Optoelectric sensing device with common deflection device

• US 7,345,271 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sick AG (Sick)
• Original Assignee: IBEO Automobile Sensor GmbH (Ibeo Automotive Systems GmbH)
• Inventors: Boehlau, Christian, Hipp, Johann
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps; Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ko; Tony
• Application Number:
  US10/528,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20060145062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• Field of Search: 250234-236, 250/221, 356/4.01, 356/5.01
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4811 common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4815 using multiple transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4817 relating to scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/484 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/491 Details of non-pulse systems

Abstract

The invention relates to an optoelectronic detection device, especially a laser scanner, comprising a transmitting device for transmitting preferably pulsed electromagnetic radiation, also comprising at least one receiving device which is associated with the transmitting device and at least one deflection device which is used to guide radiation which is transmitted by the transmitting device into a monitoring area and radiation which is reflected by the monitoring area to the receiving device. The transmitting device comprises several, preferably two, separate transmitting modules which respectively transmit radiation along a specific transmission path.

Claims

1. An optoelectronic sensing device, comprising a transmitter device for the transmission of electromagnetic radiation, at least one receiver device associated with the transmitter device and at least one deflection device, with which radiation transmitted by the transmitter device can be directed into a monitored zone and radiation reflected from the monitored zone can be directed onto the receiver device, characterized in that

the transmitter device includes a plurality of transmitter modules which are spatially separate from one another and which each transmit radiation along their own propagation path, the transmitter modules are aligned such that fronts of the transmitted radiation together form a total radiation front in the monitored zone which is larger than the fronts of the transmitted radiation from one of the transmitter modules and can be controlled for alternate transmission of radiation pulses;

and

the deflection device has a common planar reflection surface configured to receive radiation transmitted by each of the transmitter modules and reflected from the monitored zone with the radiation transmitted by the transmitter modules and the radiation reflected from the monitored zone being incident on the reflection surface at regions spatially separate from one another, the deflection device rotatable configured to carry out a continuous rotary movement at a constant rotational speed.

2. A sensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the propagation paths of the radiation transmitted by the transmitter modules extend free of overlap in a region near to the sensing device.

3. A sensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the transmitter modules are each made for the transmission of an elongated radiation front, with the elongated radiation front being a continuous radiation line or being formed by discrete radiation spots arranged along a line.

4. A sensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the transmitter modules each include at least one laser diode as a radiation source which is designed for the transmission of a linear or line-shaped radiation front.

5. A sensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that an optical transmitter is positioned in front of each transmitter module.

6. The optoelectronic sensing device of claim 5 wherein the optical transmitter system is in the form of a lens.

7. A sensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the transmitter modules and/or optical transmitter systems positioned in front of the transmitter modules are made with the same construction.

8. A sensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a common receiver device is associated with the transmitter modules.

9. A sensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the receiver device is matched to a shape of a total radiation front jointly generated by the transmitter modules.

10. A sensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that an optical receiver system is associated with each receiver device and is disposed in a common transmitter/receiver plane together with optional transmitter systems positioned in front of the transmitter modules.

11. A sensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a reflection surface of the deflection device extends at an inclination to a common transmitter/receiver plane of the transmitter modules and of the receiver device and in that the deflection device is rotatable around an axis extending approximately perpendicular to the transmitter/receiver plane.

12. A sensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the transmitter modules are arranged adjacent to the receiver device.

13. A sensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the transmitter modules are arranged symmetrically on oppositely disposed sides of the receiver device.

14. A sensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the spacing between the transmitter modules is maximized such that the radiation transmitted by the transmitter modules is deflected by marginal regions of the deflection device.

15. A sensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the propagation path of the radiation transmitted by at least one transmitter module, and the receiving path of the radiation reflected from the monitored zone and directed onto the receiver device, extend free of overlap in a near region of the sensing device.

16. A sensing device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the transmitter modules can be controlled for the alternate transmission of radiation pulses.

