Optical member driving apparatus for laser radar

• US 7,903,236 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Onojima, Noboru
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ratcliffe; Luke D
• Application Number:
  US12/187,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20090086188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 356 301- 315, 356 401- 41, 356 501- 515, 356 6- 22
• US Class Current: 356/5.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/481 Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements

Abstract

An optical-member driving apparatus for laser radar, comprising: an optical-member integrated portion including an optical member and an optical-member mounted portion having the optical member mounted thereon; first erection members supporting the optical-member integrated portion; a relay portion to which the first erection members is connected; second erection members supporting the relay portion; and a fixed portion to which the second erection members are connected.

Claims

1. An optical-member driving apparatus for laser radar, comprising:

an optical-member integrated portion including an optical member and an optical-member mounted portion having the optical member mounted thereon;

first erection members supporting the optical-member integrated portion;

a relay portion to which the first erection members is connected;

second erection members supporting the relay portion;

a fixed portion to which the second erection members are connected,

the optical-member integrated portion and the relay portion connected by the first erection members capable of exerting high rigidity against a force substantially in the longitudinal direction, and

the relay portion and the fixed portion connected by the second erection members that is bent flexibly when applied with a force substantially in the longitudinal direction.

2. The optical-member driving apparatus for laser radar according to claim 1, wherein

the first erection members connecting the optical-member integrated portion and the relay portion, and the second erection members connecting the relay portion and the fixed portion are different in rigidity in at least one of a lateral and longitudinal directions.

3. The optical-member driving apparatus for laser radar according to claim 1, wherein

the optical-member integrated portion and the relay portion are connected by a plurality of the first erection members, and each of the first erection members is disposed at a different angle;

and

the relay portion and the fixed portion are connected by a plurality of the second erection members, and each of the second erection members is disposed at a different angle.

7. The optical-member driving apparatus for laser radar according to claim 1, wherein

the optical-member integrated portion is located on the front side;

the relay portion is located on the rear side; and

the fixed portion is located between the optical-member integrated portion and the relay portion.

8. The optical-member driving apparatus for laser radar according to claim 1, wherein

suspension wires formed substantially in a linear state are used as the first and second erection members.

10. The optical-member driving apparatus for laser radar according to claim 1, wherein

the optical-member integrated portion and the relay portion are connected by the first erection members bent flexibly when applied with a force substantially in the lateral direction;

and

the relay portion and the fixed portion are connected by the second erection members capable of exerting high rigidity against a force substantially in the lateral direction.

11. The optical-member driving apparatus for laser radar according to claim 1, wherein

when an optical-member driving structure for laser radar provided with the first erection members and the second erection members is viewed from above,

the optical-member integrated portion and the relay portion are connected via the plurality of first erection members by extending a plurality of the first erection members substantially in parallel between the optical-member integrated portion and the relay portion;

and

the relay portion and the fixed portion are connected via the plurality of second erection members by extending a plurality of the second erection members inclined substantially in a truncated chevron state between the relay portion and the fixed portion.

12. The optical-member driving apparatus for laser radar according to claim 1, wherein

when an optical-member driving structure for laser radar provided with the first erection members and the second erection members is viewed on the side,

the optical-member integrated portion and the relay portion are connected via the plurality of first erection members by extending a plurality of the first erecting members inclined substantially in a truncated chevron state between the optical-member integrated portion and the relay portion;

and

the relay portion and the fixed portion are connected via a plurality of the second erection members by extending a plurality of the second erection members substantially in parallel between the relay portion and the fixed portion.

4. An optical-member driving apparatus for laser radar, comprising:

an optical-member integrated portion including an optical member and an optical-member mounted portion having the optical member mounted thereon;

first erection members supporting the optical-member integrated portion;

a relay portion to which the first erection members is connected;

second erection members supporting the relay portion; and

a fixed portion to which the second erection members are connected,

wherein the optical-member integrated portion and the relay portion are connected by the first erection members bent flexibly when applied with a force substantially in the lateral direction; and

the relay portion and the fixed portion are connected by the second erection members capable of exerting high rigidity against a force substantially in the lateral direction.

5. An optical-member driving apparatus for laser radar, comprising:

an optical-member integrated portion including an optical member and an optical-member mounted portion having the optical member mounted thereon;

first erection members supporting the optical-member integrated portion;

a relay portion to which the first erection members is connected;

second erection members supporting the relay portion; and

a fixed portion to which the second erection members are connected,

wherein when an optical-member driving structure for laser radar provided with the first erection members and the second erection members is viewed from above, the optical-member integrated portion and the relay portion are connected via the plurality of first erection members by extending a plurality of the first erection members substantially in parallel between the optical-member integrated portion and the relay portion; and

the relay portion and the fixed portion are connected via the plurality of second erection members by extending a plurality of the second erection members inclined substantially in a truncated chevron state between the relay portion and the fixed portion.

6. An optical-member driving apparatus for laser radar, comprising:

an optical-member integrated portion including an optical member and an optical-member mounted portion having the optical member mounted thereon;

first erection members supporting the optical-member integrated portion;

a relay portion to which the first erection members is connected;

second erection members supporting the relay portion; and

a fixed portion to which the second erection members are connected,

wherein when an optical-member driving structure for laser radar provided with the first erection members and the second erection members is viewed on the side, the optical-member integrated portion and the relay portion are connected via the plurality of first erection members by extending a plurality of the first erecting members inclined substantially in a truncated chevron state between the optical-member integrated portion and the relay portion; and

the relay portion and the fixed portion are connected via a plurality of the second erection members by extending a plurality of the second erection members substantially in parallel between the relay portion and the fixed portion.

9. An optical-member driving apparatus for laser radar, comprising:

an optical-member integrated portion including an optical member and an optical-member mounted portion having the optical member mounted thereon;

first erection members supporting the optical-member integrated portion;

a relay portion to which the first erection members is connected;

second erection members supporting the relay portion; and

a fixed portion to which the second erection members are connected,

wherein the first erection members connecting the optical-member integrated portion and the relay portion, and the second erection members connecting the relay portion and the fixed portion being different in rigidity in at least one of a lateral and longitudinal directions.