Lidar detection systems and methods that use multi-plane mirrors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11965980-B2
Application number	US-202218074401-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2022
Priority date	Jan 9, 2018
Publication date	Apr 23, 2024
Grant date	Apr 23, 2024

Abstract

Embodiments discussed herein refer to a relatively compact and energy efficient LiDAR system that uses a multi-plane mirror in its scanning system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system for use with a vehicle, the LiDAR system comprising:
a transceiver configured to transmit and receive light;
a polygon structure that defines a lateral angle of a field of view of the LiDAR system, the polygon structure having a symmetric axis, wherein the polygon structure comprises a reflective facet that is non-parallel to the symmetric axis; and
a moveable mirror positioned to redirect light passing between the transceiver and the polygon structure, the moveable mirror configured to adjust angles of light being directed between the transceiver and the polygon structure, wherein the moveable mirror defines a vertical angle of the field of view of the LiDAR system, and wherein a position of the moveable mirror is translatable in a manner that results in an increase of scan resolution of at least a part of the field of view of the LiDAR system.

2. The LiDAR system of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver comprises:
a light source;
a lens group; and
a detector group.

3. The LiDAR system of claim 2 , wherein the light source is a fiber optic light source.

4. The LiDAR system of claim 2 , wherein the light source is a semiconductor based emitter light source, the LiDAR system further comprising a metal based printed circuit board (PCB) and driver circuitry mounted to the metal based PCB.

5. The LiDAR system of claim 2 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of semiconductor based emitter light sources that fire light pulses in a sequence.

6. The LiDAR system of claim 2 , wherein the lens group is configured to direct light along a plurality of non-overlapping angles, wherein the combination of the plurality of non-overlapping angles form the vertical angle of the field of view.

7. The LiDAR system of claim 6 , wherein a gap exists in between each of the non-overlapping angles, and wherein the moveable mirror is positioned to redirect light passing between the transceiver and the polygon structure in a manner that accounts for the gap in between each of the non-overlapping angles.

8. The LiDAR system of claim 6 , wherein the detection group comprises at least one detection circuit for each of the plurality of non-overlapping angles.

9. The LiDAR system of claim 1 , wherein the polygon structure is configured to rotate about an axis in a first direction at a substantially constant speed.

10. The LiDAR system of claim 9 , wherein the rotation axis is coincident to or different to the symmetric axis of the polygon structure.

11. The LiDAR system of claim 9 , wherein the polygon structure is masked.

12. The LiDAR system of claim 9 , wherein the polygon structure is trimmed to include chamfers and improve operation.

13. The LiDAR system of claim 1 further comprising housing to house the transceiver, the polygon structure, and the moveable mirror, wherein the housing is configured to be mounted to a windshield or other structure on the vehicle.

14. A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system for use with a vehicle, the LiDAR system comprising:
a transceiver configured to transmit and receive light;
a polygon structure that defines a lateral angle of a field of view of the LiDAR system, the polygon structure having a symmetric axis, wherein the polygon structure comprises facets that are non-parallel to the symmetric axis, the polygon structure further comprises chamfers that are non-parallel to the symmetric axis; and
a moveable mirror positioned to redirect light passing between the transceiver and the polygon structure, the moveable mirror configured to adjust angles of light being directed between the transceiver and the polygon structure, wherein the moveable mirror defines a vertical angle of the field of view of the LiDAR system, and wherein a position of the moveable mirror is translatable in a manner that results in an increase of scan resolution of at least a part of the field of view of the LiDAR system.

15. The LiDAR system of claim 14 , wherein the polygon structure is configured to rotate about an axis in a first direction at a substantially constant speed.

16. The LiDAR system of claim 15 , wherein the rotation axis is coincident to or different to the symmetric axis of the polygon structure.

17. The LiDAR system of claim 15 , wherein the polygon structure is masked.

18. A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system for use with a vehicle, the LiDAR system comprising:
a transceiver configured to transmit and receive light;
a polygon structure that defines a lateral angle of a field of view of the LiDAR system, the polygon structure having a wedge-shaped cross section; and
a moveable mirror positioned to redirect light passing between the transceiver and the polygon structure, the moveable mirror configured to adjust angles of light being directed between the transceiver and the polygon structure, wherein the moveable mirror defines a vertical angle of the field of view of the LiDAR system, and wherein a position of the moveable mirror is translatable in a manner that results in an increase of scan resolution of at least a part of the field of view of the LiDAR system.

19. The LiDAR system of claim 18 , wherein the polygon structure has a symmetric axis, wherein the polygon structure comprises facets that are non-parallel to the symmetric axis, and the polygon structure further comprises chamfers that are non-parallel to the symmetric axis.

20. The LiDAR system of claim 18 , wherein the polygon structure is configured to rotate about an axis in a first direction at a substantially constant speed.

21. The LiDAR system of claim 19 , wherein the polygon structure is configured to rotate about an axis in a first direction at a substantially constant speed.

22. The LiDAR system of claim 20 , wherein the polygon structure is masked.

23. The LiDAR system of claim 21 , wherein the rotation axis is coincident to or different to the symmetric axis of the polygon structure.

24. A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system for use with a vehicle, the LiDAR system comprising:
a transceiver configured to transmit and receive light;
a polygon structure that defines a lateral angle of a field of view of the LiDAR system, the polygon structure having a polygonal cross section having one or less pair of parallel sides; and
a moveable mirror positioned to redirect light passing between the transceiver and the polygon structure, the moveable mirror configured to adjust angles of light being directed between the transceiver and the polygon structure, wherein the moveable mirror defines a vertical angle of the field of view of the LiDAR system, and wherein a position of the moveable mirror is translatable in a manner that results in an increase of scan resolution of at least a part of the field of view of the LiDAR system.

25. The LiDAR system of claim 24 , wherein the polygonal cross section is a trapezoidal cross section having only one pair of parallel sides.

26. The LiDAR system of claim 24 , wherein the polygon structure has a symmetric axis, wherein the polygon structure comprises facets that are non-parallel to the symmetric axis, and the polygon structure further comprises chamfers that are non-parallel to the symmetric axis.

27. The LiDAR system of claim 24 , wherein the polygon structure is configured to rotate about an axis in a first direction at a substantially constant speed.

28.

Assignees

• Innovusion Inc

Inventors

• Li Yimin
• Zhang Rui
• Bao Junwei

Classifications

• B60K35/60

  Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• G01S7/4813 Primary

  Housing arrangements · CPC title

• B60K35/00

  Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles · CPC title

• G01S7/4812

  transmitted and received beams following a coaxial path · CPC title

• G01S17/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title