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DE-202024107399-U1 - Distance measuring device

DE202024107399U1DE 202024107399 U1DE202024107399 U1DE 202024107399U1DE-202024107399-U1

Abstract

Distance measuring device (10), in particular FMCW distance measuring device, comprising: a static light generation and detection unit (12) configured to generate at least one optical signal as a transmit signal (14) and to detect at least one optical signal as a receive signal (15); and a movable light transmitting and receiving unit (16) which is configured to transmit the transmitting signal (14) into a measuring area (18) and to receive an optical signal reflected back from objects in the measuring area (18) as a received signal (15); wherein the distance measuring device (10) is designed, in a signal transmission section (22) between the static light generation and detection unit (12) and the movable light transmission and reception unit (16) to transmit the transmission signal (14) and/or reception signal (15) at least partially via a free space transmission.

Assignees

  • SICK AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241218
Priority Date
20241218

Claims (14)

  1. Distance measuring device (10), in particular an FMCW distance measuring device, comprising: a static light generation and detection unit (12) configured to generate at least one optical signal as a transmit signal (14) and to detect at least one optical signal as a receive signal (15); and a movable light transmitting and receiving unit (16) configured to transmit the transmit signal (14) into a measuring area (18) and to receive an optical signal reflected back from objects in the measuring area (18) as a receive signal (15); wherein the distance measuring device (10) is configured to transmit the transmit signal (14) and/or receive signal (15) at least partially via free-space transmission in a signal transmission section (22) between the static light generation and detection unit (12) and the movable light transmitting and receiving unit (16).
  2. Distance measuring device (10) according Claim 1 , wherein the static light generation and detection unit (12) is configured to generate a plurality of transmit signals (14), in particular simultaneously, and to detect a plurality of received signals (15).
  3. Distance measuring device (10) according Claim 2 , wherein the distance measuring device (10) is configured to bundle the transmitting signals (14) and/or the received signals (15) before transmission via the signal transmission section (22) and, in particular, only to transmit the bundled transmitting signal (31) and/or the bundled received signal (39) via the signal transmission section (22).
  4. Distance measuring device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal transmission section (22) comprises a shielding unit which is configured to shield the optical signals transmitted via the signal transmission section (22) from optical interference signals.
  5. Distance measuring device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one transmit signal (14) or the transmit signals (14) are frequency modulated, in particular wherein the optical signals differ substantially in their respective wavelength or in the respective wavelength band in which the frequency modulation takes place.
  6. Distance measuring device (10) according to one of the Claims 2 until 5 , wherein the static light generation and detection unit (12) comprises a first signal focusing and splitting unit and the movable light transmitting and receiving unit (16) comprises a second signal focusing and splitting unit, wherein the first signal focusing and splitting unit is configured to transmit the optical signals (14) to bundle and output the bundled optical transmit signal (31) in the transmit direction and to receive a bundled optical receive signal (39) transmitted via the signal transmission section (22) and to extract a plurality of optical receive signals (15) from the bundled optical receive signal (39) and output them in the receive direction, wherein the second signal bundling and splitting unit is configured to bundle the plurality of optical receive signals (15) and output the bundled optical receive signal (39) in the receive direction and to receive a bundled optical transmit signal (31) transmitted via the signal transmission section (22) and to extract the plurality of optical transmit signals (14) from the bundled optical transmit signal (31) and output them in the transmit direction.
  7. Distance measuring device (10) according Claim 6 , wherein the first and second signal bundling unit and splitting unit are configured to bundle the signals using the Dense-WDM method.
  8. Distance measuring device (10) according to one of the Claims 2 until 7 , wherein the static light generation and detection unit (12) and the movable light transmission and reception unit (16) each comprise an optical fiber array for guiding the plurality of optical transmission signals (14) and reception signals (15).
  9. Distance measuring device (10) according Claim 8 , the distance measuring device (10) further comprises a control unit configured to control the output direction of the transmitting signals (14) which are guided through the optical fiber array of the light transmitting and receiving unit (16).
  10. Distance measuring device (10) according Claim 8 , the distance measuring device (10) comprises passive deflection components which are designed to passively perform a deflection, in particular wavelength-dependent, of the transmitted signals (14) guided in the optical fiber array of the light transmitting and receiving unit (16) in different directions.
  11. Distance measuring device (10) according to one of the Claims 8 until 10 , wherein the optical fibers (26) of the optical fiber array are monomodal.
  12. Distance measuring device (10) according to one of the Claims 3 until 11 , wherein the distance measuring device (10) is configured to couple the bundled transmit signal (31) and/or the bundled receive signal (39) into a respective optic via a multimode optical fiber in order to transmit the bundled transmit signal (31) and/or the bundled receive signal (39) via the signal transmission section (22).
  13. Distance measuring device (10) according Claim 12 , wherein the bundled transmit signal (31) and/or the bundled receive signal (39) comprises rotationally symmetric optical modes.
  14. Distance measuring device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable light transmitting and receiving unit (16) comprises, in particular only, passive components.

