Lidar Adaptive High-Intensity Zone Guard Region
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser range finders face challenges in operating at high-intensity modes while ensuring safety, particularly in environments with humans, due to stringent laser power limits and the need to avoid frequent false positive reductions in laser power.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a guard region with lower intensity laser pulses around the adaptive-intensity region of the laser range finder, which detects objects entering the guard region and adjusts the intensity of laser pulses accordingly to ensure eye-safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If high-intensity laser pulses are used to extend measurement range, then measurement range is improved, but eye safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The field of view is segmented into a high-intensity region for extended range measurement and a guard region for safety monitoring. The laser operates at high intensity only in the high-intensity region while using low intensity in the guard region, thus extending measurement range without compromising eye safety.
Solution Approach 2:
Different intensity levels are applied to different spatial regions. The high-intensity laser pulses are localized to the high-intensity region where extended range measurement is needed, while the guard region uses low-intensity pulses to ensure eye safety. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between range extension and safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If proximity sensors are used to detect objects and discontinue laser emission, then eye safety is improved, but measurement accuracy and responsiveness worsen due to false positives and lack of trajectory information
Solution Approach 1:
The guard region acts as an intermediary zone between the high-intensity region and the external environment. Low-intensity laser pulses in the guard region provide early detection of objects entering the field of view, giving the system time to respond before high-intensity pulses are emitted, thus improving both safety and detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection using low-intensity laser pulses in the guard region before emitting high-intensity pulses. This preliminary action allows the system to identify objects early and adjust the high-intensity region accordingly, improving measurement precision while maintaining safety.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If laser intensity is reduced to ensure safety compliance, then eye safety is improved, but measurement range and effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement space is divided into regions with different intensity requirements. The high-intensity region maintains extended measurement range while the guard region ensures safety compliance, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and measurement effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
High-intensity laser pulses are applied locally in the high-intensity region where extended range measurement is required, while low-intensity pulses are used in the guard region for safety. This localized approach maintains measurement effectiveness without compromising eye safety.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If conservative laser power limiting is used to ensure safety, then eye safety is improved, but measurement performance and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The laser intensity is dynamically adjusted based on the presence of objects in the guard region. When no objects are detected, high-intensity pulses are used for optimal measurement performance. When objects are detected, the system transitions to low-intensity pulses in the high-intensity region, thus maintaining both safety and performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser intensity parameter is changed based on real-time detection in the guard region. The system switches between high-intensity and low-intensity modes dynamically, optimizing measurement performance while ensuring eye safety compliance.
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 approach enhances safety by providing early and spatially accurate warnings of objects, reducing false positive intensity reductions and maintaining compliance with safety standards, while allowing high-intensity laser operation when necessary.
Implementation Method 1
LIDAR with an adaptive high-intensity zone
Implementation Method 2
A detector can detect laser reflections from the lower intensity laser pulses
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment a LIDAR generates high-intensity laser pulses with intensities above a threshold intensity (e.g. above an eye-safe intensity) in a 2-D angular range in a field of view. The LIDAR further generates low-intensity (e.g. eye-safe) laser pulses in a protective guard region (e.g. a guard ring) that surrounds the high-intensity laser pulses. In response to detecting an aspect of an object using reflections from the low-intensity laser pulses (e.g. a person on a trajectory that will intersect the high-intensity laser pulses) the LIDAR modifies the angular range of subsequent high-intensity laser pulses. In this way the LIDAR can adapt or steer the angular range of the high-intensity laser pulses to avoid an object detected within the low-intensity guard region.