LiDAR Receiver Alignment Apparatus for Compact Optical Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
LiDAR sensors used in vehicles face challenges with optical alignment distortion due to vibration and shock, which degrades sensing precision, and require a wider space to check the viewing angle, making it difficult to maintain alignment and efficiency in a compact form.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for manufacturing a LiDAR receiver that optically aligns a receiver board and a barrel, allowing for constant optical alignment and viewing angle checking in a small space, using a base plate with a light source unit and receiver alignment unit, including alignment members to control the movement and rotation of light-emitting modules and the receiver board, ensuring the light reaches the detection element perpendicular to it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a LiDAR sensor uses a wide viewing angle to collect more terrain information, then the sensing coverage and resolution are improved, but the space required for optical alignment checking increases, making it difficult to maintain compact form
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rotatable alignment plate that can rotate about a vertical axis, adding a rotational degree of freedom to the alignment checking process. This allows the viewing angle to be adjusted without increasing the horizontal footprint of the device, effectively checking wide viewing angles within a compact space by utilizing the vertical rotation dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment plate is designed to be rotatable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment of the viewing angle during alignment checking. This dynamic capability enables the system to accommodate wide viewing angles while maintaining a compact form factor, as the rotation occurs in place without requiring additional linear space.
2Volume of moving object
If the LiDAR sensor is miniaturized to reduce air resistance during vehicle driving, then the aerodynamic performance is improved, but the optical alignment may be distorted due to vibration and shock
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs optical alignment checking before the LiDAR sensor is installed in the vehicle. The alignment plate is rotated to various angles and positions to verify that the optical components (laser emitter, receiver board, lens) are properly aligned. This preliminary alignment verification ensures that the compact sensor will maintain reliable optical alignment even when subjected to vibration and shock during vehicle operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a light detection element to detect whether light from the laser emitter properly reaches the receiver board through the lens at various alignment angles. This feedback mechanism allows for verification and adjustment of optical alignment before final installation, ensuring reliability in the miniaturized sensor design.
3Volume of moving object
If the optical components are tightly integrated to maintain compact form, then the device size is reduced, but the difficulty of aligning and assembling the components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment plate is designed to be rotatable and adjustable, providing dynamic alignment capabilities during the manufacturing process. This allows technicians to easily adjust the relative positions of optical components (laser emitter, receiver board, lens) to achieve proper alignment before securing them in their final positions, thereby simplifying the assembly of tightly integrated compact components.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable alignment plate serves as an intermediary mechanism that facilitates the alignment process. By providing a controlled rotation mechanism, it enables precise adjustment of component positions during assembly without requiring complex alignment tools or procedures, thus easing the manufacturing of compact integrated designs.
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 solution maintains optical alignment and allows for efficient viewing angle checking in a compact form, enhancing the precision and resolution of LiDAR sensors by ensuring the light detection elements are correctly aligned and functional even in a minimized space.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting element configured to radiate light forward
Implementation Method 2
a lens disposed at one side of the barrel, the other side of the barrel provided with the light detection element aligned with a movement path of the light
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an apparatus for manufacturing a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) receiver and a method of manufacturing a LiDAR receiver. In the apparatus for manufacturing a LiDAR receiver according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a receiver board is coupled integrally to a barrel having one side provided with a lens after the receiver board having one side on which a light detection element is mounted is aligned with the other side of the barrel, and the apparatus includes a base plate having a plate shape, a light source unit, and a receiver alignment unit, wherein the light source unit may include a light-emitting module and a light-emitting module fixing member, and the receiver alignment unit may include an alignment plate having a plate shape, a barrel fixing member, a receiver board fixing member, and a receiver board alignment member.