Laser Radar Device Dynamic Beam Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laser radar devices face issues with omissions in measurement portions and reduced pixel quality due to high speeds, beam scanning periods, and beam divergence, especially when the distance to the measurement plane is long, leading to degraded image quality.

Innovation Solution

A laser radar device equipped with a quality determinator that assesses image quality and adjusts the relative position or beam specifications to prevent omissions and ensure sufficient pixel quality by changing the speed, altitude, or beam parameters based on the speed of the moving object, altitude, beam divergence, and beam scanning rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the moving object travels at high speed, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to omissions in measurement portions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed of moving objectVSAvoiddistance image quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the beam scanning period adjustable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically changes the beam scanning period based on the detected speed of the moving object, allowing the system to adapt to varying operational conditions and maintain measurement precision across different speed ranges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of beam scanning period based on the speed of the moving object. When the object moves faster, the beam scanning period is adjusted to prevent measurement omissions, thereby maintaining measurement precision while allowing high-speed operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If the distance to measurement plane is long, then area of measurement is increased, but measurement precision deteriorates due to reduced significant pixels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement areaVSAvoidnumber of significant pixels
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the beam divergence angle adjustable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically changes the beam divergence angle based on the distance to the measurement plane, allowing the system to maintain adequate pixel density and measurement precision even when measuring distant large-area targets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the beam divergence parameter according to the distance to the measurement plane. By increasing beam divergence for distant targets, the system expands the measurement area while maintaining sufficient pixel resolution, and narrows beam divergence for close targets to concentrate measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution effectively prevents omissions in measurement portions and ensures a sufficient number of significant pixels, maintaining desired image quality by dynamically adjusting the device's relative position and beam characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

receive the above-mentioned laser light which is reflected by the measurement object and then returns thereto

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

measure the elapsed time that elapses from the time when laser light is transmitted and the time when reflected light is received

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentEP3006953B1Laser radar device and method for generating laser image
Publication Date: 2019.11.13 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3006953B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3006953B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3006953B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A system controller 16 determines whether the quality of either a distance image or a light intensity image satisfies reference quality, and, when the quality of either the distance image or the light intensity image dos not satisfy the reference quality, outputs a speed change command to lower a speed, an altitude change command to change a submarine altitude (depth), or the like to a navigation control unit 2, thereby changing a physical relative relation between a measurement plane 3 and a device in question. As an alternative, the system controller changes a beam scanning rate f, a beam divergence θ, or the like within limits at which the amount of variation in a spatial resolution does not exceed a permissible amount.