Ranging Device Parallel Scanning Interference Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

LIDAR devices with overlapping ranging areas face erroneous distance measurements due to interference between laser light passage areas, leading to incorrect object detection.

Innovation Solution

A ranging device with multiple units and a control unit that synchronizes the scanning processes to prevent interference by adjusting the start timing and angular velocities of each unit, ensuring non-overlapping passage areas and diverse scan timing to avoid erroneous measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple ranging units perform ranging processing in parallel with overlapping ranging areas, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to interference between laser light passage areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveranging processing speedVSAvoiddistance measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit controls each ranging unit to perform ranging processing in different time periods, creating a periodic scanning pattern where units take turns scanning different regions. This temporal separation eliminates interference between laser light passage areas while maintaining parallel processing capability across multiple units, thus preserving measurement precision while improving overall productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the scanning parameters of each ranging unit based on real-time conditions and positional relationships. By making the scanning behavior adaptive and variable rather than static and uniform, the system can coordinate multiple units to avoid interference patterns while maintaining efficient parallel operation in overlapping ranging areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If ranging units are arranged with overlapping ranging areas to cover wider area, then adaptability is improved, but harmful factors increase due to laser light interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveranging area coverageVSAvoidlaser light interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit acts as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple ranging units, managing their scanning operations to prevent interference. By introducing this central coordination layer, the system can maintain overlapping ranging area coverage for enhanced adaptability while the intermediary actively prevents harmful interference by timing and positioning scans appropriately

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit pre-calculates and pre-arranges the scanning paths and timing of each ranging unit based on their positional relationships before scanning begins. This preliminary coordination ensures that laser light passage areas do not interfere with each other while maintaining comprehensive area coverage, preventing harmful effects before they occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Prevents erroneous distance measurements by ensuring non-interfering laser light passage areas and allows for efficient parallel processing of overlapping ranging areas, enhancing object detection accuracy and speed.

Implementation Method 1

a deflection member that deflects laser light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

measures a distance to an object located in the emission azimuth based on reflected light received from the same azimuth as the emission azimuth

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight time of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS20230152468A1Ranging device

Publication Date: 2023.05.18 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A ranging device includes a plurality of ranging units and a control unit configured to control the plurality of ranging units. Each of the ranging units includes a deflection member configured to deflect laser light and performs ranging processing that scans a predetermined ranging area with emitted laser light by rotating or oscillating the deflection member to change the emission azimuth of the laser light, and measures a distance to an object located in the emission azimuth based on reflected light received from the same azimuth as the emission azimuth. The plurality of ranging units include a first ranging unit and a second ranging unit with the ranging areas overlapping with each other. The control unit causes the first ranging unit to perform the ranging processing and the second ranging unit to perform ranging processing in parallel with each other in a manner to prevent the area traveled by laser light emitted by the first ranging unit and the area traveled by laser light emitted by the second ranging unit from interfering with each other in the ranging areas.