Radar system, optical detector, vehicle, and optical detection method
Example radar systems, optical detectors, vehicles, and optical detection methods are provided. An example radar system includes a laser device and an optical detector. The optical detector can include a first polarization scanner and a photosensitive device. The laser device can be configured to emit detection laser. The first polarization scanner can be configured to refract an echo signal of the detection laser, where a refractive index of the first polarization scanner is variable. The photosensitive device can be configured to sense the echo signal refracted by the first polarization scanner.
1 . A radar system, comprising a laser device, an optical detector, and a control chip, wherein:
the optical detector comprises a first polarization scanner and a photosensitive device;
the laser device is configured to emit detection laser;
the control chip is configured to determine a first refractive index of the first polarization scanner based on a target sub-field of view;
the first polarization scanner is configured to refract an echo signal of the detection laser using the first refractive index, wherein a refractive index of the first polarization scanner is variable; and
the photosensitive device is configured to sense the echo signal refracted by the first polarization scanner.
2 . The radar system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first polarization scanner comprises a drive circuit and a polarizer, wherein a refractive index of the polarizer is variable;
the drive circuit is configured to apply a target drive voltage to the polarizer; and
the polarizer is configured to:
when the target drive voltage is applied, generate the first refractive index; and
refract the echo signal of the detection laser by using the first refractive index.
3 . The radar system according to claim 2 , wherein a material of the polarizer is a metamaterial with a variable refractive index, or a surface of the polarizer is covered with the metamaterial with a variable refractive index.
4 . The radar system according to claim 2 , wherein the control chip is configured to:
determine the target drive voltage based on the first refractive index.
5 . The radar system according to claim 1 , wherein the first polarization scanner is configured to refract the echo signal of the detection laser to the photosensitive device.
6 . The radar system according to claim 3 , wherein the first polarization scanner further comprises:
a reflector, configured to reflect, to the photosensitive device, the echo signal refracted by the polarizer.
7 . The radar system according to claim 1 , wherein the laser device comprises:
N laser lights, wherein the N laser lights are in a one-to-one correspondence with N sub-fields of view, and each of the N laser lights is configured to emit the detection laser to a corresponding sub-field of view in the N sub-fields of view.
8 . The radar system according to claim 7 , wherein each of the N laser lights comprises an edge emitting laser (EEL) and a quartz fiber, wherein:
the EEL is configured to emit the detection laser to the quartz fiber; and
the quartz fiber is configured to optically shape the detection laser to allow the detection laser to be irradiated on a corresponding sub-field of view.
9 . The radar system according to claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive device comprises an optical lens and a photosensitive chip, wherein:
the optical lens is configured to focus, on the photosensitive chip, the echo signal refracted by the first polarization scanner; and
the photosensitive chip is configured to sense the echo signal focused by the optical lens.
10 . The radar system according to claim 7 , wherein the N sub-fields of view are horizontally arranged, and any two of the N sub-fields of view do not overlap.
11 . The radar system according to claim 7 , wherein the N sub-fields of view are horizontally arranged in n1 rows and vertically arranged in n2 columns, wherein Nis equal to n1 multiplied by n2, and both n1 and n2 are positive integers greater than or equal to 2, and wherein any two of the N sub-fields of view do not overlap.
12 . A vehicle, comprising a vehicle control system and a radar system, wherein the vehicle control system is configured to determine a target sub-field of view, and the radar system is configured to:
emit detection laser; and
sense an echo signal that is of the detection laser and that is in the target sub-field of view, and wherein the radar system comprises a laser device, an optical detector, and a control chip, wherein:
the optical detector comprises a first polarization scanner and a photosensitive device;
the laser device is configured to emit the detection laser;
the control chip is configured to determine a first refractive index of the first polarization scanner based on the target sub-field of view;
the first polarization scanner is configured to refract the echo signal of the detection laser using the first refractive index, wherein a refractive index of the first polarization scanner is variable; and
the photosensitive device is configured to sense the echo signal refracted by the first polarization scanner.
13 . The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the vehicle control system is further configured to detect an object and a distance from the object based on the echo signal refracted by the first polarization scanner.
14 . The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the laser device and the optical detector in the radar system are separately mounted at different locations of the vehicle.
15 . The vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein the laser device is mounted on a headlight or a fog lamp of the vehicle, and the optical detector is mounted on a bumper or a windshield of the vehicle.
16 . An optical detection method, applied to a radar system, wherein the radar system comprises a laser device and a first polarization scanner, and the method comprises:
driving the laser device to emit detection laser;
determining a first refractive index of the first polarization scanner based on a target sub-field of view; and
controlling the first polarization scanner to generate the first refractive index.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the controlling the first polarization scanner to generate the first refractive index comprises:
determining a target drive voltage based on the first refractive index; and
applying the target drive voltage to the first polarization scanner.
18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the driving the laser device to emit detection laser comprises:
driving the laser device to send the detection laser to the target sub-field of view.
19 . The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein:
the first polarization scanner comprises a drive circuit and a polarizer, wherein a refractive index of the polarizer is variable;
the drive circuit is configured to apply a target drive voltage to the polarizer; and
the polarizer is configured to:
when the target drive voltage is applied, generate the first refractive index; and
refract the echo signal of the detection laser by using the first refractive index.
20 . The vehicle according to claim 19 , wherein a material of the polarizer is a metamaterial with a variable refractive index, or a surface of the polarizer is covered with the metamaterial with a variable refractive index.