Optical Ranging Device With Overlapping Laser Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ranging techniques using multiple laser light sources arranged in the sub-scanning direction face challenges in eliminating gaps between light emitting surfaces, which can lead to incomplete detection of objects in these gaps or significant delays in detection.
Innovation Solution
The optical ranging device employs a semiconductor laser element with light emitting regions arranged such that they are separated in the second direction but abut or partially overlap in the first direction, coupled with a light receiving section featuring a plurality of light receiving elements aligned to match the light emitting regions, ensuring continuous coverage without gaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple laser light sources are arranged in the sub-scanning direction, then the scanning coverage is improved, but gaps appear between light emitting surfaces causing incomplete detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from arranging light emitting regions in one dimension (sub-scanning direction only) to a two-dimensional arrangement where regions are distributed across both the sub-scanning direction and the main scanning direction. This dimensional expansion allows overlapping coverage areas that eliminate gaps while maintaining comprehensive detection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The light emitting surface is divided into multiple discrete light emitting regions arranged in a grid-like pattern across two directions. This segmentation allows each region to cover a specific area while adjacent regions provide overlapping coverage, ensuring no gaps in detection and improving both coverage area and detection reliability.
2Reliability
If multiple laser light sources are arranged to eliminate gaps, then detection completeness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light emitting regions are merged into a single integrated light emitting surface structure. Although the regions are distributed across two directions, they function as part of a unified system controlled by a single semiconductor laser element, reducing control complexity while achieving gap-free coverage through the coordinated emission of multiple regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The semiconductor laser element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it generates laser light that is distributed across multiple light emitting regions, enabling comprehensive area coverage and complete detection. This multi-functionality allows a single component to achieve what would otherwise require multiple independent systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Productivity
If the light emitting region is elongated in the first direction, then the scanning efficiency is improved, but the coverage in the second direction is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for the reduced coverage in the second direction caused by elongating light emitting regions in the first direction by introducing a second dimension of arrangement. Multiple elongated regions are distributed across the sub-scanning direction, creating a two-dimensional coverage pattern that maintains both scanning efficiency and comprehensive area coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The light emitting surface is segmented into multiple elongated regions arranged in a grid pattern. Each segment maintains the elongated shape for efficient scanning in the main scanning direction, while the collection of segments across the sub-scanning direction ensures complete coverage in the second direction, achieving both goals simultaneously.
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 allows for continuous and efficient ranging over a large two-dimensional area, ensuring complete detection of objects without gaps or significant delays, even when the scanning section is limited to scanning in a single direction.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting section (40) provided with a semiconductor laser element (41)
Implementation Method 2
a light receiving section (60) that detects reflected light of the laser light emitted from the light emitting section (40)
Implementation Method 3
a measuring section (100) that measures a distance to an object based on a time from emission of the light from the light emitting section (40) to reception of the light by the light receiving section (60)
Data Source
AI summary
An optical ranging device includes a light emitting section provided with a semiconductor laser element having a light emitting region whose length in a first direction is more than that in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The device measures the distance to an object based on the time from light emission from the light emitting section to reception of the light by a light receiving section. A plurality of light emitting regions may be provided in the light emitting section such that they are separated in the second direction and abut or partially overlap each other in the first direction so that the light emitting regions are continuous in the first direction.