Coherent Lidar Optical Antenna Array Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LIDAR systems rely on mechanical moving parts for beam steering, making them bulky, costly, and unreliable for applications like autonomous vehicles, and they face challenges in reducing complexity and improving scan pattern efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A solid-state LIDAR system with a scalable and switchable optical antenna array architecture that uses an optical switch to selectively provide a modulated laser signal to optical antenna arrays, enabling addressable field of view scanning and concurrent operation of optical antennas for improved resolution and object recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical moving parts are used for beam steering, then beam steering capability is achieved, but device complexity, size, and reliability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical beam steering components with an optical antenna array system that uses optical switching and phased array techniques to achieve beam steering electronically, eliminating bulky mechanical moving parts while maintaining steering capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the beam steering function into multiple optical antennas arranged in an array, where each antenna can be independently controlled through optical switching, allowing electronic beam steering without mechanical movement
2Ease of operation
If mechanical moving parts are used for beam steering, then beam steering capability is achieved, but cost and reliability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical moving parts by using an all-optical antenna array system with optical switches and phased array processing, significantly improving reliability by removing components subject to mechanical wear and failure
3Productivity
If optical antenna arrays are dynamically addressed, then field of view scanning efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic addressing of optical antenna arrays through optical switching that can rapidly reconfigure which antennas are active, enabling efficient electronic scanning patterns without mechanical movement
Solution Approach 2:
The optical switching system serves multiple functions including beam steering, field of view selection, and antenna array configuration, reducing the need for separate dedicated components for each function
4Measurement precision
If conventional LIDAR systems are designed, then basic sensing capability is achieved, but form factor and cost are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical beam steering systems with a compact optical antenna array that achieves the same sensing capability through electronic control, significantly reducing system form factor while maintaining measurement precision
Data Source
AI summary
A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transceiver includes optical antenna arrays and an optical switch. Some of the optical antenna arrays include a number of optical antennas and an optical splitter coupled to the optical antennas. The optical splitter may include a number of passive optical splitters. The optical splitter provides a portion of an input signal to the optical antennas. The optical switch is configured to selectively provide the input signal to at least one of the plurality of optical antenna arrays. The optical switch enables addressable field of view scanning by selectively providing the input signal to the plurality of antenna arrays, one array at a time.