Rotating pyramidal mirror
An apparatus includes a detector, a light source configured to emit light, a reflecting apparatus having multiple reflective facets, and a mirror. The reflecting apparatus is configured to rotate around an axis and arranged to reflect the emitted light from the light source and reflect backscattered light. The mirror is arranged to reflect the backscattered light from the reflecting apparatus towards the detector.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a detector;
a light source configured to emit light;
a pyramidal mirror having multiple reflective facets, the pyramidal mirror being configured to rotate around a rotational axis and arranged to reflect the emitted light from the light source and reflect backscattered light; and
a parabolic mirror arranged to reflect the backscattered light from the pyramidal mirror towards the detector, wherein the detector is positioned directly between the pyramidal mirror and the parabolic mirror.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a rotating mirror arranged to reflect the emitted light from the light source to the pyramidal mirror.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first lens arranged between the rotating mirror and the pyramidal mirror.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:
a second lens arranged between the first lens and the pyramidal mirror.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reflective facets each include an individual mirror.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein pyramidal mirror includes 3-8 reflective facets.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the parabolic mirror includes an aperture through which the emitted light passes from the light source to the pyramidal mirror.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detector includes a plurality of detectors.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing that at least partially encompasses an internal cavity, the housing including a transparent cover,
wherein the detector, the light source, the pyramidal mirror, and the parabolic mirror are positioned within the internal cavity.
10. A method for generating a light pattern, the method comprising:
rotating a pyramidal mirror having a plurality of facets;
generating, via a light source, pulsed light;
directing, via an optical element, the pulsed light along to at least one of the facets, the optical element directing the pulsed light along a line;
reflecting, via the at least one of the facets, the pulsed light to create the light pattern;
reflecting, via the at least one of the facets, backscattered light and
focusing, via a focusing apparatus, the reflected backscattered light towards a detector positioned between the focusing apparatus and the pyramidal mirror.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the optical element is a rotatable mirror or a lens.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a lens positioned directly between the light source and the pyramidal mirror.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the lens is arranged to convert the emitted light to a line.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light source emits the light along an axis that is parallel to the rotational axis.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a housing that at least partially encompasses an internal cavity, wherein the detector, the light source, the pyramidal mirror, and the parabolic mirror are positioned within the internal cavity, wherein the only rotatable mirror within the housing is the pyramidal mirror.
16. A system comprising:
a housing that at least partially encompasses an internal cavity;
a laser configured to emit pulsed light and positioned within the internal cavity;
a sensor positioned within the internal cavity;
a rotatable pyramidal mirror having multiple reflective facets and arranged to reflect the emitted pulsed light and backscattered light; and
a mirror arranged to reflect the backscattered light from the rotatable pyramidal mirror towards the sensor and physically and optically positioned between the pyramidal mirror and the laser.
17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:
a lens positioned between the laser and the rotatable pyramidal mirror and/or between the rotatable pyramidal mirror and the sensor.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the only rotatable mirror within the housing is the rotatable pyramidal mirror.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the lens is arranged to convert the emitted light to a line.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the lens is positioned between the laser and the mirror.