GB2404286A - Mechanically operated beam scanner - Google Patents
Mechanically operated beam scanner Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2404286A GB2404286A GB0317172A GB0317172A GB2404286A GB 2404286 A GB2404286 A GB 2404286A GB 0317172 A GB0317172 A GB 0317172A GB 0317172 A GB0317172 A GB 0317172A GB 2404286 A GB2404286 A GB 2404286A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- actuator
- scanning apparatus
- flexible portion
- position sensor
- scanning
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G01S7/00—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
- G01S7/48—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S17/00
- G01S7/481—Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G01S17/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. lidar systems
- G01S17/88—Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
- G01S17/93—Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes
- G01S17/931—Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes of land vehicles
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
- H01Q3/12—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system using mechanical relative movement between primary active elements and secondary devices of antennas or antenna systems
- H01Q3/16—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system using mechanical relative movement between primary active elements and secondary devices of antennas or antenna systems for varying relative position of primary active element and a reflecting device
- H01Q3/20—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system using mechanical relative movement between primary active elements and secondary devices of antennas or antenna systems for varying relative position of primary active element and a reflecting device wherein the primary active element is fixed and the reflecting device is movable
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Optical Radar Systems And Details Thereof (AREA)
- Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
A beam scanning apparatus comprises a beam reflector <B>1</B> having flexible portion <B>2</B>, means for mounting an end of the flexible portion to a mounting point <B>4</B>, and an actuator <B>5</B> for inducing a pivoting motion about the mounting point. The flexible portion may be made of spring steel and the actuator may be electro-mechanical. The actuator <B>5</B> and a position sensor <B>6</B> may be positioned at the free end of the reflector. There may be an electrical feedback link <B>7</B> between the position sensor and the actuator to control the pivoting motion. The apparatus may be used for automotive radar applications and the beam may be a microwave, laser or other electromagnetic beam.
Description
Mechanicaliv-Operated Beam Scanner The present invention relates to
apparatus for mechanically scanning a beam of electro-magnetic radiation, such as a microwave or a laser beam.
Such beam-scanning arrangements find application in ranging and detection systems i.e., radar or lidar.
One particular application of such beam-scanning arrangements can be found in automotive radar systems where a forward-looking radar, mounted on a vehicle, is used to detect obstacles in the path of the vehicle. Such automotive radars often form a component of an adaptive cruise control system for the vehicle.
Automotive radars have a requirement for a high accuracy location of obstacles, particularly in the azimuth dimension. This is so that obstacles close to the vehicle's path can be ignored in situations such as passing stopped vehicles on the emergency lane of a highway. Typically an angular resolution of less than Em at 150m range is required. This degree of accuracy can only be achieved by mechanically scanning a radar beam by physically moving the antennae or a reflector.
Present mechanical systems for scanning the beam involve a sliding or rolling surface, such as plain or ball / roller bearings. These have wear mechanisms which must be carefully controlled, for example using lubrication. Also manufacturing tolerances on these will change the friction characteristics of the actuator system with changes in temperature.
Thus a scanning arrangement which would mitigate the above drawbacks would be desirable.
The present invention provides a beam-scanning apparatus including a beamreflecting member having a flexible portion, means for mounting an end of the flexible - 2 portion at a mounting point, and an actuator for inducing a pivoting motion of said member about said mounting point.
In a preferred embodiment the beam-reflecting member comprises a rigid radar reflecting surface attached to a flexible support.
By replacing the rotating or sliding part with a rigid component, flexibly mounted using, for example spring steel, all friction in the system is eliminated, and the unit no longer suffers from any wear mechanism.
An electro-mechanical actuator may be used to control the scanning without any form of contact.
A position sensor may be located at the free end of the member and may be electronically linked to the actuator in order to control the pivoting motion of the member and hence the scanning angle of the reflected beam.
Preferably the actuator is adapted to set the beam scanning frequency at the mechanical resonance of the apparatus, hence keeping power requirements to a minimum.
Precise control of the scanning angle by the actuator is not necessary if the beam signal processing is based on the measured position of the beamscanning member with respect to some fixed datum. Phase control is therefore not critical.
Methods of position measurement may be based on one of several appropriate non contacting methods; e.g. capacitive, inductive, Hall effect, or using the radar beam itself, for example off known datums, or through partially reflective paths in the apparatus.
The flexible nature of the member and the curve that it develops may also be used to advantage to shape and focus the reflected beam.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by the way of example only, with reference to the drawing which is a schematic representation of beam forming apparatus suitable for incorporation in an automotive radar system.
