Patent Application
20240175985
The technical field relates generally to lidar sensors and more particularly to detecting breaking in a window of a lidar sensor.
Lidar sensors may generate laser light which can be harmful to the eyes of humans or other animals. A laser generating the laser light is typically disposed within a housing, behind a window. The window may include a filter to prevent harmful emissions of laser light (i.e., light at certain wavelengths) from escaping the housing and into the environment. However, should this window become broken, harmful emissions of laser light may be dispersed.
As such, it is desirable to present a system and/or method to detect breakage of a window in a lidar sensor. In addition, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.
In one exemplary embodiment, a lidar sensor assembly includes a housing having a window. A light source is disposed within the housing and configured to generate light which is directed through the window. A detector array is disposed within the housing and configured to detect light generated by the light source and reflected off at least one object. A controller is in communication with the light source to control operation of the light source. A strain gauge is in communication with the controller and includes a conductive element disposed on the window. The controller is configured to deactivate the light source in response to the strain gauge indicating damage to said window.
In another embodiment, a method of detecting damage to a window of lidar sensor assembly is described. The lidar sensor assembly includes a housing defining an opening, the window disposed in the opening, a light source disposed within the housing and configured to generate light which is directed through the window, and a detector array disposed within the housing and configured to detect light generated by the light source and reflected off at least one object. The method includes disposing a conductive element disposed on the window. The method further includes sensing a resistance of the conductive element as part of a strain gauge. The method also includes determining whether damage has occurred to the window based on the sensed resistance of the conductive element.
Other advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, a lidar sensor assembly 100 is shown and described herein.
Referring now to
The housing 200 includes a window 202 allowing light to exit and enter the housing. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in
Referring again to
The window 202 may also include a filter (not shown) designed to prevent potentially harmful emissions of light from escaping from the housing 200 and into the environment outside of the lidar sensor assembly 100.
The lidar sensor assembly 100 may also include optics 206 configured to focus, disperse, and/or otherwise condition the light generated by the light source 204, as is readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. The lidar sensor assembly 100 may also include a beam steering mechanism (not shown) configured to route the light generated by the light source 204 in a particular direction through the window 202.
The lidar sensor assembly 100 further includes a detector array 208 disposed within the housing 200. The detector array 208 includes a plurality of light-sensitive photodetectors (not individually shown). The detector array 208 is configured to detect light generated by the light source 204 and reflected off at least one object 104.
The lidar sensor assembly 100 also includes a controller 210. The controller 210 may be a microprocessor, microcontroller, application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”), and/or any other device configured to perform calculations and/or execute instructions (i.e, run a program). The controller 210 is shown in
The controller 210 is in communication with the light source 204 to control operation of the light source 204. That is, the controller 210 may control when and if the light source 204 generates light. The controller 210 may also prohibit the light source 204 from generating light.
The lidar sensor assembly 100 includes a strain gauge 212 configured to detect potential damage to the window 202. The strain gauge 212 is configured to measure strain on the window 202 to determine if the window 202 is broken, cracked, and/or otherwise damaged.
The strain gauge 212 is in communication with the controller 210, such that the controller 210 may realize the state (broken, cracked, normal, etc.) of the window 202. The strain gauge includes a conductive element 214 disposed on the window 202 and an electronic component portion 216. The conductive element 214 may be implemented as a wire, conductive paint, or other suitable material as appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art.
As shown in the embodiment of
Referring again to
Referring again to
Referring now to
The method 500 further includes, at 506, determining whether damage has occurred to the window 202 based on the sensed resistance of the conductive element 214. If no damage has occurred, then the analysis at 504, 506 repeats. If damage to the window 202 has occurred, then the method 500 continues, at 508, with deactivating the light source 204.
The present invention has been described herein in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims.
