Laser Scanner Rotating Unit Design for 360-Degree Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser scanners for acquiring 360° data require multiple costly units and extensive adjustments, leading to high operational costs and complexity due to the need for strong, accurate structures to support high-speed rotation.
Innovation Solution
A laser scanner design featuring a lightweight rotating unit with a deflection member for perpendicular beam projection, multiple light sources, photodetectors, and a control arithmetic unit for calculating beam directions, allowing for multi-point measurement over the entire circumference with reduced structural requirements and increased measurement density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple line scanners are used to acquire 360° data, then measurement coverage is improved, but device cost and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light emitting sources and photodetectors into a single integrated scanner head that rotates once to cover 360°. Multiple beams are projected simultaneously by multiple light sources, and multiple photodetectors receive reflected light from different directions, merging the functions of what would traditionally require multiple separate scanners.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating unit serves multiple functions: it houses both light emitting sources and photodetectors, performs both beam projection and light reception, and achieves full 360° coverage through a single rotation. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple dedicated scanners for different directions.
2Productivity
If all measuring system components are disposed on a rotating unit, then scanning functionality is improved, but rotating unit weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts heavy components from the rotating unit and places them on the stationary main unit. Specifically, the light source driving unit and distance measuring unit are disposed on the main unit rather than on the rotating unit, significantly reducing the weight of the rotating component while preserving scanning functionality.
3Device complexity
If a lightweight rotating unit is used, then device cost is reduced, but rotation accuracy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a rotation angle detecting unit that provides feedback on the actual rotation angle of the rotating unit. The control arithmetic unit uses this feedback information to calculate and compensate for any deviations, ensuring accurate beam direction calculation even with a lightweight rotating unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces reliance on purely mechanical precision with electronic/optical detection and computational compensation. Instead of depending solely on mechanical accuracy of the lightweight rotating unit, the system uses optical detection (rotation angle detecting unit) and mathematical compensation (control arithmetic unit) to achieve required precision.
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
Enables high-speed multi-point measurement with a lightweight, cost-effective design that maintains high accuracy and uniform measurement density, while compensating for rotation errors to ensure precise data acquisition.
Implementation Method 1
a deflection member for projecting the pulsed beams by deflecting the beams perpendicularly to center axis of the rotating unit
Implementation Method 2
the optical system has a condenser lens, and the condenser lens condenses lights so that optical axes of the pulsed beams from the light emitting sources are converged to a rotation center of the deflection member
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of photodetectors for receiving a reflection light from an object via the deflection member
Implementation Method 4
a rotation angle detecting unit for detecting a horizontal rotation angle of the rotating unit
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a laser scanner, comprising a main unit and a rotating unit rotatably mounted on the main unit, wherein the rotating unit has a deflection member for projecting the pulsed beams by deflecting the beams perpendicularly to center axis of the rotating unit. The main unit comprises a plurality of light emitting sources disposed in a two-dimensional arrangement for emitting a plurality of pulsed beams, an optical system for projecting and receiving the pulsed beams, a rotation angle detecting unit, a plurality of photodetectors for receiving a reflection light from an object via the deflection member and being disposed respectively at positions conjugate to the light emitting sources, a distance measuring unit for measuring a distance based on a photodetection signal from the photodetector, and a control arithmetic unit for calculating projecting directions of the pulsed laser beams projected from the deflection member.