Lidar Transceiver Optics for Spatially Separated Tx/Rx Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LIDAR systems face challenges in aligning transmit and receive modes, particularly in bistatic transceivers, which complicates the spatial separation of these modes, leading to difficulties in optical component degradation and alignment issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing free space optical components external to the transmit and receive waveguides of a transceiver to spatially separate the transmit and receive modes, allowing for easy alignment with respective waveguides, thereby improving system efficiency and reducing component degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single optical element is used for both transmit and receive modes, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to range ambiguity and ghost targets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into separate transmit and receive optical elements. The transmit optical element transmits electromagnetic energy toward the target, while the receive optical element receives reflected energy. This segmentation eliminates the range ambiguity and ghost targets that occur when a single optical element is used for both functions, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining reasonable device complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial light modulator as an intermediary component that dynamically controls the optical path. This intermediary enables the system to switch between transmit and receive modes by manipulating the phase and amplitude of electromagnetic waves, allowing separate optical elements to be effectively coordinated without requiring complete physical isolation, thus balancing device complexity and measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If transmit and receive modes use different optical elements, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the optical system where certain components serve multiple functions. The spatial light modulator, for example, operates in both transmit and receive modes to control the optical path. The processor also handles both signal generation for transmission and signal processing for reception. This multi-functionality reduces the need for completely separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining the precision benefits of separate transmit and receive optical elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the transmit and receive optical paths within a shared optical system framework. Both optical elements operate within the same physical housing and coordinate through the spatial light modulator. This merging approach allows the system to benefit from separate specialized optical elements for precision while avoiding the complexity of entirely independent systems, achieving a balanced integration that manages device complexity.
3Productivity
If continuous electromagnetic transmission is used, then productivity is improved, but harmful factors increase due to target saturation and system overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic pulsed transmission of electromagnetic energy instead of continuous transmission. The system transmits energy in discrete pulses with specific timing intervals, allowing the target and system to reset between pulses. This periodic action maintains high productivity by enabling rapid sequential scanning while preventing target saturation and system overload that would occur with continuous high-power transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves continuous scanning productivity through rapid sequential pulsing rather than continuous wave transmission. By using high-duty-cycle pulsed transmission with the spatial light modulator coordinating between transmit and receive modes, the system maintains continuous operational flow and scanning capability while keeping individual pulse energies at levels that prevent target saturation, thus maintaining productivity without generating harmful factors.
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
This configuration enhances the alignment process, reduces optical component degradation, and improves the performance of LIDAR systems by ensuring effective separation of transmit and receive modes, particularly in bistatic transceivers.
Implementation Method 1
the optical element to transmit electromagnetic energy and receive reflected electromagnetic energy
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 1D
AI summary
An apparatus includes a transceiver and one or more optics. The transceiver is configured to transmit a transmit signal from a laser source in a transmission mode and to receive a return signal reflected by an object in a receive mode. The one or more optics are configured to spatially separate the transmission mode and the receive mode by optically changing a distance between the transmit signal and the return signal.