WO2020221619A1

WO2020221619A1 - Optical detection apparatus for detecting objects, and receiving device for an optical detection apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2020221619A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/061055
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christoph Parl; Bernd BERTSCHINGER; Daniel STRICKER-SHAVER; Ho Hoai Duc NGUYEN
Original assignee: Valeo Schalter Und Sensoren Gmbh
Priority date: 2019-04-29
Filing date: 2020-04-21
Publication date: 2020-11-05
Also published as: DE102019111039A1

Abstract

An optical detection apparatus (12) for detecting objects (20) in at least one monitoring area (16), and a receiving device (28) are described. The optical detection apparatus (12) comprises at least one transmitting device (26) for transmitting transmitter light signals (22), at least one receiving device (28) for receiving transmitter light signals (22) reflected at possible objects (20) in at least one monitoring area (16) as reception light signals (24), and at least one light signal deflecting device (32) for deflecting light signals (24). At least one light signal deflecting device (32) has at least one curved deflection surface (38) which can deflect light signals (24). At least one light signal deflecting device (32) is assigned to at least one receiving device (28).

Description

description

Optical detection device for detecting objects and receiving device for an optical detection device Technical field

The invention relates to an optical detection device for detecting objects in at least one monitoring area,

- With at least one transmitting device for transmitting transmitter light signals,

- With at least one receiving device for receiving from any Objek th reflected transmitter light signals in at least one monitoring area as received light signals,

- And with at least one light signal deflecting device for deflecting light signals, at least one light signal deflecting device having at least one curved deflecting surface with which light signals can be deflected.

The invention also relates to a receiving device for an optical Detektionsvor device for detecting objects in at least one monitoring area, with at least one receiver for receiving light signals as received light signals from any objects in at least one monitoring area.

State of the art

A light signal device is known from KR 20170071395 which has a light signal unit in order to emit a light signal in one direction. An aspherical reflector has a convex or concave reflective surface designed to diverge a light signal through a spherical lens at a predetermined angle in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to emittie. A two-dimensional detector is provided to detect a light signal that passes through the filter to obtain information about the three-dimensional orientation and the position of objects.

The invention is based on the object of designing an optical detection device and a receiving device of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which a monitoring area can be monitored in a more targeted manner. Disclosure of the invention

According to the invention, this object is achieved in the case of the optical detection device in that at least one light signal deflecting device is assigned to at least one receiving device.

According to the invention, at least one curved deflecting surface is assigned to at least one receiving light signal deflecting device of a receiving device. In this way, received light signals that come from the monitoring area can be deflected directly to a receiver of the receiving device or indirectly via at least one optical system to a receiver using the at least one curved deflecting surface of the at least one received light signal deflecting device. With the aid of the at least one curved deflection surface, a correspondingly large monitoring area can be monitored simultaneously. In this way, a monitoring area can be monitored more specifically.

In the detection device, the assignment according to the invention can be used to reduce the size of the overall system at least one received light signal deflection device to at least one receiving device. Furthermore, by using a received light signal deflection device with a curved deflection surface, the cost of mechanically movable components can be reduced. In particular, mechanically movable components can be largely dispensed with.

The optical detection device can advantageously have at least one control and evaluation device. With a control and evaluation device, information from received light signals that are received with the at least one receiving device can be evaluated. A distance, a speed and / or a direction of an object relative to the optical detection device can be determined from this information.

At least one receiving device can advantageously have at least one receiver with which optical received light signals can be converted into corresponding electrical signals. The electrical signals can be evaluated with a corresponding electronic control and evaluation device. Light signals within the meaning of the invention are light that carries reproducible and individually specifiable information. The information can either be implemented via the length of a light pulse or in another way, in particular by coding or the like. Light signals obey a defined scheme.

The at least one detection device can advantageously operate according to a light transit time method, in particular a light pulse transit time method. Optical detection devices operating according to the light pulse transit time method can be designed and designated as time-of-flight (TOF), light detection and ranging systems (LiDAR), laser detection and ranging systems (LaDAR) or the like. A transit time from the emission of a transmitter light signal, in particular a light pulse, is measured with the at least one transmitter and the reception of the corresponding reflected received light signal with the at least one receiver, and a distance between the detection device and the detected object is determined from this.

