Tilted Deflection Unit for 3D Laser Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser scanners require additional mechanisms and increased complexity to achieve three-dimensional scanning, leading to higher costs, mechanical vulnerability, and power consumption, as they need to move or use multiple deflection units to vary the scanning plane effectively.
Innovation Solution
A two-dimensional deflection unit is used with a conventional 2D scanner, where the scanning plane is varied by tilting, allowing for a larger spatial area to be monitored without additional drives or deflection units, using a forced guidance system that specifies the tilting angle based on the rotary movement, enabling adaptation to various applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If additional deflection units or pivoting mechanisms are added to achieve three-dimensional scanning, then the monitoring range is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a two-dimensional scanning plane to three-dimensional spatial monitoring. The deflection unit is tilted relative to the rotation axis, creating a scanning volume that extends in the third dimension. This allows the system to monitor a three-dimensional spatial area without adding multiple deflection units, resolving the contradiction between monitoring range and device complexity.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple deflection units are used to expand scanning coverage, then the monitoring range is improved, but the installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
By tilting the deflection unit relative to the rotation axis, the patent creates a scanning volume that exploits the third dimension. This allows expanded monitoring coverage without proportionally increasing the physical footprint of the device, effectively resolving the contradiction between monitoring range and installation space requirement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional deflection units and pivoting drives are added, then the scanning plane can be varied, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves scanning plane variation by tilting the deflection unit, which enables three-dimensional scanning capability without requiring additional pivoting drives. This single-degree-of-freedom approach significantly reduces power consumption compared to systems that would require multiple independent drive mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and power consumption.
4Device complexity
If conventional 2D scanning is used without tilting, then the device complexity is minimized, but the monitoring range is limited to a single plane
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tilt angle between the deflection unit and the rotation axis, transforming a two-dimensional scanning system into a three-dimensional monitoring system. This simple geometric modification enables volumetric scanning without adding mechanical complexity, effectively resolving the contradiction between device complexity and monitoring range.
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 reduces manufacturing costs, size, and mechanical vulnerability while allowing for flexible scanning without the need for additional drives or deflection units, enabling efficient three-dimensional object detection with reduced power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a deflection unit (18) that is rotatable with respect to a rotation axis (30) and is tiltable with respect to a tilting axis (36) about the pivot point (34)
Implementation Method 2
With phase-based methods, the light transmitter modulates the scanning beam and the phase between a reference and the received scanning beam is determined
Implementation Method 3
Pulse-based methods imprint a significant pattern on the scanning beam, for example a narrow pulse lasting only a few nanoseconds, and determine the time at which this pattern is received
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~4d
Figure 4e~6b
AI summary
The optoelectronic sensor (10) has a light transmitter (12) that transmits light beam (16), a drive unit (28) that generates rotational movement, a deflection unit (18) rotatable about an axis of rotation through the drive unit for periodic deflection of light beam, and a light receiver (26) that generates received signal from light beam (22) re-emitted or reflected from monitored zone (20). An evaluation unit (46) detects objects based on received signal. The drive unit tilts deflection unit at the same time as the rotational movement to vary the scanning plane. An independent claim is included for a method for detection of objects in a monitored zone having more than one scanning plane.