17. The optoelectronic sensing device of claim 1 is further defined as a laser scanner.

18. The optoelectronic sensing device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of transmitter modules is further defined as two transmitter modules.

19. An optoelectronic sensing device, comprising a transmitter device for the transmission of electromagnetic radiation, at least one receiver device associated with the transmitter device and at least one deflection device, with which radiation transmitted by the transmitter device can be directed into a monitored zone and radiation reflected from the monitored zone can be directed onto the receiver device, characterized in that

the transmitter device includes a plurality of transmitter modules which are spatially separate from one another and which each transmit radiation along their own propagation path, the transmitter modules are aligned such that fronts of the transmitted radiation together form a total radiation front in the monitored zone which is larger than the fronts of the transmitted radiation from one of the transmitter modules and can be controlled for alternate transmission of radiation pulses;

and

the deflection device has at least one planar reflection surface for radiation transmitted by the transmitter modules and reflected from the monitored zone with the radiation transmitted by the transmitter modules and the radiation reflected from the monitored zone being incident on the reflection surface at regions spatially separate from one another, the deflection device rotatable configured to carry out a continuous rotary movement at a constant rotational speed, wherein the receiver device, is divided into a plurality of receiver regions which can each be evaluated separately from one another and which each include one or more photodiodes, with at least one receiver region being associated with each transmitter module.

20. An optoelectronic sensing device, comprising a transmitter device for the transmission of electromagnetic radiation, at least one receiver device associated with the transmitter device and at least one deflection device, with which radiation transmitted by the transmitter device can be directed into a monitored zone and radiation reflected from the monitored zone can be directed onto the receiver device, characterized in that

the transmitter device includes a plurality of transmitter modules which are spatially separate from one another and which each transmit radiation along their own propagation path, the transmitter modules are aligned such that fronts of the transmitted radiation together form a total radiation front in the monitored zone which is larger than the fronts of the transmitted radiation from one of the transmitter modules and can be controlled for alternate transmission of radiation pulses;

and

the deflection device has at least one planar reflection surface for radiation transmitted by the transmitter modules and reflected from the monitored zone with the radiation transmitted by the transmitter modules and the radiation reflected from the monitored zone being incident on the reflection surface at regions spatially separate from one another, the deflection device rotatable configured to carry out a continuous rotary movement at a constant rotational speed, wherein an axis of rotation of the deflection device extends centrally through the receiver device and the transmitter modules are arranged equally far away from the axis of rotation.

21. A method for the operation of an optoelectronic sensing device, comprising a transmitter device for the transmission of electromagnetic radiation, at least one receiver device associated with the transmitter device and at least one deflection device, with which radiation transmitted by the transmitters device can be directed into a monitored zone and radiation reflected from the monitored zone can be directed onto the receiver device, wherein the transmitter device includes a plurality of transmitter modules, which are spatially separated from one another and which each transmit radiation along their own propagation path, and-wherein the transmitter modules are controlled such that the transmitter modules transmit the radiation with a time offset and alternately in the form of radiation pulses in each case.

22. A method for using an optoelectric sensing device with a vehicle, comprising:

mounting a sensing device to a vehicle, the sensing device comprising a transmitter device for the transmission of electromagnetic radiation, at least one receiver device associated with the transmitter device and at least one deflection device, with which radiation transmitted by the transmitter device can be directed into a monitored zone and radiation reflected from the monitored zone can be directed onto a receiver device, wherein the transmitter device includes a plurality of transmitter modules, which are spatially separated from one another and which each transmit radiation along their own propagation path, the transmitter modules are aligned such that fronts of the transmitted radiation together form a total radiation front in the monitored zone which is larger than the fronts of the transmitted radiation from one of the transmitter modules and can be controlled for alternate transmission of radiation pulses; and

the deflection device has at least one planar reflection surface for radiation transmitted by the transmitter modules and reflected from the monitored zone with the radiation transmitted by the transmitter modules and the radiation reflected from the monitored zone being incident on the reflection surface at regions spatially separate from one another, the deflection device rotatable configured to carry out a continuous rotary movement at a constant rotational speed; and

operating the sensing device for object recognition and object tracking in relation to the vehicle by transmitting elongated radiation front in the direction of travel of the vehicle and adjusting the transmitter modules such that the elongated radiation fronts extend in a vertical direction such that an elongated vertical overall radiation front is formed.

