Scan mirror systems and methods
OwnerGerard Dirk Smitsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system to scan a field of view with light beams can include a scanning mirror arrangement having a mirror and a drive mechanism configured to rotate the mirror about an axis between two terminal positions; at least one light source configured to simultaneously produce at least a first light beam and a second light beam directed at the mirror from different directions. Upon rotation of the mirror, the first and second light beams can scan a field of view. Another example of a scanning mirror arrangement includes a mirror; hinges attached at opposite sides of the mirror; and a drive mechanism attached to the hinges and configured to twist the hinges resulting in a larger twist to the mirror, wherein the hinges are disposed between the drive mechanism and the mirror.
Claims27
A system to scan a field of view with light beams, the system comprising:
- a first scanning mirror arrangement and a second scanning mirror arrangement, wherein each scanning mirror arrangement comprises a mirror and a drive mechanism configured to rotate the mirror about an axis between two terminal positions that are separated by 10 or more degrees, and wherein each scanning mirror arrangement is adapted for attachment at separate sites at opposite sides of a vehicle;
- one or more light sources configured to simultaneously produce at least a first light beam and a second light beam separately directed at each mirror of each scanning mirror arrangement, wherein a direction of the first light beam toward each mirror differs from a direction of the second light beam toward each mirror by at least 5 degrees, wherein the first and the second light beams, upon rotation of each mirror, are configured to separately scan a combined field of view (FOV) of at least 20 degrees for each scanning mirror arrangement;
- and
- wherein each scanning mirror arrangement provides for pivoting to a first location for separately scanning the combined FOV at a side view away from each side of the vehicle, and pivoting to a second location for separately scanning the combined FOV at an overlapping front view ahead of a front side of the vehicle.
A system to determine a position of one or more objects, comprising:
- a first scanning mirror arrangement and a second scanning mirror arrangement, wherein each scanning mirror arrangement comprises a mirror and a drive mechanism configured to rotate the mirror about an axis between two terminal positions that are separated by 10 or more degrees, and wherein each scanning mirror arrangement is adapted for attachment at separate sites at opposite sides of a vehicle;
- one or more light sources configured to simultaneously produce at least a first light beam and a second light beam separately directed at each mirror of each scanning mirror arrangement, wherein a direction of the first light beam toward each mirror differs from a direction of the second light beam toward each mirror by at least 5 degrees, wherein the first and the second light beams, upon rotation of each mirror, are configured to separately scan a combined field of view (FOV) of at least 20 degrees for each scanning mirror arrangement;
- wherein each scanning mirror arrangement provides for pivoting to a first location for separately scanning the combined FOV at a side view away from each side of the vehicle, and pivoting to a second location for separately scanning the combined FOV at an overlapping front view ahead of a front side of the vehicle;
- and
- a plurality of receivers that are spaced-apart from each other and the scanning mirror arrangement, each receiver comprising an array of pixels, wherein each of the pixels is configured to detect photons received by the pixel.
A method for scanning a field of view with light beams, the method comprising:
- employing a first scanning mirror arrangement and a second scanning mirror arrangement, wherein each scanning mirror arrangement comprises a mirror and a drive mechanism configured to rotate the mirror about an axis between two terminal positions that are separated by 10 or more degrees, and wherein each scanning mirror arrangement is adapted for attachment at separate sites at opposite sides of a vehicle;
- employing one or more light sources configured to simultaneously produce at least a first light beam and a second light beam separately directed at each mirror of each scanning mirror arrangement, wherein a direction of the first light beam toward each mirror differs from a direction of the second light beam toward mirror by at least 5 degrees, wherein the first and the second light beams, upon rotation of each mirror, are configured to separately scan a combined field of view (FOV) of at least 20 degrees for each scanning mirror arrangement;
- and
- wherein each scanning mirror arrangement provides for pivoting to a first location for separately scanning the combined FOV at a side view away from each side of the vehicle, and pivoting to a second location for separately scanning the combined FOV at an overlapping front view ahead of a front side of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.