Lidar Rotatable Prism Variable Thickness Ring Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LIDAR systems face challenges in maintaining accurate and uniform sampling density due to distortions caused by the inclined arrangement of reflecting surfaces, leading to variations in output beam spread across the field of view.
Innovation Solution
A LIDAR system with a rotatable scanning element featuring a reflective prism with inclined faces and a ring element with a variable angle interior edge face, allowing for adjustable angles of incidence to minimize scan distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a rotating prism with inclined faces is used for periphery scanning, then the field of view coverage is improved, but the sampling density uniformity deteriorates due to distortion from the inclined arrangement of reflecting surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the angle of the reflecting surfaces along the scan path. Specifically, the reflecting surfaces are arranged with different inclinations at different positions to compensate for the distortion caused by the rotating prism, ensuring uniform sampling density across the entire field of view while maintaining comprehensive coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the reflecting surfaces, specifically the inclination angles, to optimize beam distribution. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves uniform angular spacing of output beams across the field of view, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and sampling uniformity
2Area of stationary object
If the relative angle between emitter and reflecting surface varies significantly across field of view, then the scanning coverage is improved, but beam regularity deteriorates causing variations in output beam spread
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric arrangement of the reflecting surfaces relative to the emitter. The reflecting surfaces are positioned at specific non-uniform angles to compensate for the asymmetric distortion introduced by the rotating prism, maintaining beam regularity while achieving comprehensive scanning coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-calculating and pre-positioning the reflecting surfaces at specific angles to counteract the distortion that would otherwise occur during scanning. This preemptive arrangement ensures that beams remain regular and uniformly spaced across the entire field of view
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 system achieves improved uniformity in sampling density and reduced scan distortion by adjusting the ray spread of output beams, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of object detection in autonomous vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a rotating scanning element configured for receiving the at least one light beam and scanning the at least one light beam out of the system by rotating about an axis of rotation. The rotatable scanning element includes a reflective prism having at least four faces inclined relative to the axis of rotation
Implementation Method 2
a ring element fixedly connected to the reflective prism, the ring element having an interior edge face extending around the axis of rotation generally in a plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation, the interior edge face having a variable angle about the axis of rotation, a normal of the interior edge face varying about the axis of rotation from perpendicular to skewed relative to the axis of rotation, the emitter, the detector, and the rotatable scanning element being arranged such that the at least one light beam is incident on the interior edge face of the ring element and subsequently on one face of the at least four faces of the reflective prism
Data Source
AI summary
A LIDAR system including an emitter configured to emit at least one light beam; a detector configured for receiving light reflected from surrounding objects; and a rotatable scanning element including a reflective prism having at least four faces inclined relative to the axis of rotation, and a transmission element connected to the reflective prism, the transmission element having an exterior edge portion extending around the axis of rotation generally in a plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation, the edge portion having a variable thickness about the axis of rotation, the emitter, the detector, and the rotatable scanning element being arranged such that the light beam is incident on and refracted by the transmission element and subsequently incident on one face of the at least four faces of the reflective prism, an angle of incidence of the beam on the face depending on the variable thickness of the transmission element.