Lidar System Producing Multiple Scan Paths and Method of Making and Using Same

• US 20150092184A1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pictometry International Corporation (Eagleview Technologies, Inc. /Wa/)
• Original Assignee: Pictometry International Corporation (Eagleview Technologies, Inc. /Wa/)
• Inventors: Schultz, Stephen L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,244,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/5.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4817 relating to scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/484 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/101 with both horizontal and vertical deflecting means, e.g. raster or XY scanners colour television using laser beams scanning a display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/12 using multifaceted mirrors

Abstract

A LiDAR system and method are disclosed, comprising a housing, a light source, a receiver, and a light deflection system comprising a light deflection element, rotatable and balanced about an axis, the element having at least three sides, at least two of the three sides having reflective surfaces, wherein at least a first side of the three sides is at a first angle in relation to the axis, and at least a second side of the three sides is at a second angle in relation to the axis, with the first angle being different from the second angle, such that light is deflectable from the reflective surface of the first and second sides out of the housing, whereby upon actuation of the light source and rotation of the light deflection element, the LiDAR system forms at least a first scan path and a second scan path.

Claims

1. A light deflection system comprising:

a light deflection element having a first end and a second end, the light deflection element rotatable and balanced about an axis extending from the first end to the second end, the light deflection element further having at least three sides extending between the first end and the second end, at least a first side of the at least three sides has a first reflective surface at a first angle in relation to the axis, and at least a second side of the at least three sides has a second reflective surface at a second angle in relation to the axis, with the first angle being different from the second angle, the light deflection element being rotatable about the axis such that light is deflectable from the first and second reflective surfaces of the first and second sides.

2. The light deflection system of claim 1, further comprising a first connector on the first end and aligned with the axis, and a second connector on the second end and aligned with the axis.

3. A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning system comprising:

a housing;

a light source within the housing adapted to transmit light;

a light deflection system within the housing comprising;

a light deflection element rotatably supported by the housing and having a first end and a second end, the light deflection element rotatable and balanced about an axis extending from the first end to the second end, the light deflection element further having at least three sides extending between the first end and the second end, at least a first side of the at least three sides has a first reflective surface at a first angle in relation to the axis, and at least a second side of the at least three sides has a second reflective surface at a second angle in relation to the axis, with the first angle being different from the second angle, the light deflection element being rotatable about the axis such that light is deflectable from the first and second reflective surfaces of the first and second sides;

wherein upon actuation of the light source and rotation of the light deflection element, at least a first scan path and a second scan path are formed; and

a receiver adapted to receive the light after reflection from the scan paths.

4. A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning system of claim 3, further comprising a first connector on the first end and aligned with the axis, the first connector supported by the housing, and a second connector on the second end and aligned with the axis, the second connector supported by the housing.

5. The light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning system of claim 3, wherein the at least three sides are four sides, wherein the first and the third sides are at a first angle in relation to the axis of the light deflection element and wherein the second and the fourth sides are at the second angle in relation to the axis, and in which the second angle is parallel to the axis of the light deflection element, such that, when the light deflection element is rotated, light is deflectable by the first and the third sides to form the first scan path and by the second and the fourth sides to form the second scan path, such that the first scan path and the second scan path are different.

6. The light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning system of claim 3, further comprising:

at least one receiver channel within the housing adapted to guide the light transmitted from the light source and associated light received after reflection of the light from the scan path; and

an evaluation system within the housing wherein distance is determined from a calculated time of travel of the light from the light source to an object to be scanned in the scan path and back to the receiver.

7. The light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning system of claim 6, wherein the light deflection element is further adapted to deflect to the receiver the associated light received after reflection of the light from the scan paths.

8. A ranging system comprising:

a vehicle;

a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning system carried by the vehicle, comprising;

a housing;

a light source within the housing adapted to transmit light;

a light deflection system within the housing comprising;

a light deflection element rotatably supported within the housing and having a first end and a second end, the light deflection element rotatable and balanced about an axis extending from the first end to the second end, the light deflection element further having at least three sides extending between the first end and the second end, at least a first side of the at least three sides has a first reflective surface at a first angle in relation to the axis, and at least a second side of the at least three sides has a second reflective surface at a second angle in relation to the axis, with the first angle being different from the second angle, the light deflection element being rotatable about the axis such that light is deflectable from the first and second reflective surfaces of the first and second sides;

wherein upon actuation of the light source and rotation of the light deflection element, the LiDAR scanning system forms at least a first scan path and a second scan path; and

a receiver within the housing adapted to receive the light after reflection from the scan paths; and

a computer having computer instructions adapted to determine and store distance from a calculated time of travel of the light from the light source to an object to be scanned in the scan paths and back to the receiver;

wherein the first scan path is at a first angle in relation to the LiDAR scanning system and the second scan path is at a second angle in relation to the LiDAR scanning system, where the first angle in relation to the LiDAR scanning system is different than the second angle in relation to the LiDAR scanning system.

9. A method for light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning comprising:

rotating a light deflection element, the light deflection element having a first end and a second end, the light deflection element rotatable and balanced about an axis extending from the first end to the second end, the light deflection element further having at least three sides extending between the first end and the second end, at least a first side of the at least three sides having a first reflective surface at a first angle in relation to the axis, and at least a second side of the at least three sides having a second reflective surface at a second angle in relation to the axis, with the first angle being different from the second angle, the light deflection element being rotatable about the axis such that light is deflectable from the first and second reflective surfaces of the first and second sides; and

deflecting a light beam from the sides of the deflection element to form at least a first scan path and a second scan path.