Scanning LiDAR Optical Components for Compact Light Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LiDAR systems face challenges in efficiently collecting sufficient light due to the small receiving area of OPA receivers, which limits the optical link budget, and the use of collection lenses results in bulky and impractical systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wedge and slab arrangement in the imaging component, which collapses the optical path to reduce thickness and enhance light collection efficiency while maintaining phase front control, allowing for high coupling into waveguides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a collection lens is used to increase the receiving area, then light collection efficiency is improved, but the system becomes bulky and impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the collection lens functionality directly into the imaging component housing, nesting the optical collection function within the existing structural envelope rather than adding a separate bulky lens assembly. This allows sufficient light collection area while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for practical deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the light collection function with the imaging component structure, merging the receiver aperture and collection optics into a unified integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate collection lenses and reduces overall system volume while maintaining optical link budget requirements.
2Reliability
If the receiving area is increased to collect sufficient light, then the optical link budget is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light collection aperture with the imaging sensor array into a single integrated receiver component. This consolidation achieves sufficient light collection area without requiring separate collection optics, mounting structures, and alignment mechanisms, thereby improving the optical link budget while avoiding increased device complexity.
3Reliability
If a collection lens is added to improve light collection, then the optical link budget is improved, but the system becomes impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the light collection function within the imaging component's existing structural boundaries, eliminating the need for external collection lenses that would complicate mounting, alignment, and protection. This integrated approach ensures sufficient light collection for reliable operation while maintaining practical ease of installation and maintenance.
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 configuration enables compact and efficient light collection, reducing parallax errors and allowing for high coupling efficiency into photonic integrated circuit waveguides, suitable for FMCW and ToF systems.
Implementation Method 1
The implementation of a wedge and slab arrangement in the imaging component, which collapses the optical path to reduce thickness and enhance light collection efficiency while maintaining phase front control
Implementation Method 2
the wedge and slab arrangement, which collapses the optical path to reduce thickness and enhance light collection efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A LiDAR transmitter photonic integrated circuit (PIC) for scanning an environment over a field of view, FOV, the FOV having an azimuthal angular range and a polar angular range, the LiDAR transmitter PIC comprising: a light source for providing light from at least one laser, an optical switch having an input and a plurality of outputs, the optical switch being configured to selectively direct light received at the input to one of the plurality of outputs, and a light emitting component having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of emitters, the light emitting component configured to selectively emit beams over a plurality of emission angles having different respective polar components within the polar angular range of the FOV, wherein the light source is coupled to the input of the optical switch and each of the plurality of outputs of the optical switch is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of inputs of the light emitting component.