Variable Amplitude Scan Mirror for Low Latency LiDAR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lidar systems face challenges in operating with low latency and rapid adaptation to environmental changes, particularly in automotive applications where high-density laser pulse firing is needed, which puts pressure on the laser source's operational capabilities and can lead to overheating or energy limit exceedance.
Innovation Solution
A laser energy model is used to predict energy availability over time, coupled with a mirror motion model to schedule laser pulses with high precision, ensuring sufficient energy for each pulse and precise targeting, while the lidar receiver's detection intervals are controlled to adapt to variable firing rates and use appropriate pixel sets for accurate return detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the laser source fires at high density to achieve low latency and rapid adaptation, then the response time is improved, but the laser source overheats or exceeds energy limits
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by modeling the laser source's energy availability over time and using this model to schedule laser pulses in advance. The controller predicts future energy states and plans pulse firing times accordingly, ensuring sufficient energy is available before each pulse is fired, thus preventing overheating while maintaining rapid response capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the laser firing rate and pulse timing based on real-time energy availability predictions. The controller continuously updates the laser energy model and modifies the pulse schedule adaptively, allowing high-density firing when energy permits and reducing rate when energy is limited, thereby balancing response speed with thermal management
2Adaptability or versatility
If the laser source operates at variable firing rates to adapt to environmental changes, then the adaptability is improved, but the energy management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the actual laser source energy state and using this information to update the laser energy model. The controller compares predicted energy availability with actual conditions and adjusts the pulse scheduling accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that manages variable firing rates while maintaining manageable complexity through automated adaptive control
3Measurement precision
If the lidar system uses precise targeting to improve measurement precision, then the targeting accuracy is improved, but the computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary computation by using the laser energy model to predict future energy states and pre-calculate optimal pulse scheduling. The mirror motion model also pre-computes positioning information, allowing the system to achieve precise targeting without real-time computational intensive operations during the actual pulse firing, thus reducing instantaneous computational requirements
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 enables lidar systems to operate at low latency with high frame rates and precise targeting, ensuring reliable energy delivery and accurate detection, even during high-density firing periods, while preventing overheating and energy exceedance.
Implementation Method 1
The lidar transmitter may employ a laser source that uses optical amplification to support the generation of laser pulses
Implementation Method 2
a first scan mirror that sweeps a laser beam across a field of view
Implementation Method 3
a photodetector array that detects returns of the laser pulses
Data Source
AI summary
A lidar system comprises a lidar transmitter and a control circuit. The lidar transmitter fires laser pulse shots into a field of view and comprises a variable amplitude scan mirror for directing the laser pulse shots at targeted range points in the field of view (FOV). The control circuit (1) controls changes in a tilt amplitude of the variable amplitude scan mirror and (2) schedules the laser pulse shots according to a plurality of criteria, including criteria that take into account a settle time arising from controlled changes in the tilt amplitude. These controlled changes can include (1) a first tilt amplitude corresponding to a wide FOV coverage zone within the FOV and (2) a second tilt amplitude corresponding to a narrow FOV coverage zone within the FOV, wherein the second tilt amplitude is less than the first tilt amplitude.