Lidar MEMS Angle Adjustment via Collimating Lens Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
LIDAR systems face challenges in achieving a flexible and adjustable field of view due to limitations in available beam deflection components, such as MEMS mirrors, which restrict the field of view to specific angles, and additional components like liquid crystal polarization gratings, which further limit the range.
Innovation Solution
An optical arrangement decouples the field of view from the beam deflection area by strategically placing a beam deflection component and a collimating lens relative to a focal point, allowing for varying deflection angles and exit angles through the collimating lens, enabling a wider range of field of view adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If MEMS mirrors are used for beam deflection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the field of view is restricted to specific deflection angles
Solution Approach 1:
A collimating lens is introduced as an intermediary component between the MEMS mirror and the final optical path. This lens mediates the relationship between the fixed deflection angles of the MEMS mirror and the desired variable field of view, enabling the system to achieve both low complexity and high adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the optical parameters by varying the distance between the collimating lens and the focal point of the focusing arrangement. By adjusting this distance, the field of view can be dynamically modified without changing the MEMS mirror itself, thus maintaining device simplicity while achieving versatility
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional optical beam deflection components are used to adjust field of view, then the field of view can be modified, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collimating lens serves multiple functions: it collimates the light from the focal point, enables field of view adjustment, and decouples the beam deflection component operation from the field of view. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional specialized components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces dynamic adjustability by allowing the collimating lens to be positioned at different distances from the focal point. This dynamic parameter adjustment enables continuous field of view modification without adding discrete mechanical components, achieving versatility through controlled variation rather than additional hardware
3Device complexity
If the beam deflection component is placed close to the focal point, then the device complexity is reduced, but the field of view adjustment range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The solution moves the adjustment mechanism from the angular dimension (beam deflection angle) to the spatial dimension (distance between collimating lens and focal point). By adjusting the position along the optical axis rather than changing deflection angles, the system expands the field of view range while keeping the beam deflection component simple and close to the focal point
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 solution allows for a more flexible and simple adjustment of the field of view in LIDAR systems, increasing the available time for measurements and potentially enhancing the frame rate or range of the system by decoupling the beam deflection component's operation from the field of view, thus overcoming the limitations of existing components.
Implementation Method 1
a collimating lens arranged downstream of the beam deflection component at a second distance from the focal point of the focusing arrangement, wherein the second distance corresponds to a focal length of the collimating lens, and wherein the collimating lens is arranged in such a way that it parallelizes (in other words, collimates) the light from the focal point of the focusing arrangement
Implementation Method 2
a beam deflection component arranged downstream of the focusing arrangement at a first distance from the focal point of the focusing arrangement, wherein the beam deflection component is configured to deflect the light at a deflection angle (also referred to as a deflecting angle) onto a field of view
Data Source
AI summary
According to various embodiments, an optical arrangement (200) for a LIDAR system can have: a focusing arrangement (202) which is configured in such a way that it focuses light onto a focal point (214) of the focusing arrangement (202); a beam deflection component (204) arranged downstream of the focusing arrangement (202) at a first distance (216) from the focal point (214) of the focusing arrangement (202), wherein the beam deflection component (204) is configured to deflect the light at a deflection angle onto a field of view (220); and a collimating lens (206) arranged downstream of the beam deflection component (204) at a second distance (218) from the focal point (214) of the focusing arrangement (202), wherein the second distance (218) corresponds to a focal length of the collimating lens (206), and wherein the collimating lens (206) is configured to parallelize the light from the focal point (214).