Multi-clad Fiber LiDAR Sensor Parallax Error Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LiDAR sensors face challenges with parallax errors due to separate optical paths for transmitting and receiving laser pulses, leading to reduced signal strength and performance, especially for objects near the sensor, and require complex alignment and additional components.
Innovation Solution
The use of multi-clad optical fibers with an integrated optical directing device that directs both transmitted and reflected optical rays through a single path, eliminating the need for separate lenses and reducing alignment complexities, and incorporating optical circulators to enhance detection efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate optical paths with dedicated lenses are used for transmitting and receiving laser pulses, then the LiDAR sensor can collect data about objects, but parallax errors occur and signal strength is reduced especially for objects near the sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the transmitting and receiving optical paths into a single integrated optical fiber, eliminating the need for separate lenses and optical components. The multi-clad fiber structure allows the same fiber to both transmit outgoing laser pulses and receive reflected pulses, thereby eliminating parallax errors and reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-clad optical fiber serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the transmitting medium for outgoing laser pulses and the receiving medium for reflected pulses. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated optical paths and components, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and device complexity.
2Reliability
If separate optical paths with dedicated lenses are used for transmitting and receiving laser pulses, then the LiDAR sensor can function, but additional components and complex alignment are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the transmitting and receiving functions into a single multi-clad optical fiber, eliminating multiple separate components such as transmitting and receiving lenses. This reduction in component count directly addresses the contradiction by maintaining reliable signal transmission while significantly reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from the traditional LiDAR optical system. By removing separate transmitting and receiving optical paths and their associated lenses, the design achieves reliable signal strength with fewer components, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If separate optical paths with dedicated lenses are used for transmitting and receiving laser pulses, then the LiDAR sensor can measure reflected light, but alignment is complex and additional components are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the transmitting and receiving optical functions into a single multi-clad fiber, eliminating the need for complex alignment between separate transmitting and receiving optical paths. This single-integration approach directly improves ease of operation while reducing the optical component arrangement complexity.
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 solution eliminates parallax errors, simplifies the design and alignment of LiDAR sensors, reduces costs, and improves performance by ensuring efficient coupling of light rays, even in the presence of vibrations and shocks, while maintaining accurate distance and reflectance measurements.
Implementation Method 1
The multi-clad fiber is arranged to receive optical rays transmitted from at least one light source and route transmitted optical rays on an optical path leading to the optical directing device
Implementation Method 2
The optical directing device is configured both to direct the routed transmitted rays on an optical path leading to a target to be sensed and direct reflected optical rays from the target on an optical path leading to the optical fiber
Implementation Method 3
The fiber is further configured to receive reflected optical rays and route the reflected optical rays for receiving by at least one detector
Implementation Method 4
The multi-clad fiber is arranged to receive optical rays transmitted from at least one light source
Implementation Method 5
The reflected pulse is detected by a photoelectric transducer (detector), typically an avalanche photodiode
Data Source
AI summary
A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor includes a single-mode fiber positioned to receive the outputted light from a laser. The LiDAR also includes an optical circulator, a multi-clad fiber, a first optical detector positioned to receive reflected light from an inner cladding of the multi-clad fiber, and a second optical detector positioned to receive the reflected light from a core of the multi-clad fiber.