LIDAR Beam Splitting for Near-Field Parallax Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
LIDAR systems experience a blind spot due to parallax error caused by the spacing between the emitter and receiver, leading to reduced light reception and detection failures for objects within a close range, resulting in incomplete three-dimensional environmental mapping.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an optical element along the transmit path that directs a portion of the primary laser beam as a secondary laser beam with a wider divergence angle, which spreads within the near-field and is focused onto the receiver, enhancing light reception and object detection in close-range environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the receiver is spaced apart from the emitter to form separate channels, then the field of view and three-dimensional mapping capability are improved, but parallax error occurs causing blind spots in close-range detection
Solution Approach 1:
A beam splitting element is introduced as an intermediary component in the transmit path to divide the primary laser beam into multiple beams. This mediator enables the spaced emitter-receiver configuration to work effectively by ensuring sufficient light reaches the receiver while maintaining accurate depth measurement, thus resolving the parallax error issue without sacrificing field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary laser beam is segmented into multiple beams (including a first laser beam and a second laser beam) by the beam splitting element. This segmentation allows different beam portions to serve different functions: one beam for primary ranging and another for compensating parallax error, enabling both wide field of view and accurate close-range detection.
2Loss of information
If multiple channels are combined to create a point cloud for three-dimensional representation, then the environmental mapping capability is improved, but the parallax error causes incomplete data in close-range areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the second laser beam measurement to correct the depth information obtained from the first laser beam. The beam splitting element enables this feedback mechanism by providing a reference beam path that accounts for parallax error, allowing the system to compensate for measurement inaccuracies and complete the environmental map without gaps.
3Length of stationary object
If the receiver is positioned to receive reflected laser beams from a distance, then far-field detection is improved, but light reception is reduced for close-range objects
Solution Approach 1:
The beam splitting element creates different beam qualities for different spatial zones. The first laser beam is optimized for far-field detection with appropriate divergence, while the second laser beam is directed to provide enhanced light intensity for close-range objects. This local quality differentiation ensures sufficient light reception at both near and far distances.
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 reduces or eliminates parallax error, improving the LIDAR system's ability to detect objects within the near-field by increasing light reception and generating more accurate depth maps of the surrounding environment.
Implementation Method 1
The optical element is configured to direct a portion of the primary laser beam in a direction towards the receive path as a secondary laser beam
Implementation Method 2
The receiver includes one or more lenses positioned along a receive path such that the one or more lenses receive a reflected laser beam
Data Source
AI summary
A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system includes an emitter. The emitter includes a light source and one or more lenses positioned along a transmit path. The light source is configured to emit a primary laser beam through the one or more lenses in the transmit path to provide a transmit beam. The LIDAR system includes a receiver spaced apart from the emitter. The receiver includes one or more lenses positioned along a receive path such that the one or more lenses receive a reflected laser beam. The LIDAR system includes an optical element positioned along the transmit path. The optical element is configured to direct a portion of the primary laser beam in a direction towards the receive path as a secondary laser beam.