Scanning Laser Optics With Angle-Based Pulse Energy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
LiDAR systems face challenges in balancing effective range with power consumption, particularly in achieving different effective ranges over various areas while reducing overall power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing non-uniform optical expansion and varying laser light pulse energy levels to compensate for the effects of optical expansion, allowing for longer ranges in center areas and shorter ranges in edge areas, thereby optimizing power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If constant high energy levels are used to maintain long effective range, then detection range is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the laser pulse energy levels according to the specific requirements of different scan regions. Center regions use higher energy levels for long-range detection, while edge regions use lower energy levels for short-range detection. This localized energy allocation optimizes power consumption by matching energy input to actual detection needs in each region, rather than using uniform high energy across the entire field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by dynamically adjusting the laser pulse energy levels in real-time based on the scan angle and position. The system transitions from static constant energy emission to dynamic energy modulation, where the energy level changes continuously as the laser scans across different regions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain long effective range when needed while reducing power consumption during edge region scanning.
2Device complexity
If uniform energy levels are used across all scan areas, then system complexity is reduced, but detection performance varies unevenly across the field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying the laser pulse energy parameter according to the scan angle and position. Different energy parameters are assigned to different regions: higher energy for center regions requiring long-range detection, and lower energy for edge regions with shorter detection requirements. This parameter variation ensures uniform detection performance across the entire field of view, compensating for the non-uniform optical expansion characteristics.
3Length of moving object
If optical expansion is increased to improve center region range, then center detection capability is improved, but edge region performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by anticipating the negative effects of optical expansion and compensating for them in advance through energy level adjustment. The system pre-calculates the required energy levels for different scan angles to counteract the non-uniform expansion effects. By adjusting energy levels beforehand based on predicted expansion characteristics, the system maintains reliable detection performance across all regions without sacrificing center region range capability.
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 approach enhances the effective range of LiDAR systems while significantly reducing power consumption by dynamically adjusting energy levels to match the varying optical expansion, achieving power savings compared to systems using constant energy levels.
Implementation Method 1
expansion optics that provide a non-uniform variation in optical expansion for laser light pulses
Implementation Method 2
a laser light source that emits pulses of laser light
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments described herein provide systems and methods that can improve performance in scanning laser devices. Specifically, the systems and methods utilize a non-uniform variation in optical expansion coupled with variation in the energy level of laser light pulses to provide an improved effective range over a scanning area. In general, the improved effective range varies over the scan field, with relatively long effective range in some areas of the scan field and relatively short effective range in other areas of the scan field. This varying range over the scan field is facilitated by expansion optics that provide a non-uniform variation in optical expansion for laser light pulses relative to position along a first axis in the scan field and by a light source controller that varies the energy level of the laser light pulses according to position along the first axis of the scan field.