Lidar Transmission Unit Optical Homogenizer Beam Shaping
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Solution Overview
Problem
LIDAR sensors face limitations in range due to restricted radiated power for eye safety, relying on error-prone object detection methods to adjust power, which are costly and complex.
Innovation Solution
A transmission unit with an optical homogenizer using lens arrays with cylindrical microlenses to achieve a flat intensity distribution in electromagnetic beams, increasing radiated power while ensuring eye safety without complex control mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If stronger beam sources are used to increase the range of the LIDAR sensor, then the maximum range is improved, but the radiated power exceeds the eye safety limit values
Solution Approach 1:
The beam source is divided into multiple independent emitters arranged in an array, where each emitter generates a separate beam. This segmentation allows the total radiated power to be increased by activating more emitters while keeping the power density from each individual emitter below eye safety limits, thus enabling extended range without exceeding safety thresholds.
Solution Approach 2:
Different emitters in the array are activated selectively based on the local requirements of the scanning area. The control unit activates only the necessary number of emitters to achieve the desired range for each specific scanning condition, optimizing the balance between range and eye safety compliance dynamically.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If active object detection methods are used to adjust radiated power, then eye safety is maintained, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system inherently ensures eye safety through its physical design rather than requiring external detection and control algorithms. By structuring the beam source as an array of independent emitters and controlling the total activated emitters based on fixed scanning area requirements, the system self-regulates radiated power to comply with eye safety limits without complex active detection mechanisms.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If complex detection algorithms and control methods are implemented to set radiated power, then eye safety is ensured, but the technical cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam source is segmented into multiple independent emitters that can be individually controlled. This segmentation enables simple binary control (on/off) of each emitter based on pre-defined scanning area requirements, eliminating the need for complex algorithms and reducing technical cost while ensuring eye safety compliance through straightforward hardware control.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the radiated power is restricted to comply with eye safety limits, then eye safety is ensured, but the range of the LIDAR sensor is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual beam emitters are merged into a single combined beam output by optically superimposing their beams in the scanning area. This merging allows the system to achieve high total radiated power for extended range while each individual emitter remains below eye safety limits, thus resolving the contradiction between range and safety compliance.
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 provides a homogeneous beam distribution, increasing the LIDAR sensor's range while maintaining eye safety without the need for complex detection algorithms, thus simplifying the system and reducing errors.
Implementation Method 1
the transmission unit has an optical homogenizer which is arranged in a beam path of the generated beams in front of or behind the transmission optics and has at least one lens array
Implementation Method 2
the optical homogenizer includes two lens arrays spaced apart from each other and having a multiplicity of cylindrical microlenses, the cylindrical microlenses being each arranged on a surface of the lens arrays
Implementation Method 3
the cylindrical microlenses being each arranged on a surface of the lens arrays. Preferably image planes of the cylindrical microlenses are arranged on a focal plane within a spacing between the lens arrays
Data Source
AI summary
A transmission unit of a LIDAR device. The transmission unit includes at least one beam source for generating electromagnetic beams having a linear or rectangular cross section, and transmission optics. The transmission unit has an optical homogenizer which is arranged in a beam path of the generated beams in front of or behind the transmission optics and has at least one lens array. A LIDAR device is also described.