High speed 360 degree scanning LIDAR head
AssigneeNeptec Design Group Ltd.
InventorXiang Zhu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A head for directing radiated energy from a source to a coordinate in a field of view defined by at least one of azimuth and elevation, comprises an angled element and a planar reflecting element. The angled element rotates about a first axis and redirects the beam, the redirection of the angled element differing in at least one of direction and extent as it is rotated. An axis normal to the surface extends at an angle to the second axis. The reflecting surface receives the redirected beam at a point thereon and reflects it in a direction within the FOV. A rotator may be positioned between the source and the angled element to support and independently rotate the angled element and the reflecting surface about the first and second axes without impeding the energy.
Claims19
A head for directing radiated energy from a source to a coordinate in a field of view (FOV) defined by at least one of azimuth and elevation, comprising:
- a light bending element rotatable about an axis for receiving the radiated energy incident thereon along the axis and redirecting it as it is rotated;
- a reflecting surface rotatable about the axis and intersecting the axis for reflecting the radiated energy radiated by the light bending element and reflecting it in a direction within the FOV;
- and
- a rotator coaxial with the axis for independently rotating the light bending element and the reflecting surface.
A method of directing radiated energy from a source to a coordinate in a field of view (FOV) defined by at least one of azimuth and elevation, comprising:
- rotating a light bending element about an axis;
- directing the beam onto the light bending element;
- redirecting the beam from the light bending element;
- independently rotating a reflecting surface that intersects the axis about the axis;
- receiving the redirected energy onto a point on the reflecting surface and reflecting it in a direction within the FOV.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.