The optical detection device can advantageously be designed as a laser-based distance measuring system. The laser-based distance measuring system can have at least one laser, in particular a diode laser, as the light source of the at least one transmitter. In particular, pulsed light signals can be sent with the at least one laser. With the laser, light signals can be emitted in frequency ranges that are visible or invisible to the human eye. Correspondingly, at least one receiving device can have at least one receiver designed for the frequency of the emitted light signals, in particular an (avalanche) photodiode, a diode array, a CCD array or the like.

The invention can be used in a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The invention can advantageously be used in a land vehicle, in particular a passenger car, a truck, a bus, a motorcycle or the like, an aircraft and / or a watercraft. The invention can also be used in vehicles that can be operated autonomously or at least partially autonomously. However, the invention is not limited to vehicles. It can also be used in stationary operation. The optical detection device can advantageously be connected to at least one electronic control device of a vehicle, in particular a driver assistance system and / or a chassis control and / or a driver information device and / or a parking assistance system and / or gesture recognition or the like. In this way, an at least partially autonomous operation of the vehicle can be made possible. Object data captured with the detection device, in particular the distance, direction and / or relative speed of an object relative to the vehicle, can be transmitted to the control device and used to influence driving functions, in particular the speed, a braking function, a steering function, a chassis control and / or output of information and / or warning signals, in particular for the driver or the like, can be used.

With the optical detection device, stationary or moving objects, in particular vehicles, people, animals, obstacles, uneven road surfaces, in particular potholes or stones, road boundaries, open spaces, in particular parking spaces, or the like, can be detected.

In an advantageous embodiment, the detection device can be designed as a Flash LiDAR. With a Flash LiDAR, a corresponding three-dimensional image of the monitoring area can be generated immediately with regard to distances, speeds and / or directions of objects in the monitoring area relative to the detection device. With the light signal deflection device according to the invention, the entire monitoring area can be recorded with a single measurement, in a manner of speaking simultaneously.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one deflection surface can be curved in two dimensions. In this way, light signals from at least one monitored area and / or light signals into at least one monitored area can be deflected in two dimensions. In connection with a receiving device, received light signals from different directions from at least one monitoring area can be diverted directly or indirectly to at least one receiver using at least one received light signal deflecting device. In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one deflection surface can be curved in at least one dimension over an angle of 90 ° or more. In this way, light signals can be deflected over a correspondingly large area with the at least one deflection surface.

Advantageously, at least one deflection surface can be curved over an angle of approximately 90 ° with respect to a deflection device axis. The curvature of the at least one deflection surface can then extend from a parallel to the deflection device axis to a perpendicular to the deflection device axis. The light signal deflecting device can be aligned such that the deflecting device axis runs spatially vertically during normal use. The at least one Umlenkflä surface can be spatially directed obliquely downwards. In this way, with the at least one deflecting surface, light signals can be deflected from a monitoring area or into a monitoring area which extends from the floor to approximately a vertical height which corresponds to the upper edge of the at least one deflecting surface.

Alternatively or additionally, at least one deflection surface can advantageously be curved circumferentially over an angle of at least 180 °, in particular 360 °, with respect to the deflection device axis.

If the deflection surface extends over an angle of 180 °, a monitoring area with an opening angle of 180 ° can be monitored simultaneously. When used on a vehicle, in particular a monitoring area can be monitored in the direction of travel in front of or behind the vehicle, which area extends from the left to the right of the vehicle in the direction of travel.

If the at least one deflection surface extends over an angle of 360 °, a monitoring area with an opening angle of 360 ° can be monitored simultaneously. Monitoring around the deflection device axis is thus possible. In particular, when the optical detection device is arranged on an underside of a vehicle, a monitoring area under the vehicle can be monitored all around. So it can be recognized whether there is an object or the vehicle is located.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one curved deflecting surface can at least help to form a virtual entrance pupil for the optical detection device. In this way, the sensitivity of the detection device can be specified with the aid of the curved deflection surface.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the size of the entrance pupil can be dependent on the curvature of the at least one deflection surface and the direction in which the light signals strike the deflection surface. The larger the entrance pupil, the greater the sensitivity of the detection device. Because the entrance pupil can be defined by the curved deflecting surface, a highly sensitive detection device can be constructed very compactly.