23. An optoelectronic sensing device, comprising a transmitter device for the transmission of electromagnetic radiation, at least one receiver device associated with the transmitter device and at least one deflection device, with which radiation transmitted by the transmitter device can be directed into a monitored zone and radiation reflected from the monitored zone can be directed onto the receiver device, characterized in that

the transmitter device includes a plurality of transmitter modules which are spatially separate from one another and which each transmit radiation along their own propagation path, the transmitter modules are aligned such that fronts of the transmitted radiation together form a total radiation front in the monitored zone which is larger than the fronts of the transmitted radiation from one of the transmitter modules;

and

the deflection device has at least one planar reflection surface for radiation transmitted by the transmitter modules and reflected from the monitored zone with the radiation transmitted by the transmitter modules and the radiation reflected from the monitored zone being incident on the reflection surface at regions spatially separate from one another, the deflection device rotatable configured to carry out a continuous rotary movement at a constant rotational speed, wherein the receiver device, is divided into a plurality of receiver regions which can each be evaluated separately from one another and which each include one or more photodiodes, with at least one receiver region being associated with each transmitter module.

24. An optoelectronic sensing device, comprising a transmitter device for the transmission of electromagnetic radiation, at least one receiver device associated with the transmitter device and at least one deflection device, with which radiation transmitted by the transmitter device can be directed into a monitored zone and radiation reflected from the monitored zone can be directed onto the receiver device, characterized in that

the transmitter device includes a plurality of transmitter modules which are spatially separate from one another and which each transmit radiation along their own propagation path, the transmitter modules are aligned such that fronts of the transmitted radiation together form a total radiation front in the monitored zone which is larger than the fronts of the transmitted radiation from one of the transmitter modules;

and

the deflection device has at least one planar reflection surface for radiation transmitted by the transmitter modules and reflected from the monitored zone with the radiation transmitted by the transmitter modules and the radiation reflected from the monitored zone being incident on the reflection surface at regions spatially separate from one another, the deflection device rotatable configured to carry out a continuous rotary movement at a constant rotational speed, wherein an axis of rotation of the deflection device extends centrally through the receiver device and the transmitter modules are arranged equally far away from the axis of rotation.

25. A method for using an optoelectric sensing device with a vehicle, comprising:

mounting a sensing device to a vehicle, the sensing device comprising a transmitter device for the transmission of electromagnetic radiation, at least one receiver device associated with the transmitter device and at least one deflection device, with which radiation transmitted by the transmitter device can be directed into a monitored zone and radiation reflected from the monitored zone can be directed onto a receiver device, wherein the transmitter device includes a plurality of transmitter modules, which are spatially separated from one another and which each transmit radiation along their own propagation path, the transmitter modules are aligned such that fronts of the transmitted radiation together form a total radiation front in the monitored zone which is larger than the fronts of the transmitted radiation from one of the transmitter modules; and

the deflection device has at least one planar reflection surface for radiation transmitted by the transmitter modules and reflected from the monitored zone with the radiation transmitted by the transmitter modules and the radiation reflected from the monitored zone being incident on the reflection surface at regions spatially separate from one another, the deflection device rotatable configured to carry out a continuous rotary movement at a constant rotational speed; and

operating the sensing device for object recognition and object tracking in relation to the vehicle by transmitting elongated radiation front in the direction of travel of the vehicle and adjusting the transmitter modules such that the elongated radiation fronts extend in a vertical direction such that an elongated vertical overall radiation front is formed.