Lidar Unit Mounting Element With Pre-Calibrated Stop Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lidar units for vehicles require time-consuming and costly adjustments to achieve high angular resolution, as the transmission and reception beams need to be precisely aligned, which is challenging and costly.
Innovation Solution
A lidar unit with a mounting element featuring pre-calibrated stop surfaces for the transmitter and receiver modules, allowing for automatic alignment during assembly, reducing the need for additional calibration and minimizing alignment errors to manufacturing tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the transmission and reception beams are precisely adjusted to achieve high angular resolution, then the measurement precision is improved, but the assembly time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter module and receiver module are pre-calibrated separately before assembly. The pre-calibration ensures that the modules are already optimized for their respective functions, eliminating the need for time-consuming post-assembly adjustments to achieve high angular resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with a fixture-based alignment system. The fixture includes alignment elements that automatically position the transmitter and receiver modules relative to each other, substituting the need for operator-performed mechanical adjustments
2Measurement precision
If the transmission and reception beams are precisely adjusted to achieve high angular resolution, then the measurement precision is improved, but the assembly cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate pre-calibrated modules (transmitter module and receiver module) that can be manufactured and calibrated independently. This segmentation allows for standardized production processes and reduces the need for expensive custom assembly operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive manual adjustment operations with a standardized fixture system. The fixture provides repeatable alignment through mechanical constraints, eliminating the need for skilled technicians to perform costly manual adjustments for each unit
3Ease of manufacture
If the transmitter module and receiver module are pre-calibrated and mounted on the mounting element, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting element serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for both modules, ensures precise alignment through integrated alignment elements, and maintains the calibrated relationship between transmitter and receiver. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate components
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a lidar unit (10), in particular a laser scanner, for laser-based distance measurement for a vehicle, with a transmitter module (12) that is designed to emit a laser beam, and a receiver module (14) that is designed to receive a reflection of the emitted laser beam, wherein the lidar unit (10) has a mounting element (16) for attaching the transmitter module (12) and the receiver module (14), the mounting element (16) and the transmitter module (12) comprise corresponding first stop surfaces (26, 28) for aligning the transmitter module (12) on the mounting element (16), the mounting element (16) and the receiver module (14) comprise corresponding second stop surfaces (32, 34) for aligning the receiver module (14) on the mounting element (16), the transmitter module (12) is pre-calibrated in relation to its first stop surface (26) and the receiver module (14) is pre-calibrated in relation its second stop surface (32). The invention also concerns a method for the assembly of a lidar unit (10), in particular a laser scanner, for laser-based distance measurement for a vehicle.