Advantageously, the curvature of the at least one deflecting surface can be given in such a way that a larger entrance pupil is realized for directions in which a higher resolution is required than for directions in which a lower resolution is required. In particular, a curvature of the deflecting surface can define a correspondingly smaller entrance pupil for received light signals that are reflected on objek at distances of up to about 10 m. For received light signals on objects at distances greater than about 10 m, the curvature of the deflecting surface can define a correspondingly larger entrance pupil.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one deflection surface, viewed from the light entry side, can be convexly curved in at least one dimension and / or be concavely curved in at least one dimension. In this way, focusing or widening of the light signals striking the deflection surface can be implemented as required.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one deflection surface can be implemented as part of a paraboloid, in particular an elliptical paraboloid or hyperbolic paraboloid, a spherical surface, a conical surface or a freeform surface. With the aid of an elliptical paraboloid or a spherical surface, in particular a deflection surface that is convexly curved in two dimensions can be realized.

With the aid of a hyperbolic paraboloid, a deflecting surface which is convexly curved in a first dimension can be implemented, which deflection surface can be concavely curved in a second dimension which runs orthogonally to the first dimension.

With the help of a free-form surface, individual curvatures can be implemented along the deflection surface. In this way, the at least one deflection surface can be individually adapted.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one deflection surface can be implemented at least in sections as a mirror surface. A direct deflection of the light signals can be implemented with a mirror surface.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one receiving device can have at least one receiver and at least one optical system, which is functionally arranged between the at least one receiver and at least one deflection surface, and / or at least one transmitting device can have at least one light source and at least one optical system have, which is functionally arranged behind the at least one light source. With the help of an optical system, light signals can be focused or expanded.

With the aid of an optical system in the at least one receiving device, the received light signals can be focused on the at least one receiver. In this way, a direction from which the received light signals come can be determined with a corresponding spatially resolved receiver. The direction in which an object is located relative to the detection device can thus be determined.

With the help of at least one optical system of the transmission device, the transmitter light signals emitted by the at least one light source can be expanded accordingly in order to illuminate the monitoring area over the largest possible area.

At least one optical system can advantageously have at least one optical line have or consist of them. Optical lenses can be easily implemented.

With the aid of optical systems, the received light signals coming from the curved deflection surface can be adapted in order to optimally use at least one receiver with regard to its size and resolution.

At least one curved deflecting surface can advantageously be designed as a free-form optic. In this way, the complexity of optical systems can be reduced.

At least one optical system can advantageously have or consist of at least one multi-surface optics, so-called Simultaneous Multiple Surfaces (SMS). In this way, in particular a signal-to-noise ratio and / or an angular resolution of the detection device can be improved over the monitoring area. In particular, a high resolution for smaller distances to the detection device and a high signal-to-noise ratio for larger distances to the detection device can be achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one Sendeeinrich device can be designed for the areal illumination of at least one monitoring area with at least one transmitter light signal. A flash LiDAR, in particular, can be implemented with such a transmission device. In this way, at least one transmitted light signal can illuminate the entire monitoring area possible. Transmitter light signals reflected on any objects can be received spatially resolved as received light signals with one or more receivers of at least one receiving device of the optical detection device. In this way, a direction from which the received light signals come and in which the object is located can be determined with the aid of the optical detection device. Furthermore, a distance of the object from the optical detection device can be determined from the transit time.

Advantageously, at least one transmission device can be configured for simultaneous, two-dimensional illumination of at least one monitoring area with at least one transmitter light signal. In this way, with just one measurement, the entire Monitored area for objects.

Advantageously, at least one transmitter light signal can be composed of several partial light signals which carry the same information and are emitted at the same time by different light sources. The information of the transmitter light signals can be the time of transmission and / or a signal duration. Alternatively, the at least one transmitter light signal can be a single light signal which is emitted by a light source.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one transmission device can have a plurality of light sources which radiate in different directions. In this way, several partial transmitter light signals can be emitted in different directions simultaneously with several light sources. In this way, the monitoring area can be illuminated over a large area with the partial transmitter light signals.

