LiDAR Sensor Translucent Cover Segmentation for Refraction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The translucent cover on LiDAR sensors refracts detecting light, causing inaccuracies in information detection due to differences in light paths, which affects the detection of external information in vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system with a translucent cover featuring flat portions that allow detecting light to pass through while excluding the boundary areas, where the surface can be made opaque to prevent refraction and unexpected light behavior, minimizing the influence on information detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a translucent cover is used to protect the LiDAR sensor, then protection from dirt and flying stones is improved, but refraction of detecting light occurs causing detection accuracy to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The translucent cover is divided into multiple flat portions with boundaries between them. The processor segments the detection area to exclude boundary portions where refraction occurs, while utilizing only the light paths through the flat portions for accurate detection. This segmentation approach maintains protection functionality while eliminating refraction interference in the detection process.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the translucent cover are treated differently: flat portions allow light passage with minimal refraction for accurate detection, while boundary portions are identified and excluded from detection. The processor applies different handling strategies to different local regions of the cover, optimizing both protection and detection accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the translucent cover has flat portions to allow light passage, then refraction is reduced, but boundary portions between adjacent flat portions cause unexpected light behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary portions between adjacent flat portions are extracted and excluded from the detection process. The processor identifies these boundary regions and removes them from the effective detection area, preventing unexpected light behavior at boundaries from affecting measurement accuracy while maintaining the benefits of flat portions.
3Measurement precision
If boundary portions are excluded from detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but the detection area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of excluding entire flat portions or using excessive exclusion margins, the processor applies partial exclusion by removing only the minimal boundary regions between adjacent flat portions. This partial action approach maintains maximum detection area while eliminating the harmful effects of boundary refraction, achieving optimal balance between accuracy and coverage.
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 configuration reduces refraction and prevents unexpected light behavior, enhancing the accuracy of external information detection by excluding boundary portions from the detection process, thus minimizing the impact of the translucent cover on sensor performance.
Implementation Method 1
The translucent cover refracts the detecting light. As a result, there is a difference between a point on an extension line of the detecting light incident on the translucent cover and a point at which the detecting light emitted from the translucent cover reaches.
Implementation Method 2
having a plurality of flat portions configured to allow passage of the detecting light
Implementation Method 3
a surface of the translucent cover at the boundary portion is made opaque for at least a wavelength of the detecting light
Data Source
AI summary
A light emitting element emits detecting light toward an outside area of a vehicle. A light receiving element outputs a light receiving signal corresponding to reflected light. A processor detects information of the outside area on the basis of the light receiving signal. A translucent cover forms a part of an outer surface of the vehicle, and has a plurality of flat portions allowing passage of the detecting light. The processor excludes, from the information to be detected, a position corresponding a boundary portion between adjacent ones of the flat portions.