Lidar apparatus for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11500068-B2
Application number	US-201916242580-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2019
Priority date	Jan 9, 2018
Publication date	Nov 15, 2022
Grant date	Nov 15, 2022

Abstract

A lidar apparatus includes a sensor configured to convert light into an electrical signal, a light receiving lens configured to receive light and to guide the received light toward the sensor, a lens barrel that supports the light receiving lens, a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror arranged at a first position in which the MEMS mirror defines a first plane that forms a first acute angle with respect to at least one surface of the lens barrel, and a light output device that is configured to output a laser light toward the MEMS mirror and that is arranged at a second position in which the light output device defines a second plane that forms a second acute angle with respect to the at least one surface of the lens barrel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lidar apparatus comprising:
a sensor configured to convert light into an electrical signal;
a light receiving lens configured to receive light and to guide the received light toward the sensor;
a lens barrel that supports the light receiving lens;
a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror arranged at a first position in which the MEMS mirror defines a first plane that forms a first acute angle with respect to at least one surface of the lens barrel; and
a light output device that is configured to output a laser light toward the MEMS mirror and that is arranged at a second position in which the light output device defines a second plane that forms a second acute angle with respect to the at least one surface of the lens barrel.

2. The lidar apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light output device comprises:
a laser diode configured to generate first light;
a collimator lens configured to convert the first light into a parallel light; and
a cylindrical lens configured to convert the parallel light into a line light.

3. The lidar apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the MEMS mirror is configured to reflect the line light in one or more directions along a scanning direction corresponding to a horizontal direction of the lens barrel.

4. The lidar apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first Printed Circuit Board (PCB) that is arranged on the MEMS mirror, the first PCB comprising at least one power supply element mounted thereon.

5. The lidar apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the light receiving lens comprises a first lens that protrudes forward from a side of the lidar apparatus,
wherein the lens barrel comprises:
a first portion located rearward of the first lens; and
a protrusion part that protrudes forward from the first portion and that supports the first lens of the light receiving lens, and

wherein a front-to-rear length of the first PCB corresponds to a front-to-rear length of the first portion of the lens barrel.

6. The lidar apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a first heat sink that is arranged on the first PCB, the first heat sink comprising a plurality of radiation pins exposed in an upward direction of the lens barrel.

7. The lidar apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first heat sink has a shape corresponding to a shape of the first PCB.

8. The lidar apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a second PCB that is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the first PCB, the second PCB comprising at least one processing element mounted thereon.

9. The lidar apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a second heat sink that is vertically arranged at a rear surface of the second PCB, the second heat sink comprising a plurality of radiation pins exposed in a backward direction of the lens barrel.

10. The lidar apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB) that is configured to electrically connect the second PCB and the light output device to each other.

11. The lidar apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a mirror support that is configured to support the MEMS mirror and the light output device,
wherein at least a portion of the FPCB surrounds the mirror support.

12. The lidar apparatus of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the FPCB is configured to contact at least one surface of the lens barrel.

13. The lidar apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a third heat sink that is vertically arranged at a rear surface of the sensor, the third heat sink comprising a plurality of radiation pins that extend in a vertical direction with respect to a front-to-rear direction of the lens barrel.

14. The lidar apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of radiation pins of the third heat sink are exposed in an upward direction of the lens barrel and a downward direction of the lens barrel.

15. The lidar apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth heat sink that contacts at least a portion of the light output device, the fourth heat sink comprising a plurality of radiation pins exposed in a forward direction of the lens barrel.

16. The lidar apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a case that defines an exterior appearance of the lidar apparatus and that is configured to accommodate the sensor, the lens barrel, the MEMS mirror, and the light output device, the case defining at least one opening.

17. The lidar apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a window cover that is configured to cover the at least one opening, the window cover comprising a filter that allows light reflected from the MEMS mirror to pass therethrough.

18. The lidar apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising at least one heat sink, and
wherein the at least one opening defined in the case comprises a heat sink opening that is configured to expose radiation pins of the at least one heat sink.

19. The lidar apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the case has a rectangular cuboid shape having six surfaces,
wherein the at least one heat sink comprises a plurality of heat sinks, and
wherein the at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings that are located at four surfaces among the six surfaces of the case and that are configured to expose radiation pins of the plurality of heat sinks.

20. The lidar apparatus of claim 18 , wherein at least one of a width, a length, or an area of the case corresponds to at least one of a width, a length, or an area of the at least one heat sink, respectively.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Yonghyun
• Cha Sunghoon
• Lee Jejong
• Kim Gyujin

Classifications

• G01S7/4817

  relating to scanning · CPC title

• G01S17/42

  Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates (indirect measurement G01S17/46) · CPC title

• H05K1/14

  Structural association of two or more printed circuits (providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00) · CPC title

• G01S7/4814 Primary

  of transmitters alone · CPC title

• G01S7/481

  Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements · CPC title