US 11,709,227 B2
Beam distribution adjustment for a sensor
Codrin Cionca, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Juan Enrique Castorena Martinez, Southfield, MI (US); Mostafa Parchami, Dearborn, MI (US); Linjun Zhang, Canton, MI (US); and Zhen Zhao, Farmington Hills, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 2, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/372,656.
Prior Publication US 2020/0319303 A1, Oct. 8, 2020
Int. Cl. G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 17/42 (2006.01); G01S 17/93 (2020.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 7/481 (2013.01) [G01S 17/42 (2013.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor system, comprising:
a housing;
an emitter, carried by the housing, that emits a beam comprising depth-data signals;
a beam-distribution adjustment system comprising a plurality of reflective assemblies and a plurality of actuators; and
a processor programmed to control the beam-distribution adjustment system by selectively changing an angular distribution of the depth-data signals emitted from the housing;
wherein a different one of the plurality of actuators is coupled to each of the plurality of reflective assemblies;
at least one of the plurality of reflective assemblies is positioned in the housing in an optical path of the depth-data signals emitted from the emitter;
when the processor controls the beam-distribution adjustment system from a nominal position to at least one deployed position, at least some of the plurality of actuators control a pivotal movement of the corresponding plurality of reflective assemblies; and
an angular extent of the angular distribution of the depth-data signals emitted from the housing has a different value when the beam-distribution adjustment system is in the nominal position than when the beam-distribution adjustment system is in the at least one deployed position.