With reference to the drawing, a beam reflector 1 comprises a flexible support 2 and a rigid radar reflecting surface 3. One end of the flexible support 2 is fixed at a mounting point 4, allowing the reflecting surface 3 to pivot about the mounting point by virtue of flexure of the flexible support 2.
Close to the free end of the reflector 1 are located an electromechanical actuator 5 and a position sensor 6. The actuator 5 and sensor 6 are electrically connected via a feedback link 7.
A source 8 of microwave radiation is positioned in order to project a beam of radiation 9 towards the reflecting surface 3.
In operation, the source 8 is activated and directs a beam of microwave radiation 9 towards the reflecting surface 3. The actuator 5 causes the reflector 1 to move back and forth in an arc, between position A and ghosted position B. hence causing the reflected beam to carry out a scanning motion.
The position of the free end of the reflector 1 is monitored by the position sensor 6 which sends a signal via the feedback link 7 to the actuator 5 in order to control the scanning angle of the reflected beam. 4
Claims (7)
1. Beam-scanning apparatus including a beam-reflecting member having a flexible portion, means for mounting an end of the flexible portion at a mounting point, and an actuator for inducing a pivoting motion of said member about said mounting point.
2. Beam-scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the flexible portion is made of spring steel.
3. Beam-scanning apparatus as claimed in either preceding claim in which the actuator is an electro-mechanical actuator positioned at a free end of the member.
4. Beam-scanning apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim and further including a position sensor located at a free end of the member for measuring the position of the member.
5. Beam-scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 4 and further including an electrical feedback link between the position sensor and the electromechanical actuator thereby to control the pivoting operation of the member.
6. Beam-scanning apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the actuator is adapted to induce pivoting motion of the member at the mechanical recurance of the apparatus.
7. Beam-scanning apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0317172A GB2404286A (en) | 2003-07-23 | 2003-07-23 | Mechanically operated beam scanner |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0317172A GB2404286A (en) | 2003-07-23 | 2003-07-23 | Mechanically operated beam scanner |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0317172D0 GB0317172D0 (en) | 2003-08-27 |
| GB2404286A true GB2404286A (en) | 2005-01-26 |
Family
ID=27772475
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0317172A Withdrawn GB2404286A (en) | 2003-07-23 | 2003-07-23 | Mechanically operated beam scanner |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2404286A (en) |
Citations (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2713121A (en) * | 1941-08-12 | 1955-07-12 | Sperry Corp | Radio scanning apparatus |
| US2945229A (en) * | 1955-10-28 | 1960-07-12 | Siemens Ag Albis | Radar directional antenna assembly |
| US4025203A (en) * | 1975-12-11 | 1977-05-24 | Eastman Kodak Company | Mirror-type beam steerer having a virtual pivot |
| EP0295863A2 (en) * | 1987-06-15 | 1988-12-21 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Optical printer of scanning type |
| JPH02231689A (en) * | 1989-03-06 | 1990-09-13 | Fujitsu Ltd | Bar code scanner |
| EP0840140A1 (en) * | 1996-11-01 | 1998-05-06 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Antenna apparatus |
| US6366234B1 (en) * | 1999-06-04 | 2002-04-02 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Vehicular radar |
| JP2003005123A (en) * | 2001-06-25 | 2003-01-08 | Nissan Motor Co Ltd | Optical scanner and driving method for optical scanner |
-
2003
- 2003-07-23 GB GB0317172A patent/GB2404286A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2713121A (en) * | 1941-08-12 | 1955-07-12 | Sperry Corp | Radio scanning apparatus |
| US2945229A (en) * | 1955-10-28 | 1960-07-12 | Siemens Ag Albis | Radar directional antenna assembly |
| US4025203A (en) * | 1975-12-11 | 1977-05-24 | Eastman Kodak Company | Mirror-type beam steerer having a virtual pivot |
| EP0295863A2 (en) * | 1987-06-15 | 1988-12-21 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Optical printer of scanning type |
| JPH02231689A (en) * | 1989-03-06 | 1990-09-13 | Fujitsu Ltd | Bar code scanner |
| EP0840140A1 (en) * | 1996-11-01 | 1998-05-06 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Antenna apparatus |
| US6366234B1 (en) * | 1999-06-04 | 2002-04-02 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Vehicular radar |
| JP2003005123A (en) * | 2001-06-25 | 2003-01-08 | Nissan Motor Co Ltd | Optical scanner and driving method for optical scanner |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0317172D0 (en) | 2003-08-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |