Apparatus for redirecting field of view of lidar scanner, and lidar scanner including same

• US 10,754,034 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2016
• Issued: 08/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Near Earth Autonomy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Near Earth Autonomy, Inc.
• Inventors: Chamberlain, Lyle J., Bartlett, Paul, Duggins, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Bolda, Eric L
• Application Number:
  US15/279,849
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/933 of aircraft or spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4817 relating to scanning

Abstract

A lidar scanning instrument includes one or more optical elements for redirecting a portion of the output beam sweep of the lidar scanning instrument in a different direction. Three dimensional environment data for both fields of view can be generated. The optical element(s) can be static or moveable, with constant or dynamic motion patterns, to change the direction of the second field of view if desired for the application.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising,

a lidar instrument configured to sweep output light energy across a first field of view, wherein the lidar instrument includes:

at least one light energy source configured to output light energy,

an internal optical scanning element configured to direct output light energy out of the lidar instrument across the first field of view; and

a photodetector for detecting reflected light energy that is reflected back to the lidar instrument;

at least one optical element that is external to the lidar instrument, wherein the at least one optical element is configured to redirect at least a portion of the output light energy from the light energy source across a second field of view that is different from the first field of view, such that for a first portion of the sweep, the lidar instrument directs light energy across the first field of view and for a second portion of the sweep, the at least one optical element redirects at least a portion of the output light energy across the second field of view; and

a computer system in communication with the lidar instrument, wherein the computer instrument is programmed to;

determine whether reflected light energy detected by the at least one photodetector is from the first field of view, based on, at least in part, data associated with a position and orientation of the at least one optical element;

generate first three dimensional data based on reflected light energy when the output light energy is from the first field of view; and

generate second three dimensional data based on reflected light energy when the output light energy is from the second field of view.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element comprises at least one reflector.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one reflector comprises a mirror.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one reflector comprises a lens.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one reflector comprises a grating.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least optical element comprises at least one flat, rectangular optical element.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least optical element comprises at least one conical optical element.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least optical element comprises at least one curved optical element.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an actuator for moving the at least one optical element to dynamically change the direction of the second field of view.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the actuator is for pivoting the at least one optical element.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the actuator is for spinning the at least one optical element.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the actuator is for translating the at least one optical element in one or more directions.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

one or more sensors for determining position and orientation data for the at least one optical element.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more sensors comprises an IMU.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the computer system is programmed to:

time stamp the position and orientation data for the at least one optical element;

time stamp output of the photodetector of the lidar instrument; and

use the time stamped position and orientation data for the at least one optical element and the time stamped photodetector output in generating the first and second three dimensional data.