Ultrasonic vibrations on a window in a lidar system
AssigneeLuminar, LLC
InventorJohn E. McWhirter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To clear the line-of-sight (LOS) on a window in a lidar system within a vehicle, ultrasonic transducers are physically attached to the interior surface of the window to remove debris. When debris is detected at the window, the ultrasonic transducers are directed to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency thereby generating an ultrasonic wave which causes the debris to bounce off the window. In some scenarios, the ultrasonic transducers vibrate with a particular phase shift to generate a travelling wave that causes the debris to sweep across the window. Additionally, windshield wipers, spray from a nozzle, and/or a hydrophobic or oleophobic coating may be used in combination with the ultrasonic transducers to remove the debris from the window.
Claims23
A lidar system comprising:
- a light source configured to emit light pulses;
- a scanner configured to scan the emitted light pulses across a field of regard of the lidar system;
- a receiver configured to detect light from some of the emitted light pulses scattered by one or more remote targets to generate respective pixels;
- a window having an exterior-facing surface, the window arranged in front of the light source, the scanner, and the receiver, wherein the emitted light pulses are transmitted through the window toward the one or more remote targets, and the light from the emitted light pulses that is scattered by the one or more remote targets is transmitted through the window and detected at the receiver;
- and
- one or more ultrasonic transducers attached to the window and configured to cause vibration at the window to remove debris from the exterior-facing surface of the window.
A method for removing debris from a window of a lidar system, the method comprising:
- emitting light pulses by a light source of a lidar system;
- scanning, by a scanner of the lidar system the emitted light pulses across a field of regard of the lidar system;
- detecting, by a receiver of the lidar system, light from some of the emitted light pulses scattered by one or more remote targets to generate respective pixels;
- detecting debris on a window having an exterior-facing surface arranged in front of the light source, the scanner, and the receiver, wherein the emitted light pulses are transmitted through the window toward the one or more remote targets and the light from the emitted light pulses that is scattered by the one or more remote targets is transmitted through the window and detected at the receiver;
- and
- causing one or more ultrasonic transducers attached to the window to vibrate in response to detecting the debris on the window to remove the debris from the exterior-facing surface of the window.
A controller in a lidar system comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and
- a non-transitory computer-readable memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:
- provide a control signal to a light source to emit light pulses;
- detect debris on a window having an exterior-facing surface arranged in front of the light source, a scanner, and a receiver, wherein the emitted light pulses are transmitted through the window toward one or more remote targets and light from some of the emitted light pulses is scattered by the one or more remote targets, transmitted through the window, and detected at the receiver;
- and
- provide a control signal to one or more ultrasonic transducers attached to the window to vibrate to remove the debris from the exterior-facing surface of the window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.