Sensing system with side illumination
A sensing system includes a sensor with transmitters and detectors. A light source is optically coupled to a light guide disposed in the field of view of the sensor. The light guide is generally planar and the light source illuminates the light guide from an edge, or side, to illuminate the length of the light guide. A housing for the sensing system has a surface configured to reflect or diffract light from the light source towards the surrounding environment.
1. A sensing system comprising:
a radar sensor including: at least one radar transmit antenna configured transmit a signal; and at least one radar receive antenna configured to detect the signal;
a light guide disposed in the field of view of the radar sensor;
a light source optically coupled to the light guide to illuminate the light guide, wherein an entire length of the light guide extends along a plane and the light source illuminates the light guide from an edge of the plane to illuminate a length of the light guide;
a housing for the sensing system including a surface configured to reflect or diffract light from the light source away from the surface, wherein the light guide is configured to transmit at least a portion of the light from the light source towards the surface; and
a wire-grid polarizer on an interior surface of a cover, the wire-grid polarizer having a plurality of parallel metallic wires arranged in a plane and aligned perpendicular to an electric field of the radar sensor, wherein the parallel metallic wires are separated by a distance corresponding to an operating frequency of the radar sensor, and wherein the wire-grid polarizer is positioned adjacent to and extends into the light guide such that the wire-grid polarizer is configured to reflect or diffract light from the light guide.
2. The sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the cover is disposed in a field of view of the radar sensor, wherein:
the cover is configured to allow the signal to pass therethrough; and
the surface of the housing is configured to reflect or diffract at least a portion of the light from the light source through the cover.
3. A sensing system comprising:
a sensor including: at least one transmitter configured to transmit a signal; and at least one detector configured to detect the signal;
a cover disposed in a field of view of the sensor, wherein the cover is configured to allow the signal to pass therethrough;
a light guide disposed in the field of view of the sensor;
a light source optically coupled to the light guide to illuminate the light guide, wherein an entire length of the light guide extends along a plane and the light source illuminates the light guide from an edge of the plane to illuminate a length of the light guide;
a housing for the sensing system including a surface disposed offset from the cover and configured to reflect or diffract light from the light source towards the cover, wherein the light guide is configured to transmit at least a portion of the light from the light source towards the surface such that the at least a portion of the light contacts the surface of the housing from within the light guide to reflect or diffract the at least a portion of the light towards the cover; and
a wire-grid polarizer on an interior surface of the cover, the wire-grid polarizer having a plurality of parallel metallic wires arranged in a plane and aligned perpendicular to an electric field of the sensor, wherein the parallel metallic wires are separated by a distance corresponding to an operating frequency of the sensor, and wherein the wire-grid polarizer is positioned adjacent to and extends into the light guide such that the wire-grid polarizer is configured to reflect or diffract light from the light guide.
4. The sensing system of claim 3 , wherein:
the sensor is a radar sensor;
the at least one transmitter is a radar transmitter;
the at least one detector is a radar detector; and
the cover is a radome.
5. The sensing system of claim 4 , wherein the parallel metallic wires are oriented according to a polarization of the radar transmitter.
6. The sensing system of claim 5 , wherein the cover includes a resistive contact sensor configured to switch the light source between an on position and an off position in response to contact from a user.
7. The sensing system of claim 6 , wherein the resistive contact sensor comprises:
a film on an exterior of the cover, the film spaced from the wire-grid polarizer and configured such that applying pressure on the film creates a short circuit between the wire-grid polarizer and the housing causing the resistive contact senor to switch the light source between an on position and an off position.
8. The sensing system of claim 5 , wherein the light source is a light source for an interior overhead light of a vehicle, and the housing is shaped to replace the interior overhead light of the vehicle.
9. The sensing system of claim 3 , wherein the cover comprises a patterned film fixed to a transparent optical polymer.
10. The sensing system of claim 3 , wherein the surface of the housing is a reflective metal.
11. The sensing system of claim 3 , wherein:
the sensor is a LIDAR sensor;
the at least one transmitter is a LIDAR transmitter configured to transmit one or more of the following types of light: infrared; near infrared;
the at least one detector is a LiDAR detector; and
the housing is configured to allow light from the LiDAR transmitter to pass therethrough while reflecting visible light.
12. The sensing system of claim 11 , wherein:
the surface of the housing includes a near infrared light filter transparent to near infrared light and opaque to visible light; and
the light source is configured to emit visible light.
13. The sensing system of claim 3 , wherein the cover is transparent to visible light.
14. The sensing system of claim 3 , wherein the light source is configured to emit white light.
15. The sensing system of claim 3 , wherein the light source includes an LED array facing substantially parallel to a plane of the surface of the housing.
16. The sensing system of claim 3 , wherein the cover is one of the following: glass; optical polymer.
17. The sensing system of claim 3 , wherein the surface of the housing includes a reflective film.
18. The sensing system of claim 3 , further comprising a mask configured to block light from the light source from passing therethrough, the mask including an opening to allow light from the light source to pass therethrough such that the light passing through the opening exits the sensing system through the cover.
19. The sensing system of claim 3 , wherein the light source is positioned to emit light towards the surface of the housing such that the light strikes the surface of the housing at an angle of incidence of less than 25 degrees.