Low-voltage wide-field-of-view lidar scanning system based on a MEMS mirror

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Computer Vision

Background:

• Traditional lidar systems face challenges with vertical resolution and uniform scanning over wide fields of view (FOV).
• Existing micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) based lidar may require high voltages and struggle with uniform scanning angles.
• Limitations exist in achieving arbitrary-direction optical beam steering with low operating voltage in current MEMS lidar.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and demonstrate a uniform scanning system for 3D imaging lidar utilizing a micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) mirror.
• To enable arbitrary-direction optical beam steering with low operating voltage for enhanced lidar performance.
• To analyze the scanning characteristics, including angle, spot size, and luminous flux, over a large FOV.

Main Methods:

• Development of a dual-axis electromagnetic-driving MEMS mirror for optical beam steering.
• Design and implementation of a uniform angle scanning system for wide FOV applications.
• Experimental analysis of scan angle uniformity, spot size, and luminous flux at the target plane.

Main Results:

• The proposed system demonstrates uniform scanning capabilities within a large field of view (FOV).
• Experimental results confirm a consistently small spot size across the scanned area.
• The system operates effectively at a target plane 100 meters away, maintaining performance.

Conclusions:

• The developed MEMS-based uniform scanning system offers a viable solution for high-resolution 3D imaging lidar.
• This technology overcomes the limitations of conventional lidar, enabling wider FOV and improved scanning uniformity.
• The system's low operating voltage and precise beam steering capabilities make it suitable for advanced applications like autopilots and target detection.