Rotating Optical Reflector with Asymmetric Axis for Lidar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical beam scanners for large aperture lidar systems face challenges in achieving both rapid scanning and compact design, particularly for gas-sensing applications like DIAL and WMS, where larger apertures are required but existing technologies struggle to balance large area and rapid motion effectively.
Innovation Solution
A rotating optical reflector with a transmissive and reflective surface, where the transmissive surface refracts incident light onto the reflective surface, and the optical reflector is rotated about an axis not parallel to the reflective surface's normal, allowing for dynamic and static balance, enabling larger apertures and more compact designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a rotating optical reflector with non-parallel axis is used, then rapid beam scanning capability is improved, but mechanical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the axis of rotation at an angle other than parallel to the normal of the reflective surface. This asymmetric configuration enables the optical reflector to scan beams across a wider field of view at higher speeds while maintaining a compact form factor, directly resolving the contradiction between scan speed and mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional approach by rotating the optical reflector about an axis that is not aligned with the normal of the reflective surface. This angular offset creates a conical scanning motion that expands the field of view in three-dimensional space, achieving rapid scanning without proportionally increasing mechanical complexity
2Measurement precision
If larger optical aperture is used, then measurement performance is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamics by using a rotating optical reflector configuration that enables large aperture beams to be scanned rapidly across the field of view. The dynamic rotation allows the system to achieve the measurement performance of large apertures while maintaining a compact device size, as the aperture is effectively utilized through rotational scanning rather than requiring a statically large structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters by setting the axis of rotation at a specific angle relative to the reflective surface normal. This parameter change enables the optical system to achieve effective large-aperture performance while maintaining a reduced overall device volume, resolving the contradiction between measurement performance and device size
3Volume of moving object
If compact design is achieved, then device portability is improved, but scanning capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetry in the rotational configuration to achieve compact device design while maintaining enhanced scanning capability. The non-parallel axis arrangement creates an efficient use of space that enables both small device volume and broad scanning field of view, resolving the contradiction between compactness and scanning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dimensionality change by utilizing angular offset in the rotation axis to expand the scanning field of view. This approach allows the compact device to achieve wide-area coverage through three-dimensional conical scanning motion, maintaining versatility despite reduced device size
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 enables efficient scanning of large optical apertures with rapid beam deflection, improving measurement performance and reducing mechanical stress, thus enhancing the capability of gas-sensing lidar systems to collect data from a wider area with reduced component size and weight.
Implementation Method 1
The transmissive surface may be positioned to refract incident light toward the reflective surface
Implementation Method 2
The optical reflector may refract the incident light through a transmissive surface to provide refracted light, reflect the refracted light from a reflective surface to provide reflected light
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for a rotating optical reflector. Optical systems may have a limited field of view, and so in order to expand the area that the optical system collects data from, the field of view of the optical system may be scanned across a target area. The present disclosure is directed to a rotating optical reflector, which includes a transmissive layer which refracts light onto a reflective layer, which has a normal which is not parallel to the axis about which the optical reflector is rotated. The optical reflector may be both statically and dynamically balanced, which may allow an increased size of the optical reflector, which in turn may increase the aperture of an optical system (e.g., a lidar system) using the rotating optical reflector.