Lidar Echo Emulation with Spinning-Mirror Azimuth Scanning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lidar testers are limited in simulating complex driving environments and accurately emulating echo signals over a wide range of azimuthal and elevation angles, leading to potential false warnings or missed reactions in ADAS and autonomous driving systems.
Innovation Solution
A lidar tester system that includes an optical blocker, detector, electrical delay circuit, lasers, collimator, and diffuser to emulate return optical pulses over a continuous range of azimuthal angles and discrete elevation angles, mimicking real-world scenarios for testing and simulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional lidar testers are used to simulate return optical pulses, then the system can provide basic echo signal emulation, but the testers are limited to supporting only discrete number of azimuthal angles and elevation angles, reducing simulation accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spinning mirror to dynamically redirect return optical pulses across a continuous range of azimuthal angles. The mirror rotates at controlled speeds to match the temporal characteristics of different azimuthal angles, enabling the system to emulate targets at any azimuthal angle within the lidar's field of view, transforming the static discrete-angle limitation into a dynamic continuous-angle capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the angular emulation by using the spinning mirror's rotation over time. Instead of requiring multiple fixed mirrors for each discrete angle, the system uses one spinning mirror that sweeps through all azimuthal angles temporally, adding the time dimension to achieve continuous angular coverage from what would otherwise be discrete spatial positions.
2Reliability
If conventional lidar testers emulate echo signals, then basic testing can be performed, but the system cannot accurately simulate complex driving environments with multiple objects having complicated reflection characteristics, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex task of emulating multiple targets with different reflection characteristics into individual controllable components. Each target's echo signal is processed separately through independent optical paths with adjustable delay circuits, allowing the system to simulate multiple objects with different distances, angles, and reflection properties by combining several simple segmented emissions rather than requiring one complex emission system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate optical components including spinning mirrors, stationary mirrors, and beam splitters that mediate between the laser source and the lidar sensor. These intermediaries enable complex signal routing and manipulation, allowing the system to create realistic multi-target scenarios by directing different processed echo signals through various optical paths to simulate different spatial and temporal characteristics.
3Reliability
If actual driving environments are used for testing, then real-world performance can be evaluated, but the testing process becomes time consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates controlled optical copies of real-world target echoes rather than requiring physical presence of actual targets. By capturing or calculating the reflection characteristics of targets and reproducing them as optical pulses with matched temporal and spatial properties, the system provides realistic test scenarios in a controlled environment, eliminating the need for time-consuming field tests while maintaining testing accuracy.
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 accurate and efficient simulation of lidar sensor environments, reducing the need for physical testing and improving the reliability of ADAS and autonomous driving systems by providing precise echo signal emulation.
Implementation Method 1
an optical blocker configured to partially reflect emitted optical pulses emitted by a TOF lidar sensor
Implementation Method 2
a detector configured to detect the partially reflected optical pulses, and to output corresponding electrical pulses
Implementation Method 3
at least one laser configured to reemit return optical pulses in response to the delayed electrical pulses
Implementation Method 4
a collimator configured to collimate the return optical pulses
Implementation Method 5
a diffuser configured to diffuse the collimated return optical pulses over a predetermined range of azimuthal return angles
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for emulating return optical pulses from at least one emulated target in response to a time of flight (TOF) lidar signal. The system includes an optical blocker configured to partially reflect or guide emitted optical pulses emitted by a TOF lidar sensor; a detector configured to detect the partially reflected or guided optical pulses, and to output corresponding electrical pulses; an electrical delay circuit configured to delay the electrical pulses to indicate distance to the at least one emulated target relative to the TOF lidar sensor; at least one laser configured to reemit return optical pulses in response to the delayed electrical pulses; a collimator configured to collimate the return optical pulses; and a diffuser configured to diffuse the collimated return optical pulses over a predetermined range of azimuthal angles toward the TOF lidar sensor.