Advantageously, several identical partial transmitter light signals can be transmitted simultaneously with the light sources. The partial transmitter light signals act as a single transmitter light signal, which illuminates the monitored area.

Several light sources have the advantage that the transmitter light signals are fanned out as early as possible. In this way, eye safety of the detection device can be improved. Furthermore, the monitored area can be illuminated more evenly.

Different light sources, in particular with different radiation characteristics, light intensities and / or wavelengths, can advantageously be provided. In this way, the transmission of the transmitter light signals can be adapted to different distances in the monitoring area.

Advantageously, several light sources can be arranged distributed in a housing of the optical detection device. In this way, a space available in the hous se can be better utilized. At least one light source can advantageously be arranged on a side of the light signal deflection device facing away from the curved deflection surface. In this way, a corresponding receiver and optionally an optical system can be arranged on the side facing the curved deflecting surface. Furthermore, the transmitting device can be optically decoupled from the receiving device in a better way.

Advantageously, at least one light source can be arranged on the side of the light signal deflecting device which faces the curved deflecting surface. In this way, the transmitter light signals can be sent to the at least one curved deflection surface and deflected with it. The light signal deflection device can thus be used not only for deflecting received light signals but also for deflecting transmitter light signals.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one Sendeeinrich device can be directed to at least one curved deflection surface. With the help of the curved deflection surface, the at least one transmitter light signal can be expanded accordingly so that a correspondingly large monitoring area can be illuminated simultaneously.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one receiving device can have at least one receiver which is designed such that it can receive received light signals in at least one dimension in a spatially resolved manner. In this way, the received light signals deflected with the light signal deflection device can be detected in a spatially resolved manner. In this way, a direction of the object can be determined from which the received light signals come.

At least one receiving device can advantageously have at least one diode array, a CCD array or the like. With such receivers, the received light signals can be received spatially resolved and converted into corresponding electrical signals.

Furthermore, the object is achieved according to the invention in the case of the receiving device in that the receiving device has at least one light signal deflecting device for deflecting Includes steering of received light signals which has at least one curved deflection surface with which the received light signals can be deflected.

According to the invention, the receiving device has at least one light signal deflecting device with at least one curved deflecting surface. In this way, received light signals from the monitoring area can be deflected and received simultaneously to at least one receiver.

With the receiving device according to the invention, a flash LiDAR can be implemented.

With the at least one curved deflecting surface, entrance pupils for the receiving device can be defined depending on the direction of the incoming light signals. Thus, with the curvature of the at least one deflecting surface, the size of the entrance pupil and thus the sensitivity of the detection device can be given depending on the direction of the incoming light signals.

At least one optical system can advantageously be functionally arranged between the at least one light signal deflection device and the at least one receiver. In this way, the received light signals deflected with the at least one light signal deflection device can be focused on the at least one receiver. The at least one optical system can have or consist of at least one optical lens. Optical lenses can be easily implemented.

In addition, the features and advantages shown in connection with the optical detection device according to the invention and the receiving device according to the invention and their respective advantageous configurations apply mutatis mutandis and vice versa. The individual features and advantages can of course be combined with one another, whereby further advantageous effects can arise that go beyond the sum of the individual effects.

Brief description of the drawings Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description in which embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing voltage. The person skilled in the art will expediently consider the features disclosed in combination in the drawing, the description and the claims also individually and combine them into useful further combinations. It show schematically

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle in a front view, with a driver assistance system and an optical detection device;

FIG. 2 shows a functional illustration of the vehicle from FIG. 1 with the driver assistance system and the optical detection device according to a first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the detection device from FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the optical detection device from FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of an optical detection device for the vehicle from FIG. 1 according to a second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows an isometric illustration of a light signal deflection device for an optical detection device for the vehicle from FIG. 1 according to a third exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows an isometric illustration of a light signal deflection device for an optical detection device for the vehicle from FIG. 1 according to a fourth exemplary embodiment.

In the figures, the same components are provided with the same reference symbols.

Embodiment (s) of the invention

In FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 is shown as an example in the form of a passenger car in a front view. The vehicle 10 has an optical detection device 12 which is connected to a driver assistance system 14 of the vehicle 10.

