Radar-LiDAR Detecting Module With Mirror-Overlapped Field of View
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Solution Overview
Problem
LiDAR detection capability decreases during bad weather conditions such as nighttime, backlight, dense fog, rain, and snowfall, and existing systems do not effectively complement radar detection capabilities during steering operations.
Innovation Solution
A detecting module that integrates a radar unit and LiDAR unit with a mirror to overlap their fields of view, allowing radar waves to be transmitted through and laser beams to be reflected by the mirror, ensuring high detection accuracy and environmental resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If LiDAR is used for obstacle detection, then detection accuracy for position and shape is improved, but detection capability decreases during bad weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines LiDAR and radar units into a single detecting module with overlapping fields of view. The LiDAR provides high-precision position and shape detection under normal conditions, while the radar provides reliable detection during bad weather conditions such as dense fog, rain, and snowfall when LiDAR performance deteriorates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameters by using different physical principles for different conditions: LiDAR uses light reflection for high-precision measurement under normal conditions, while radar uses electromagnetic wave reflection for reliable detection in bad weather conditions, effectively adapting the detection method to environmental parameters.
2Reliability
If radar unit is placed in front of the lamp device, then environmental resistance performance is improved, but visibility of the radar unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light guide body as an intermediary component placed in front of the radar unit. This light guide body hides the presence of the radar unit from external view while allowing radar waves to pass through, thus maintaining environmental resistance performance while reducing visibility of the radar components.
3Ease of manufacture
If LiDAR and radar units are integrated with separate fields of view, then each sensor can be optimized independently, but detection coverage during steering operations is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fields of view of LiDAR and radar units by positioning them such that their detection areas overlap. This allows the system to maintain independent optimization of each sensor while achieving comprehensive detection coverage during steering operations, as the overlapping fields ensure that at least one sensor can detect obstacles in any given direction.
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
Maintains high detection capability for obstacles regardless of environmental conditions and complements LiDAR detection during steering operations without expanding the system size.
Implementation Method 1
a mirror 25 having a reflective surface 25A, placed in a radiation direction of the radar waves, and configured to transmit the radar waves from a back side toward the front
Implementation Method 2
an optical detection unit configured to detect the obstacle by receiving light from the obstacle in front reflected by the reflective surface of the mirror
Data Source
AI summary
A detecting module (20) includes a radar unit (21) configured to detect an obstacle by radiating radar waves and receiving reflected waves from the obstacle, a mirror (25) having a reflective surface (25A), placed in a radiation direction of the radar waves, and configured to transmit the radar waves from a back side toward the front, and an optical detection unit (23) configured to detect the obstacle by receiving light from the obstacle in front reflected by the reflective surface of the mirror. The radar unit (21), the mirror (25), and the optical detection unit (23) are placed such that a field of view of the radar unit and a field of view of the optical detection unit overlap or do not overlap with each other.