US 2023/0408658 A1Published application

Verification of the functionality of a laser scanner

AssigneeValeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH

InventorsNikolai Sergeev, Daniel Thiel

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A method for verifying the functionality of a laser scanner includes a housing with a light-permeable window, a transmission unit inside the housing, a deflection unit, and a detector unit inside the housing. At least one test signal is transmitted by the transmission unit during a test phase. The deflection unit is oriented so that the at least one test signal is not directed to the window. Components of the at least one test signal are detected by the detector unit, and based on this detection, at least two detector signals are generated. A pulse width is ascertained for each of the detector signals by a computing unit, and a ratio of the pulse width of a first detector signal to the pulse width of a second detector signal is ascertained. The operability of the transmitter unit and/or the detector unit is verified on the basis of said ratio.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for checking the function of a laser scanner, the laser scanner comprising a housing with a light-transmissive window, a transmitter unit for emitting laser signals which is arranged within the housing, a movable deflection unit for deflecting the laser signals, and a detector unit arranged within the housing, the method comprising:

transmitting at least one test signal by the transmitter unit during a test phase;
aligning the deflection unit vis-à-vis the transmitter unit during the test phase so that the at least one test signal is not directed at the window;
recording components of the at least one test signal by at least two optical detectors of the detector unit and at least two detector signals are generated on the basis of the detected components;
determining a pulse width by a computing unit for each of the at least two detector signals;
determining a ratio of the pulse width of a first detector signal of the at least two detector signals to the pulse width of a second detector signal of the at least two detector signals by the computing unit;
and
checking a functionality of the transmitter unit and/or detector unit on the basis of the ratio.

4 more elements

A laser scanner device having a computing unit and a laser scanner, wherein:

the laser scanner has a housing with a light-transmissive window, a transmitter unit for emitting laser signals which is arranged within the housing, a control unit, a movable deflection unit for deflecting the laser signals, and a detector unit arranged within the housing;
the control unit is configured to drive the transmitter unit to transmit at least one test signal during a test phase, to drive the deflection unit in such a way that the deflection unit is aligned vis-à-vis the transmitter unit during the test phase so that the at least one test signal is not directed at the window;
the detector unit has at least two optical detectors which are configured to record reflected and/or scattered components of the at least one test signal and to generate at least two detector signals on the basis of the detected components;
and
the computing unit is configured to determine a pulse width for each of the at least two detector signals;
to determine a ratio of the pulse width of a first detector signal of the at least two detector signals to the pulse width of a second detector signal of the at least two detector signals;
and
to check a functionality of the transmitter unit and/or detector unit on the basis of the ratio.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/036,536Filed 8 Nov 2021
Priority: DE 10 2020 129 663.011 Nov 2020
Published: 21 Dec 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G01S 7/497
Of systems according to group G01S17/00: means for monitoring or calibrating
G01S 17/10
For measuring distance only: using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves
G01S 17/42
Systems determining position data of a target: simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates
G01S 17/931
For anti-collision purposes: of land vehicles