Optical Signal Processing with Staged Amplification for Lidar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coherent lidar systems face challenges in achieving high channel count and light emitting power while maintaining detection performance, leading to increased costs and reduced efficiency due to optical splitting or multiple light sources.
Innovation Solution
An optical signal processing apparatus with multiple stages of beam splitting and amplification units, allowing flexible design of amplification locations and current drive, to enhance signal light power and reduce crosstalk, noise, and interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If optical splitting is performed on one light source to obtain detection signal light on multiple channels, then the channel count is increased, but the light emitting power of each channel is limited resulting in poor detection performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the amplification process into multiple stages, with each stage handling a subset of channels. The beam splitting unit divides signal light into multiple channels, and multiple amplification units in different stages amplify different channel groups independently, allowing each amplifier to maintain high power output while supporting multiple channels overall
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension by arranging amplification units in multiple stages rather than trying to amplify all channels simultaneously in a single stage. This multi-stage approach allows power to be distributed across time and stages, resolving the conflict between channel count and power per channel
2Power
If the quantity of light sources is increased to reduce the quantity of channels allocated to each light source, then the light emitting power per channel is improved, but the costs of the coherent lidar are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
A single light source serves multiple channels through optical splitting, and multiple amplification units share the amplification function across different stages and channel groups. This multi-functional arrangement allows one light source to support many channels while maintaining power through staged amplification, avoiding the need for multiple expensive light sources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple amplification units into a coordinated multi-stage system that works together to amplify different channel groups. By merging the amplification functions across stages and sharing resources, the system achieves high power per channel without requiring proportionally more light sources, thus reducing overall system cost
3Power
If a large current is used in a single amplification unit to amplify signal light, then the light emitting power is increased, but the risk of burning out electrical devices and heat dissipation requirements are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The amplification function is segmented into multiple stages, with each amplification unit operating at a lower, safer current level. Instead of one unit handling all amplification with high current, multiple units in different stages share the amplification task, each operating within reliable current limits while collectively achieving high output power
Solution Approach 2:
Signal light undergoes partial amplification in earlier stages before being passed to subsequent stages. This preliminary amplification reduces the burden on later stages, allowing each unit to operate at moderate current levels while achieving cumulative high power output through the staged process
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 solution ensures high channel count and light emitting power, improving detection performance, reducing costs, and extending the service life of the apparatus by minimizing heat dissipation and interference.
Implementation Method 1
a first beam splitting unit configured to split the signal light from the at least one laser into a plurality of pieces of sub signal light
Implementation Method 2
a first-stage amplification unit configured to amplify one of the plurality of pieces of sub signal light to generate first signal light
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide an optical signal processing apparatus, a chip, a lidar, and a terminal, which may be applied to a detection field, an intelligent surveying and mapping field, an intelligent driving field, and the like. The optical signal processing apparatus includes a plurality of beam splitting units and a plurality of stages of amplification units, and signal light on a plurality of channels may be obtained by performing optical splitting on signal light from lasers through the plurality of beam splitting units. These pieces of signal light are amplified in a plurality of stages through the plurality of stages of amplification units, so that when a quantity of channels of output signal light is increased, power of the output signal light can be ensured, and detection performance can be improved.