Windshield Lens Layout for In-Cabin LiDAR Field Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
LiDAR systems mounted on vehicle exteriors face efficiency reductions and field of view obstructions due to environmental contaminants like rain, snow, and dirt, affecting perception performance and measurement fidelity.
Innovation Solution
A LiDAR system is mounted inside the vehicle cabin with a lens system on the windshield to expand the field of view, using plano-concave lenses and coaxial optics to direct and refract the beam through the windshield, minimizing reflection and increasing external scanning capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If LiDAR unit is mounted inside the vehicle cabin, then protection from environmental contaminants is improved, but field of view coverage and beam expansion capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A lens system is introduced as an intermediary optical element between the LiDAR unit and the windshield. This lens system receives the transmitted beam from the LiDAR unit and expands it before it passes through the windshield, thereby achieving both protected mounting inside the cabin and expanded external field of view coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The lens system transforms the beam characteristics by expanding it in the angular dimension. The transmitted beam is expanded in the horizontal direction by a first factor and in the vertical direction by a second factor, effectively projecting a larger field of view from the protected internal mounting position
2Area of stationary object
If lens system is added to expand transmitted beam, then field of view coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens system is segmented into multiple independent lens elements with specific focal lengths. The first lens has a first focal length and the second lens has a second focal length, allowing each element to be optimized independently while working together to achieve the desired beam expansion in horizontal and vertical directions
Solution Approach 2:
The lens system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it expands the transmitted beam in both horizontal and vertical directions, corrects optical aberrations, and maintains proper beam alignment with the windshield. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate optical components
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 reliable LiDAR sensing and expanded field of view despite environmental conditions, reducing the keep-out zone and reflection losses, facilitating easier mounting and improved perception performance.
Implementation Method 1
A lens system is mounted to the windshield and is positioned in a path of the transmitted beam and the reflected light, wherein the lens system is configured to expand the transmitted beam
Implementation Method 2
the windshield includes an infrared shielding material that is modified in a window area of the windshield through which the transmitted beam passes to reduce an effect of the infrared shielding material on the transmitted beam
Data Source
AI summary
A LiDAR system for a vehicle includes a LiDAR unit mounted inside a cabin of the vehicle and spaced away from a windshield of the vehicle. The LiDAR unit generates a transmitted beam and receives reflected light resulting from the transmitted beam. A lens system is mounted to the windshield and is positioned in a path of the transmitted beam and the reflected light, wherein the lens system is configured to expand the transmitted beam.