Vehicle-Mounted Laser Pump Source Redundancy With Current Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle-mounted laser systems lack effective real-time control solutions for pump sources, which are critical for the reliability and performance of vehicle-mounted laser radars, especially in the context of autonomous driving.

Innovation Solution

A redundant pumping system design is implemented, featuring a primary pump source and a backup pump source, along with a hardware control circuit that monitors the operating current of the primary pump source in real-time and switches to the backup when abnormalities are detected.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single pump source is used in the vehicle-mounted laser system, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of the pump source is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of pump sourceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A backup pump source is pre-configured in the system before any failure occurs. The backup pump source remains in standby mode with all necessary control circuits and switching mechanisms pre-established, so that when the primary pump source fails, the system can immediately switch to the backup without requiring any complex real-time decision-making or reconfiguration, thus improving reliability while keeping the control logic relatively simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuit continuously monitors the operating current of the primary pump source through a current measurement circuit. When the monitored current deviates from the normal range or shows abnormal changes indicating potential failure, the control circuit automatically triggers the switching mechanism to activate the backup pump source, providing real-time feedback-based reliability enhancement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If real-time monitoring of pump source operating current is implemented, then the reliability improvement is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of pump sourceVSAvoidcontrol circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex software-based monitoring and control systems with a simplified hardware control circuit that directly monitors pump source current through a current measurement circuit and automatically triggers backup activation when abnormal conditions are detected. This hardware-based approach reduces computational complexity and real-time processing requirements while maintaining effective reliability monitoring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuit is designed to autonomously monitor the pump source operating current and automatically switch to the backup pump source when abnormalities are detected, without requiring external intervention or complex control algorithms. The system self-manages the monitoring and switching functions through dedicated control circuits, simplifying the overall system architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution significantly reduces the failure rate of the pump source module, improves the reliability of the pump source, and minimizes downtime, making it suitable for the demanding requirements of vehicle-mounted laser radars in autonomous driving applications.

Implementation Method 1

a current measurement circuit configured to measure a real-time operating current of the first pump source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical current measurement: Ohm's Law

Implementation Method 2

a comparison circuit configured to determine an operating state of the first pump source based on the real-time operating current

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage comparison:

Data Source

PatentEP4568029A1Pumping system for use in vehicle-mounted laser, vehicle-mounted laser device, and vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 NIO CO LTD
  • EP4568029A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4568029A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4568029A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The disclosure relates to the field of vehicle-mounted lasers, and in particular, to a pumping system for use in a vehicle-mounted laser, a vehicle-mounted laser device, and a vehicle. The pumping system includes: a pump source module including at least a first pump source and a second pump source, where the second pump source serves as a backup pump source for the first pump source; and a control circuit including: a current measurement circuit configured to measure a real-time operating current of the first pump source; and a comparison circuit configured to determine an operating state of the first pump source based on the real-time operating current, and to switch on the second pump source when the first pump source is in an abnormal state, so as to provide pump light.