LiDAR Optical Element Damage Detection via Strain Gauge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-scanning LiDAR sensors face challenges in ensuring the integrity of optical elements, particularly diffusers, which can lead to undesired light emission if damaged, potentially affecting the accuracy of environmental mapping and vehicle control systems.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a strain gauge on the optical elements to monitor strain changes, enabling or disabling the light emitter based on the integrity of these elements, thereby preventing damage-induced light emission at undesired intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If optical elements are used to shape and direct light in LiDAR sensors, then light emission control is improved, but the risk of damage-induced harmful light emission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The strain gauge is installed on the optical element before operation to continuously monitor strain. This preliminary monitoring allows the system to detect damage early and take preventive action by disabling the light emitter before harmful light emission can occur, thus resolving the contradiction between light control capability and damage risk
Solution Approach 2:
The strain gauge provides real-time feedback on the optical element's structural integrity to the control circuit. When strain exceeds safe thresholds indicating damage, the feedback mechanism triggers the control circuit to disable the light emitter, thereby eliminating harmful light emission while preserving normal light shaping functionality
2Reliability
If strain monitoring is implemented on optical elements, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element essentially monitors itself through the strain gauge, which is integrated directly onto its surface. This self-monitoring capability provides reliable damage detection without requiring complex external monitoring systems, as the strain gauge leverages the optical element's own structural response to detect damage, thereby improving reliability with minimal added complexity
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
Ensures the reliability of LiDAR sensors by continuously monitoring optical element integrity, preventing damage-induced light emission and maintaining accurate environmental mapping and vehicle control operations.
Implementation Method 1
A strain gauge 18 is on the optical element 34, 36. The strain gauge 18 measures the strain of the optical element 34, 36
Data Source
AI summary
A LiDAR sensor includes an optical element having a light-shaping region and a light emitter aimed at the optical element. The optical element directs light from the light emitter into a field of illumination. A light detector has a field of view overlapping the field of illumination. A strain gauge is on the optical element. A method of operating the LiDAR sensor includes repeatedly measuring strain measurements of the optical element, determining that one of the strain measurements indicates that the optical element is damaged, and disabling the light emitter in response to the subsequent one of the strain measurements.