Optical Attenuator Control for Balanced LIDAR LO Beam Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
LIDAR systems face challenges in maintaining balanced power levels among multiple local oscillator beams due to variations in optics, which affect digital signal processing, particularly in long-range applications where amplified beams exacerbate power differences.
Innovation Solution
Implementing optical attenuators, such as liquid crystal plates and polarizers, to adjust beam polarization and induce transmission loss, ensuring balanced power levels through closed-loop control based on feedback, using devices like LCOS or MEMS for precise beam power equalization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If laser beams are amplified to maximal available power level for long-range scanning, then scanning range is improved, but power differences among local oscillator beams become more problematic for signal processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the polarization state of individual laser beams using wave plates and variable optical attenuators. By changing the polarization angle parameter of each beam independently, the system equalizes the power levels of local oscillator beams derived from differently coated optics, thereby resolving the power balance issue while maintaining long-range scanning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by monitoring the power levels of multiple local oscillator beams and dynamically adjusting the polarization and attenuation of each beam. This closed-loop approach ensures that despite variations in optics coatings and amplification, the resulting LO beams have balanced power levels suitable for digital signal processing
2Adaptability or versatility
If different optics with different coatings are used for each laser beam, then beam transmission characteristics are optimized, but local oscillator beams have different power levels impacting digital signal processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing individual polarization control elements (wave plates and variable optical attenuators) for each laser beam path. Each beam can be independently adjusted to compensate for its specific optics coating characteristics, ensuring that despite local variations in transmission properties, all resulting local oscillator beams have consistent power levels
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the polarization parameter of each beam independently through wave plates, the system compensates for differences in optics coatings. This allows each beam to be optimized for its specific transmission characteristics while maintaining overall power consistency among all local oscillator beams
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
Achieves balanced power levels among local oscillator beams, improving digital signal processing accuracy and preventing incorrect point detection in LIDAR systems, especially in long-range scenarios without altering existing optical components.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one optical attenuator is to receive a controlled voltage to adjust a polarization of at least one of the first beam or the second beam to a first polarization
Implementation Method 2
the light transmission medium may include a pixelate thin liquid crystal (LC) plate. The LC plate may adjust the polarization of the first beam or the second beam using an optical retardation procedure that rotates polarizations of one or more portions of the first or the second beam
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure provide a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system including an optical source to transmit at least a first beam and a second beam toward a target, via one or more optics, the first beam transmitted at a first original power level and the second beam transmitted at a second original power level. The LIDAR system further includes at least one optical attenuator to receive each of the first and the second beams disposed between the optical source and the one or more optics, wherein the at least one optical attenuator is to receive a controlled input to adjust a polarization of at least one of the first beam or the second beam to a first polarization. The LIDAR system further includes an optical receiver to receive at least a respective portion of the first beam and the second beam.