The optical detection device 12 is located, for example, in the front bumper of the vehicle 10. With the optical detection device 12, an over- Monitoring area 16 in the direction of travel 18 of the vehicle 10 in front of the vehicle 10 can be monitored for objects 20. An object 20 is indicated by way of example in FIG. The optical detection device 12 can also be located at another location on the vehicle 10, including on the roof or on the underside of the vehicle 10, and can be oriented in other directions. A plurality of optical detection devices 12 can also be provided at different locations with different orientations.

The optical detection device 12 is designed, for example, as a so-called flash LiDAR. With the optical detection device 12, transmitter light signals 22 can be sent, for example in the form of laser pulses, into the monitoring area 16. If there is an object 20 in the monitored area 16, the transmitter light signals 22 are reflected on this. Transmitter light signals 22, which are reflected on the object 20 in the direction of the optical detection device 12, are received by the optical detection device 12 as received light signals 24. A distance of the detected object 20 relative to the optical detection device 12 is determined from a transit time between the emission of the transmitter light signals 22 and the reception of the corresponding received light signals 24. In addition, a direction and a speed of the object 20 relative to the optical detection system 12 can be determined from the received light signals 24.

An optical detection device 12 according to a first exemplary embodiment is shown in FIGS.

The optical detection device 12 has a transmitting device 26 and a receiving device 28. The transmitting device 26 can be used to transmit the transmitter light signals 22 into the monitoring area 16. The received light signals 24 can be detected with the receiving device 28.

The transmitting device 26 and the receiving device 28 are each connected for signaling purposes to a control and evaluation device 30 of the optical detection device 12. With the control and evaluation device 30, the transmitting device 26 and the receiving device 28 can be controlled. Furthermore, with the control and evaluation device 30, information obtained with the aid of the transmitter light signals 22 and the received light signals 24 can be obtained from the monitoring area 16, evaluated.

The control and evaluation device 30 is signal-connected to the driver assistance system 14. With the driver assistance system 14 functions of the vehicle 10, for example a speed, a braking function, a steering function, a chassis control and / or output of information and / or warning signals, for example for the driver or the like, can be controlled or to be influenced. With the aid of the driver assistance system 14, the vehicle 10 can be operated partially autonomously or autonomously.

The receiving device 28 has a light signal deflecting device 32, an optical system 34 and a receiver 36.

The light signal deflection device 32 has a deflection surface 38 in the form of a mirror surface. The deflection surface 38 faces the monitoring area 16. The deflection surface 38 extends, for example, along part of a paraboloid. The deflection surface 38 is circumferentially curved in one dimension and in the axial direction in one dimension with respect to a deflecting device axis 40.

In the circumferential direction with respect to the deflection device axis 40, the curved deflection surface 38 extends over an angle of 180 °. Viewed in the direction of the deflection device axis 40, the deflection surface 38 extends over an angle of 90 °. A distance between the deflection surface 38 and the deflection device axis 40 increases continuously in one direction, viewed along the deflection device axis 40. The side on which the deflecting surface 38 is at the smaller distance from the deflecting device axis 40 faces the optical system 34 and the receiver 36.

In the arrangement of the detection system 12 shown in FIG. 1, the deflecting device axis 40 is aligned, for example, perpendicular to a driving plane 42 of the vehicle 10. The driving plane 42 is defined by the runoff points of the tires of the vehicle 10 on the road. The side of the deflection surface 38 with the smallest distance from the deflection axis 40 is facing the plane of travel 42, ie spatially Lich below. The side of the deflection surface 38 with the greatest distance to the deflection Axis 40 faces away from driving plane 42, ie spatially above.

With the deflecting surface 38 received light signals 24 can be detected from a monitoring area 16, which extends in the vertical direction from the driving plane 42 to about a flea in which the upper edge of the deflecting surface 38 is located and which is in the horizontal direction Direction over an angle of 180 ° in the direction of travel 16 viewed from the left of the vehicle 10 to the right of the vehicle 10 he stretches.