Description

The invention relates to a distance measuring device. The use of sensor technology to perceive the environment is commonplace in many technical fields. For example, sensors such as lidar, radar, or ultrasonic sensors are used in the automotive industry to perceive the environment in real time and to provide driver assistance or autonomous driving functions based on the collected data. In many applications, such sensors with a 360° field of view are used to capture a complete picture of the surroundings. These systems typically include a rotating transmitter and receiver unit capable of rotating 360° and capturing the environment, i.e., the distance to objects within it, during this rotation. The rotating part of the device typically houses the light generation and detection unit, as well as the components for data acquisition and processing. Due to the lack of thermal coupling to the housing, the heat generated by these components cannot be dissipated quickly enough in the rotating part, negatively impacting the energy efficiency and performance of the measuring device. This is particularly problematic for measurement procedures that generate large amounts of data, leading to reduced energy efficiency. Furthermore, the rotating part of the measuring device is sluggish due to the large number of components it contains. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a distance measuring device with increased efficiency. This problem is solved by the distance measuring device according to claim 1. A first aspect of the invention relates to a distance measuring device, in particular an FMCW distance measuring device, comprising: a static light generation and detection unit which is designed to to generate at least one optical signal as a transmission signal and to capture at least one optical signal as a reception signal; and a movable light transmitting and receiving unit, which is movable, in particular relative to the static light generating and detecting unit, and is designed to transmit the signal into a measuring area and to receive an optical signal reflected back from objects in the measuring area as a received signal; wherein the distance measuring device is configured to transmit the transmit signal and/or the receive signal at least partially via free space transmission in a signal transmission section between the static light generation and detection unit and the movable light transmitting and receiving unit. In other words, the transmission of an optical signal, at least within the signal transmission section, occurs without the use of a light guide, such as an optical fiber or waveguide; that is, solely via free-space transmission. Within the signal transmission section, the optical signal is thus guided through space itself, without the use of a dedicated component as a physical conductor. For this purpose, the respective optical signals to be transmitted are focused, for example, by a suitable optical element at one end of the signal transmission section and directed in a predetermined direction, so that they can be received and forwarded by a corresponding optical element at the other end of the signal transmission section. Specifically, the optical signals are transmitted bidirectionally via the signal transmission section, i.e., from the light generation and detection unit (light generation unit and light detection unit) to the light transmission and reception unit (light transmission unit and light reception unit) or vice versa. The signal transmission section extends, for example, from a housing of the light generation and detection unit to a housing of the light transmission and reception unit, in particular from a light reception and transmission element, e.g. a lens, of the light generation and detection unit to a light reception and transmission element of the light transmission and reception unit. Advantageously, eliminating the need for corresponding cable components results in a cost-effective and compact arrangement. In particular, wear and tear, which can be caused, for example, by the movement of the movable light transmitter and receiver unit, and the resulting transmission errors, are reduced. A further advantage of the invention is that the heat-generating components of the distance measuring device, which are responsible for generating, acquiring, and processing the optical signal, can be integrated into the static part of the distance measuring device, thus enabling improved heat dissipation. The movable part of the distance measuring device, i.e., the light transmitter and receiver unit, is, in particular, solely responsible for transmitting optical signals. Signals are formed, wherein the light transmitting and receiving unit in particular does not include any electrical signal processing components. Overall, the distance measuring device according to the invention thus achieves improved heat dissipation and therefore improved energy efficiency. The static light gene