LIDAR Rotating Platform Magnetic Tracking for Contamination Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing LIDAR systems face inaccuracies in determining the rotation of a rotating platform due to contamination issues in optical components used for tracking rotation, leading to suboptimal distance information.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing a combination of magnets and magnetic field sensors to track the rotation of a rotating platform within a LIDAR system, which is less susceptible to contamination, allowing for precise determination of the rotating platform's position and operational parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If optical components (light emitter and photodetector) are used to track rotation, then rotation information can be obtained, but contaminants may enter the optical elements and hinder detection accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation tracking accuracyVSAvoidcontamination of optical elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the optical tracking system (light emitter and photodetector) with a magnetic field-based tracking system using magnets and magnetic sensors. This substitution eliminates the vulnerability to optical contamination while maintaining the ability to track rotation position and determine operational parameters of the rotating platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces magnetic fields as an intermediary medium for tracking rotation. Instead of using light that can be blocked by contaminants, the system uses magnetic fields generated by magnets attached to the rotating platform, which are detected by magnetic sensors on the stationary platform. This intermediary approach allows rotation tracking without direct line-of-sight requirements and resistance to environmental contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If optical components are used for rotation tracking, then direction information can be determined, but the system becomes susceptible to inaccurate distance information due to contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirection information accuracyVSAvoiddistance information accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the optical detection system with a magnetic field detection system to determine the position of the rotating platform. This substitution ensures that direction information is obtained through magnetic field measurements that are not affected by optical contamination, thereby maintaining reliable distance information calculation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If magnets and magnetic field sensors are used to track rotation, then contamination resistance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination resistanceVSAvoidmagnetic tracking system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the tracking function from the optical domain and implements it in the magnetic domain. By placing magnets on the rotating platform and magnetic sensors on the stationary platform, the system separates the rotating and stationary components' tracking functions, achieving contamination resistance while maintaining manageable system complexity through functional decomposition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The magnetic field sensor approach provides accurate and reliable tracking of the rotating platform's position and operational parameters, enhancing the LIDAR system's accuracy and functionality, especially in environments prone to contamination.

Implementation Method 1

a magnet is provided on the rotating platform and arranged to generate a magnetic field. A magnetic field sensor is provided on the stationary platform and arranged to detect the magnetic field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS20250224494A1Systems and methods for tracking a position of a rotating platform of a lidar system

Publication Date: 2025.07.10 LG INNOTEK CO LTD

AI summary

A LIDAR assembly including a first portion and a second portion configured to rotate relative to one another, a first magnet located on the second portion and arranged with a north pole of the first magnet facing a first radial direction, a second magnet located on the second portion and arranged with a south pole of the second magnet facing the first radial direction, wherein the first magnet and second magnet are adjacent, a first sensor located on the first portion, wherein the first sensor is further configured to measure a first magnetic field of the first magnet and a second magnetic field of the second magnet as the first portion and second portion rotate relative to one another, wherein the first magnetic field measurement and second magnetic field measurement produce a sine wave output by the first sensor, memory that stores computer-executable instructions, and a processor configured to access the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to calculate a position of the first sensor relative to the second portion based on a zero-crossing data point in the sine wave output between the first magnetic field measurement and the second magnetic field measurement.