Rotating Prism Multi-Beam LiDAR for Lower-Complexity Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-beam lidar systems require numerous laser emitters, large photosensitive receivers, and complex processing circuits, leading to high costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A prism with at least three side surfaces, each having emission and receiving regions, and varying included angles, integrated with a rotating mechanism to form multiple scanning beams, reducing the need for multiple transmitters and receivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a multi-beam lidar system uses multiple laser emitters and large photosensitive receivers to scan the surrounding environment, then the scanning area and number of light beams increase, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The single laser emitter is made multi-functional by using a rotating polygonal prism to split the beam into multiple scanning beams. The prism acts as a universal component that enables one laser source to perform the function of multiple emitters, achieving multi-beam scanning without requiring multiple independent laser sources, thus reducing system complexity while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The polygonal prism serves as an intermediary component between the single laser emitter and the target environment. It receives the laser beam, splits it into multiple beams through its multiple reflecting surfaces, and directs them toward different areas. This intermediary mechanism enables multi-beam functionality without directly multiplying the emitter components
2Quantity of substance
If a multi-beam lidar system uses multiple laser emitters and large photosensitive surfaces, then multiple arrays of light beams can be emitted and received, but the processing circuit becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the functions of multiple emitters and receivers into a single emitter-receiver pair combined with a rotating prism. The prism consolidates the beam-splitting and beam-combining functions, allowing one transmitter and one receiver to handle multiple beams sequentially, thereby eliminating the need for complex multi-channel processing circuits while maintaining the capability to process multiple light beams
3Device complexity
If a single-beam lidar is used to scan, then the device structure is simple, but the scanning area is small
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamic motion through the rotating polygonal prism to transform a static single-beam configuration into a dynamic multi-beam scanning system. The rotation of the prism dynamically directs multiple beams across different areas, expanding the scanning coverage without requiring a complex static multi-emitter array, thus achieving increased productivity with minimal additional structural 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
The prism-based multi-beam lidar system achieves reduced complexity and cost by optimizing beam formation and reception, while maintaining scanning resolution and mechanical stability.
Implementation Method 1
the scanning beam (T) during the scanning of the scene (S) inside the prism (20) on one of the side surfaces (201, 202, 203) of the prism (20) is deflected by total reflection
Implementation Method 2
the scanning beam (T) during the scanning of the scene (S) inside the prism (20) on one of the side surfaces (201, 202, 203) of the prism (20) is deflected by total reflection
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
A prism for a muti-beam lidar includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least three side surfaces positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface, at least two of the at least three side surfaces each include an emission region and a receiving region; the receiving region is positioned between the emission region and the top surface; in a direction from the top surface to the bottom surface, the emission region includes at least two reflecting surfaces positioned successively, and included angles between the at least two reflecting surfaces and the bottom surface are different from each other.