The optical system 34 is located obliquely below the deflecting surface 38 on the side of the light signal deflecting device 32 facing the deflecting surface 38. The optical system 34 has, for example, one or more optical lenses with which received light signals 24 reflected on the deflecting surface 38 are sent to the receiver 36 fo can be kussiert.

The receiver 36 is located on the side of the optical system 34 facing away from the deflecting surface 38. The receiver 36 has, for example, a two-dimensional array, in particular a diode array, a CCD array or the like. With the receiver 36, the received light signals 24 can be received spatially resolved in two dimensions and converted into corresponding electrical signals.

The receiver 36 is connected to the control and evaluation device 30 for signaling purposes. The corresponding electrical signals can be transmitted to the control and evaluation device 30.

On the side on which the deflection surface 38 has the smaller distance from the Umlenkeinrich processing axis 40, a plurality of light sources 44 in the form of laser diodes is arranged. In this exemplary embodiment, the light sources 44 form the transmitting device 26.

The light sources 44 are circumferentially distributed along the edge of the deflection surface 38 with respect to the steering device axis 40 in order. The light sources 44 are each directed into the monitoring area 16. Overall, the monitoring area 16 can be uniformly illuminated with the light sources 44. The transmission device 26 and the light sources 44 are connected to the control and evaluation device 30 for control purposes. With the control and evaluation device 30, the light sources 44 can be controlled in such a way that these transmitter light signals 22 simultaneously emit in the form of defined laser pulses.

When the optical detection device 12 is in operation, the light sources 44 transmit light signals 22 simultaneously into the monitoring area 16. The transmitter light signals 22 reflected on the object 20, which arrive at the optical detection device 12 as received light signals 24, are reflected on the deflecting surface 38 in the direction of the optical system 12.

The deflecting surface 38 forms the first optical unit of the receiving device 28 for the received light signals 24. The deflecting surface 38 defines a corresponding virtual entrance pupil 46 of the receiving device 28 via its curvature, depending on the direction from which the received light signals 24 come.

In FIG. 4, two entrance pupils are shown by way of example, which are denoted by 46a and 46b. The upper entrance pupil 46a in FIG. 4 applies to received light signals 24a which propagate almost horizontally. These can, for example, be received light signals 24a from a smaller distance, for example less than 10 m. The limits of the received light signals 24a, which run through the upper entrance pupil 46a, are indicated by dashed lines. The lower entrance pupil 36b in FIG. 4 is implemented for received light signals 24b which come from below at an angle in space. This can for example be received light signals 24b from greater distances, for example more than 10 m. The boundaries of the received light signals 24b which run through the lower entrance pupil 46b are indicated by dash-dotted lines.

Due to the characteristic curvature of the deflecting surface 38, the upper entrance pupil 46a for the received light signals 24a from smaller distances is smaller than the lower entrance pupil 46b for received light signals 24b from greater distances. The larger the entrance pupil, the greater the sensitivity of the detection system 12. With the help of the characteristic curvature of the deflection surface 38, it is achieved that objects 20 from greater distances with a greater sensitivity. can be detected as objects 20 from smaller distances.

With the deflection surface 38, the received light signals 24 are deflected onto the optical system 34. With the optical system 34, the received light signals 24 are focused on the receiver 36 as a function of location. From the points of impact of the received light signals 24 on the receiver 36, the direction can be determined from which the received light signals 24 come, that is, the object 20 is located.

Furthermore, a distance of the object 20 relative to the detection system 12 can be determined from the transit time from the transmission of the transmitter light signals 22 to the reception of the received light signals 24. Furthermore, a speed of the object 20 relative to the detection system 12 can be determined from the received light signals 24.

In the figure 5, an optical detection device 12 is shown according to a second exemplary embodiment. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the Sen device 26 has only one light source 44, for example in the form of a laser diode. The light source 44 is arranged on the side facing the deflection surface 38, for example, at an angle below the light signal deflection device 32 next to the receiver 36. The light source 44 is directed onto the deflecting surface 38.

In addition, the transmitter device 26 has an optical system 48 with which the transmitter light signals 22 generated by the light source 44 can be expanded in such a way that they fill the deflection surface 38 over a large area.

The transmitter light signals 22 are further expanded with the curved deflecting surface 38 and sent into the monitoring area 16.

