LIMO launches new wide-angle laser diffuser element to cover 360° field of view with only four lidar systems

(Image source: LIMO official website)

LiDAR is a key technology for autonomous driving. In order to accurately detect the distance between the vehicle and the static and dynamic environment, the laser beam must form a light field within a specific field of view. According to foreign media reports, LIMO has developed a new wide-angle laser diffuse diffusion element that can maintain stable performance even at extreme operating temperatures. Its lighting area can fully cover the 360° field of view with only four LiDAR systems to ensure driving safety.

To design an advanced LiDAR system, not only a suitable laser source and a compatible detector are needed, but also optical elements that form the laser beam in the right direction, which are considered the most critical components. Currently, diffractive optical elements (DOEs) are only used at small angles and moderate ambient conditions. In addition, most optical elements have inconsistent intensity distribution, with intensity dropping at the edges. LIMO's diffuse technology takes a different approach: similar to homogeneous optical elements, LIMO glass refractive optical elements scatter laser light in one direction with a maximum illumination angle of more than 100°. When the beam is combined with a second functional surface, it can be formed at any angle in the other direction.

“We can provide uniform illumination of the target area at different angles,” said Dr. Daniel Braam, Product Line Manager for Optics at LIMO. “At the same time, we apply custom surface structures for our customers, which have a consistent intensity distribution, which helps reduce noise and improve the signal-to-noise ratio, thereby increasing the range of the lidar sensor. In addition, since the new light scatterometer has an illumination angle of more than 100°, an autonomous vehicle only needs to be equipped with four lidar systems to fully cover the surrounding space.”

The company manufactures high-quality glass laser optics on wafers measuring 300 mm x 300 mm, enabling the production of this light scatterer at low cost and in high volumes without compromising quality. As lidar systems and 3D sensors are critical to the safety of autonomous driving and are in high demand, the quality and cost structure of the optics are important factors in this technological breakthrough.