in different spatial dimensions. This converts a one-dimensional angular limitation into a three-dimensional scanning capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the movable angle of the MEMS mirror is increased to improve scanning coverage, then the angle of view is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system segments the beam control function across multiple surfaces, allowing each surface to be manufactured with standard precision while achieving overall high-performance beam control through their combined geometric 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 proposed optical system effectively suppresses beam diameter spread, maintaining high spatial resolution and enabling omnidirectional scanning with a smaller movable angle, thus enhancing the performance of MEMS type LiDAR systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first reflecting member that is rotationally symmetric with respect to a first axis and has a first reflecting surface that reflects the polarized light to emit reflected light as first reflected light
Implementation Method 2
a second reflecting member that is rotationally symmetric with respect to the first axis and has a second reflecting surface that reflects the first reflected light to emit reflected light as second reflected light
Implementation Method 3
which refracts the light to maintain parallel optical paths and suppress beam spread
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system on which polarized light is incident includes a first reflecting member that is rotationally symmetric with respect to a first axis and has a first reflecting surface that reflects the polarized light to emit reflected light as first reflected light, and a second reflecting member that is rotationally symmetric with respect to the first axis and has a second reflecting surface that reflects the first reflected light to emit reflected light as second reflected light. A cross-sectional shape of the first reflecting surface cut along a plane parallel to the first axis is concave. A cross-sectional shape of the second reflecting surface cut along the plane parallel to the first axis is convex. An optical path of the first reflected light is parallel to the first axis. An optical path of the second reflected light is directed outward from the first axis.