SPPR Lidar Beam Steering for 360° Scanning Without Moving Parts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LIDAR systems face challenges in achieving a full 0 to 360° scanning range without using movable parts, which are prone to mechanical failure and limited by mechanical rotation speed, and current optical solutions like MEMS and optical phased arrays have limited scanning FOV and ranging distance.
Innovation Solution
A LIDAR system utilizing a spiral phase plate resonator (SPPR) device to generate coherent optical vortices, combined with a conical mirror and detector modules, enables a 360° FOV scanning without movable parts by adjusting laser frequency and amplitude modulation, synchronized with a digital signal processor for precise distance calculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If movable mechanical components (mirrors, gimbals, piezoelectric elements) are used to scan the light beam, then the beam direction can be changed, but the system is prone to mechanical failure and limited by mechanical rotation speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical scanning components (mirrors, gimbals, piezoelectric elements) with an optical phased array system that uses electronic phase control to steer the beam. The phased array uses constructive and destructive interference of light waves to redirect the beam without any moving parts, thereby eliminating mechanical failure risks while maintaining beam direction control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from mechanical position/orientation to optical phase. By dynamically adjusting the phase of individual elements in the phased array, the beam direction is controlled electronically. This parameter transformation from mechanical to optical domain eliminates mechanical constraints and improves reliability.
2Ease of operation
If movable mechanical components are used to scan the light beam, then the beam direction can be changed, but the scanning speed is limited by mechanical rotation speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical rotation-based scanning with electronic phase control in the optical phased array. Since electronic switching and phase modulation occur at much higher speeds than mechanical rotation, the scanning speed is dramatically improved while maintaining full beam direction control.
3Reliability
If MEMS devices are used to scan the beam, then the frequency of scanning is high and mechanical failure risk is reduced, but the scanning FOV is typically limited
Solution Approach 1:
The optical phased array system provides multi-functionality by enabling both high-frequency scanning and large field-of-view coverage through electronic phase control. The system can dynamically adjust the phase distribution to achieve various scanning patterns and FOV configurations without the mechanical limitations of MEMS devices, thereby providing universal scanning capabilities.
4Adaptability or versatility
If optical phased array technology is used, then scanning FOV can be improved, but ranging distance is relatively short
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs segmentation by dividing the phased array into multiple elements that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the system to focus energy in specific directions while maintaining overall FOV coverage. The segmented structure enables both wide scanning capability and long ranging distance by directing focused beams to remote targets.
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 system provides a compact, resilient, and high-speed 360° scanning capability with reduced mechanical failure risk, achieving precise range finding and imaging without mechanical components.
Implementation Method 1
a coherent superposition of optical vortices can be generated by either reflecting light off of the device or transmitting light through the device
Implementation Method 2
Because the SPPR device is based on the interference of optical vortices in a single SPPR
Implementation Method 3
The transmitted beam from the SPPR device is directed onto a conical mirror to direct the transmitted beam at a certain angle therefrom
Implementation Method 4
amplitude modulates the laser beam at the second frequency using a first intensity modulation frequency for a predetermined period of time to generate a predetermined number of intensity pulses
Implementation Method 5
estimating a round trip time of the transmitted beam to the target and the reflected beam from the target using the modulation of the laser beam
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~7
Figure 5
AI summary
A method for scanning a transmitted beam through a 360° FOV in a LIDAR system using no moving parts. The method includes directing a laser beam at a first frequency to an SPPR device and directing the laser beam from the SPPR device onto a conical mirror to direct the laser beam at a certain angle therefrom depending on the first frequency of the laser beam. The method further includes shifting the optical frequency of the laser beam to a second frequency to change the angle that the transmitted beam is directed from the conical mirror and intensity modulating the laser beam at the second frequency using a first intensity modulation frequency for a predetermined period of time. The method further includes receiving a reflected beam from the target and estimating a round trip time of the transmitted beam and the reflected beam using the modulation of the laser beam.