Multibeam Lidar Beam Rotator for Horizontal Scan Line Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LIDAR systems face challenges in accurately projecting laser light along horizontal scan lines when using multibeam laser light sources with spinning deflectors, particularly when the laser light source does not rotate with the deflector, leading to inconsistencies in scanning a 360-degree field of view.
Innovation Solution
A LIDAR system configuration that includes a light source generating a plurality of laser beams, a rotatable deflector rotating about a scanning axis, and a beam rotator to maintain the multibeam array at a fixed orientation relative to the optical axis, ensuring consistent projection of laser beams across the field of view, allowing for effective 360-degree scanning with horizontally oriented scan lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a multibeam laser light source is used with a spinning deflector, then the scanning speed and coverage area are improved, but the accuracy of projecting laser light along horizontal scan lines deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the laser beam into multiple individual beams (e.g., 7 beams) arranged in a specific pattern. Each beam can be independently controlled and tracked by the sensor array, allowing the system to maintain precision while achieving rapid 360-degree scanning through the spinning deflector.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the scanning system by using multiple beams arranged in a vertical pattern rather than a single horizontal beam. This vertical arrangement of multibeam arrays, combined with the spinning deflector, enables simultaneous coverage of multiple angular positions, improving scanning speed while maintaining horizontal scan line accuracy through proper beam orientation.
2Device complexity
If the laser light source does not rotate with the deflector, then the system complexity is reduced, but the consistency of scanning across the field of view deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotation of the laser source with an optical solution. The stationary multibeam laser source projects beams through the spinning deflector, and the sensor array electronically tracks and compensates for the deflector's rotation, eliminating the need for mechanical synchronization while maintaining scanning consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The spinning deflector acts as an intermediary between the stationary laser source and the rotating field of view. The deflector redirects the stationary beams to sweep across the 360-degree environment, while the sensor array serves as another intermediary to capture and process the reflected light, maintaining consistent scanning without requiring the source to rotate.
3Area of stationary object
If a spinning deflector is used to achieve 360-degree FOV coverage, then the field of view coverage is improved, but the reliability of horizontal scan line projection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is segmented into multiple independently controllable detectors arranged in an array. Each detector can be independently activated and positioned to receive light from specific angular positions, allowing the system to reliably reconstruct horizontal scan lines from the multibeam data even as the deflector spins rapidly to cover 360 degrees.
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 enables reliable and consistent scanning of a 360-degree field of view with horizontally oriented scan lines, improving the accuracy and efficiency of LIDAR systems in detecting objects and generating point cloud models.
Implementation Method 1
A light source is configured to generate a plurality of laser beams... at least one sensor configured to receive, via the rotatable deflector and the beam rotator, laser light resulting from one or more of the plurality of laser beams reflected from at least one object in the field of view
Data Source
AI summary
A LIDAR system includes a light source configured to generate a plurality of laser beams arranged in a beam pattern, a rotatable deflector configured to rotate about a scanning axis, a beam rotator configured to cause rotation of the beam pattern of the plurality of laser beams relative to the scanning axis of the rotatable deflector and at least one sensor configured to receive, via the rotatable deflector and the beam rotator, laser light resulting from one or more of the plurality of laser beams reflected from at least one object in the field of view of the LIDAR system wherein the multibeam array is maintained at a substantially fixed orientation with respect to the optical axis.