Switchable Deflection Mirrors for Laser Scanner Energy Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser scanners for motor vehicles face high operating costs due to energy requirements and heat production, primarily attributed to the need for a drive device for the deflection mirror arrangement.
Innovation Solution
A laser scanner design featuring a deflection mirror arrangement where multiple deflection mirrors are electrically switchable between active and passive states, allowing the control unit to route the beam path through only active mirrors, eliminating the need for a drive device and reducing energy consumption and installation space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a drive device is used to rotate the deflection mirror arrangement for scanning the field of view, then the field of view can be scanned step by step, but the energy requirement and heat production increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The field of view is divided into multiple partial fields of view, with each deflection mirror (first, second, third mirrors) responsible for scanning a specific partial field. This segmentation eliminates the need for a single large rotating mirror assembly, allowing static mirrors to be positioned at optimal angles without requiring rotational drive mechanisms, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining comprehensive field coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of rotating a single deflection mirror arrangement to scan the entire field of view, the invention inverts the approach by using multiple static deflection mirrors arranged at different angles. Each mirror remains stationary and reflects light beams into different angular ranges, achieving field scanning through spatial arrangement rather than mechanical rotation, thus eliminating the need for drive devices and reducing energy requirements.
2Productivity
If a drive device is used to rotate the deflection mirror arrangement, then the field of view can be scanned, but the installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning function is segmented across multiple static deflection mirrors positioned at different angular orientations. Each mirror handles a specific angular sector, eliminating the need for a large rotating mirror assembly and its associated drive mechanism. This segmentation allows compact arrangement of mirrors in a fixed configuration, significantly reducing the installation space required while maintaining full field of view coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the conventional scanning approach by replacing a single rotating mirror with multiple stationary mirrors arranged in a fixed geometric configuration. This spatial arrangement achieves field scanning without mechanical movement, eliminating the space required for drive devices and rotational mechanisms, thereby reducing overall installation footprint.
3Productivity
If a drive device is used to rotate the deflection mirror arrangement, then the field of view can be scanned, but the heat production increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning function is divided among multiple static deflection mirrors, each positioned to cover a specific angular range. This segmentation eliminates the need for a rotating drive mechanism, which is a major heat source. The static mirrors require no power input and generate minimal heat, thereby reducing overall heat production while maintaining effective field scanning capability through their fixed geometric arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the scanning mechanism by using stationary mirrors instead of a rotating assembly. This eliminates the motor and rotational components that generate significant heat during operation. The fixed mirror arrangement achieves field coverage without mechanical energy conversion, dramatically reducing heat production while preserving scanning functionality.
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 design significantly reduces energy requirements and heat production while enabling comprehensive field scanning without a drive motor, resulting in lower operating costs and a more compact design.
Implementation Method 1
each deflection mirror captures a partial field of view of the field of view of the laser scanner. Each deflection mirror can be switched by the control unit between an active mirror status, in which the respective deflection mirror reflects incoming light rays along the beam path
Implementation Method 2
A laser scanner works according to the time-of-flight principle, with an optical transmitter illuminating the area around the laser scanner
Implementation Method 3
The laser scanner includes an optoelectronic receiver for reflected beams, ie those light beams which are reflected by a target object in the field of view of the laser scanner
Implementation Method 4
The transit time between sending and receiving an echo is proportional to the distance to the target object
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a laser scanner for a file motor vehicle, having an optical transmitter for illuminating the surrounding of the laser scanner, and having an optoelectronic receiver for receiving light beams (11) reflected at a target object in the surroundings of the laser scanner. The laser scanner additionally comprises a control unit (27) and a deflection mirror arrangement (22) arranged in a beam path (30) of the light beams (11) between the optical transmitter and optoelectronic receiver, which deflection mirror arrangement is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the control unit (27) for the step-by-step scanning of the field of view of the laser scanner into partial fields of view. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle having such a laser scanner. In order to reduce the production and/or operating costs of a laser scanner for motor vehicles, the deflection mirror arrangement (22) comprises a plurality of deflection mirrors (23, 24), which are arranged relative to one another in such a way that each deflection mirror (23, 24) covers a partial field of view (29) of the field of view of the laser scanner. Each deflection mirror (23, 24) is designed such that the deflection mirror can be switched by the control unit (27) between an active mirror state (25), in which the respective deflection mirror (24) reflects incoming light beams (11) in the beam path (13), and a passive mirror state (26), in which incoming light beams (11) in the beam path (30) pass by the deflection mirror.