Positional feedback sensing useful for automated vehicle LIDAR

• US 10,641,878 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yeo, Kok Wee, Low, Yew Kwang, Yeo, Chee Keng
• Primary Examiner(s): Ratcliffe, Luke D
• Application Number:
  US15/233,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20180045817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 356 301- 515
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4814 of transmitters alone
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4817 relating to scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4972 Alignment of sensor

Abstract

An illustrative example device for controlling a direction of radiation includes a source of at least one beam of radiation. A plurality of optical components in a pathway of the at least one beam of radiation establish a first direction of the at least one beam of radiation. The plurality of optical components includes at least one adjustable optical component that includes at least one portion that is moveable relative to the source. A positional feedback feature on a portion of at least one of the optical components deflects at least some of the at least one beam of radiation in a second direction that is different than the first direction. A detector is situated to detect at least some of the deflected radiation and provides an output indicative of the first direction.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a direction of radiation, the device comprising:

a source of at least one beam of radiation;

a plurality of optical components in a pathway of the at least one beam of radiation, the plurality of optical components establishing a first direction of the at least one beam of radiation, the plurality of optical components including at least one adjustable optical component that includes at least one portion that is moveable relative to the source;

a positional feedback feature on a portion of at least one of the optical components, the positional feedback feature deflecting at least some of the at least one beam of radiation in a second direction that is different than the first direction, the positional feedback feature having a pattern that provides position feedback information in two dimensions; and

a detector situated to detect at least some of the deflected radiation, the detector providing an output indicative of the first direction,

wherein the positional feedback feature on the portion of the at least one of the optical components comprises at least one of

a plurality of hemispherical deflecting surfaces,

a nanoscale reflective surface,

a nanoscale refractive surface, and

a nanoscale grating.

2. The device of claim 1, comprising a controller that is configured to control movement of the portion of the at least one adjustable optical component based at least in part on the output of the detector.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the positional feedback feature comprises a plurality of hemispherical deflecting surfaces arranged in a selected two-dimensional pattern on the at least one of the optical components.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of optical components includes a micro-electrical-mechanical (MEM) mirror array;

and

the output of the detector is indicative of a position of at least one of the mirrors of the array.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of optical components includes at least one stationary optical component that remains stationary relative to the source;

and

the stationary optical component is at least one of a reflective surface, a refractive surface, a lens and a window.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the radiation comprises light.

7. A method of monitoring a device that directs radiation, the device including a source of at least one beam of radiation, a plurality of optical components including at least one adjustable optical component that includes at least one portion that is moveable relative to the source, and a positional feedback feature on a portion of at least one of the optical components, the method comprising:

establishing a first direction of the at least one beam of radiation including selectively positioning the portion of the at least one adjustable optical component;

deflecting at least some of the at least one beam of radiation from the positional feedback feature in a second direction that is different than the first direction, wherein the positional feedback feature has a pattern that provides position feedback information in two dimensions;

detecting at least some of the deflected radiation; and

determining the first direction based on the detecting,

wherein the positional feedback feature on the portion of the at least one of the optical components comprises at least one of

a plurality of hemispherical deflecting surfaces,

a nanoscale reflective surface,

a nanoscale refractive surface, and

a nanoscale grating.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising

providing information regarding the detecting to a controller;

and

using the controller to control the position of the portion of the at least one adjustable optical component based at least in part on the information.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the positional feedback feature comprises a plurality of hemispherical deflecting surfaces arranged in a two-dimensional pattern on the at least one of the optical components.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein

the plurality of optical components includes a micro-electrical-mechanical (MEM) mirror array;

and

the determining includes determining a position of at least one of the mirrors of the array.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the radiation comprises light.

12. A LIDAR device for use on an automated vehicle, the device comprising:

a source of at least one beam of light;

a plurality of optical components in a pathway of the at least one beam of light, the plurality of optical components establishing a first direction of the at least one beam of light, the plurality of optical components including at least one adjustable optical component that includes at least one portion that is moveable relative to the source;

a positional feedback feature on a portion of at least one of the optical components, the positional feedback feature deflecting at least some of the at least one beam of light in a second direction that is different than the first direction, the positional feedback feature having a pattern that provides position feedback information in two dimensions; and

a detector situated to detect at least some of the deflected light, the detector providing an output indicative of the first direction,

wherein the positional feedback feature on the portion of the at least one of the optical components comprises at least one of

a plurality of hemispherical deflecting surfaces,

a nanoscale reflective surface,

a nanoscale refractive surface, and

a nanoscale grating.

13. The LIDAR device of claim 12, comprising a controller that is configured to control movement of the portion of the at least one adjustable optical component based at least in part on the output of the detector.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the positional feedback feature comprises a two-dimensional pattern of hemispherical deflecting surfaces on the at least one of the optical components.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein

the plurality of optical components includes a micro-electrical-mechanical (MEM) mirror array;

and

the output of the detector is indicative of a position of at least one of the mirrors of the array.