Overall, the deflection surface 38 interacts both with the receiving device 28 and with the transmitting device 26.

For the sake of clarity, the beam paths on the receiver side are not shown in FIG. FIG. 6 shows a light signal deflection device 132 according to a third exemplary embodiment. In contrast to the light signal deflecting device 132 from the first embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, the deflecting surface 138 in the third embodiment extends circumferentially over an angle of 360 ° with respect to the deflecting device axis 40. In this way, a monitoring area 16 can be monitored all around. The optical detection device 12 can be used, for example, on the underside of the vehicle 10 for monitoring a surveillance area 16 under the vehicle 10.

In FIG. 7, a light signal deflection device 232 according to a fourth exemplary embodiment is shown. In contrast to the light signal deflecting device 132 according to the third exemplary embodiment from FIG. 6, in the fourth exemplary embodiment the deflecting surface 238 is arranged along a hemispherical surface. The deflection surface 238 is thus convex both in terms of the circumferential dimension with respect to the deflection device axis 40 and in terms of the dimension in the dimension axial to the deflection device axis 40.

Claims

Expectations

1. Optical detection device (12) for detecting objects (20) in at least one monitoring area (16),

- With at least one transmitting device (26) for transmitting transmitter light signals (22),

- With at least one receiving device (28) for receiving transmitter light signals (22) reflected on any objects (20) in at least one monitoring area (16) as received light signals (24),

- and with at least one light signal deflecting device (32, 132, 232) for deflecting light signals (22, 24), at least one light signal deflecting device (32, 132, 232) having at least one curved deflecting surface (38, 138, 238) , with which light signals (22, 24) can be deflected,

characterized in that

at least one light signal deflecting device (32, 132, 232) is assigned to at least one receiving device (28).

2. Optical detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection device (12) is designed as a flash LiDAR.

3. Optical detection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one deflection surface (38, 138, 238) is curved in two dimensions GE.

4. Optical detection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one deflection surface (38, 138, 238) is curved in at least one dimension over an angle of 90 ° or more.

5. Optical detection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one curved deflection surface (38, 138, 238) at least co-forms a virtual entrance pupil (46a, 46b) for the optical detection device (12).

6. Optical detection device according to claim 5, characterized in that the size of the entrance pupil (46a, 46b) is dependent on the curvature of the at least one deflection surface (38, 138, 238) and the direction in which the light signals (24, 24a, 24b) hit the deflection surface (38, 138, 238).

7. Optical detection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one deflecting surface (38, 138, 238) viewed from the Lichtein entry side is convexly curved in at least one dimension and / or is concave in at least one dimension.

8. Optical detection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one deflection surface (38, 138, 238) is realized as part of a paraboloid, a spherical surface, a conical surface or a freeform surface.

9. Optical detection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one deflection surface (38, 138, 238) is implemented at least in sections as a mirror surface.

10. Optical detection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one receiving device (28) has at least one receiver (36) and at least one optical system (34) which is func onal between the at least one receiver (36) and at least one To the steering surface (38, 138, 238) is arranged, and / or at least one Sendeeinrich device (26) has at least one light source (44) and at least one optical system (48) which is functionally arranged behind the at least one light source (44) is.

1 1. Optical detection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one transmitting device (26) is designed for areal illumination of at least one monitoring area (16) with at least one transmitter light signal (22).

12. Optical detection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one transmitting device (26) has a plurality of light sources (44) which radiate in different directions.

13. Optical detection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one transmitting device (26) is directed to at least one curved deflecting surface (38, 138, 238).

14. Optical detection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one receiving device (28) has at least one receiver (36) which is designed so that it is in at least one ner dimension spatially resolved received light signals (24) can receive.

15. Receiving device for an optical detection device (12) for detecting objects (20) in at least one monitoring area (16), with at least one receiver (36) for receiving objects (20) reflected in at least one monitoring area (16) Transmitter light signals (22) as received light signals (24), characterized in that the receiving device (28) comprises at least one light signal deflection device (32, 132, 232) for deflecting received light signals (24), which at least one has curved deflection surface (38, 138, 238) with which the received light signals (24) can be deflected vice versa.