Systems and methods for transferring data communication in a rotating platform of a lidar system

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for providing a bi-directional data communication link within a LIDAR assembly that has a stationary portion attached to an autonomous vehicle and a second portion rotatably connected to the stationary portion. The second portion may include one or more emitting/receiving devices (e.g., lasers) for detecting objects surrounding the autonomous vehicle. A first printed circuit board including a first set of trace antennas. A second printed circuit board including a second set of trace antennas. The first printed circuit board may be configured to rotate 360-degrees in relation to the second printed circuit board so that the first set of trace antennas and the second set of trace antennas align to provide the bi-directional data link.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing a bi-directional data link within a LIDAR assembly, comprising:
 a stationary portion for attaching to an autonomous vehicle and a second portion rotatable in relation to the stationary portion, wherein the second portion includes one or more emitting devices and receiving devices for detecting objects surrounding the autonomous vehicle;   a first printed circuit board including a first set of trace antennas located within the stationary portion; and   a second printed circuit board including a second set of trace antennas located within the second portion, wherein the first printed circuit board is configured to rotate in relation to the second printed circuit board so that the first set of trace antennas and the second set of trace antennas align to provide the bi-directional data link.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a shaft located at a central axis within the LIDAR assembly and connected to the first printed circuit board, wherein the shaft rotates the first printed circuit board in relation to the second printed circuit board. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft is connected to the second portion, and the shaft rotates when the second portion rotates in relation to the stationary portion. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board are located within an electrically sealed cavity that is configured to enclose one or more cavity currents originating on the shaft from the first set of trace antennas and the second set of trace antennas. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a first bearing is connected to the shaft and a top side of the electrically sealed cavity and a second bearing is connected to the shaft and a bottom side of the electrically sealed cavity, wherein the first bearing and the second bearing permit the shaft and the first printed circuit board to rotate while the electrically sealed cavity and the second printed circuit board remain stationary. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a non-contacting ground circuit is configured to shunt the one or more cavity currents from the first bearing and the second bearing. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the non-contacting ground circuit comprises a plurality of resistive elements constructed in a parallel arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein a net parallel impedance of the plurality of resistive elements between a static ground and a rotating ground is less than 8 ohms and greater than 2 ohms. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the non-contacting ground circuit is connected to both the second portion and the stationary portion. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of trace antennas and the second set of trace antennas align to provide a horizontally polarized quarter wave monopole array to provide the bi-directional data link. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of trace antennas and the second set of trace antennas are configured to align to provide a peak-to-peak frequency that is less than 6 dB. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an upload comparator electrically connected to the first printed circuit board, wherein the upload comparator is configured to receive upload data transmitted to the first set of trace antennas from the second set of trace antennas;   an upload mixer circuit to mix the upload data using a local oscillator frequency driver;   an upload amplifier circuit to amplify the upload data; and   an upload diplexer circuit to filter the upload data using a low pass filter.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the local oscillator frequency driver operates approximately at a frequency of 4 GHz. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a download comparator electrically connected to the second printed circuit board, the download comparator is configured to receive download data transmitted to the second set of trace antennas from the first set of trace antennas;   a download mixer circuit to mix the download data using a local oscillator (LO) frequency driver;   a download amplifier circuit to amplify the download data; and   a download diplexer circuit to filter the download data using a high pass filter.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the local oscillator frequency driver operates approximately at a frequency of 4 GHz. 
     
     
         16 . A method for providing a bi-directional data link within a LIDAR assembly, comprising:
 rotating a second portion relative to a stationary portion, wherein the stationary portion is adapted to attach to an autonomous vehicle,   detecting objects surrounding the autonomous vehicle using one or more emitting devices and receiving devices located within the second portion; and   rotating a first printed circuit board having a first set of trace antennas in relation to a second printed circuit board having a second set of trace antennas so that the first set of trace antennas and the second set of trace antennas align to provide the bi-directional data link.   
     
     
         17 . A system for providing a bi-directional data link within a LIDAR assembly, comprising:
 a first printed circuit board including a first set of trace antennas;   a second printed circuit board including a second set of trace antennas; and   a shaft positioned near a central axis within the LIDAR assembly, the shaft being connected to the first printed circuit board, and the LIDAR assembly being configured to turn the shaft so that the first printed circuit board rotates in relation to the second printed circuit board so that the first set of trace antennas and the second set of trace antennas align to provide the bi-directional data link.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first set of trace antennas and the second set of trace antennas align to provide a horizontally polarized quarter wave monopole array to provide the bi-directional data link. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board are located within an electrically sealed cavity that is configured to enclose one or more cavity currents originating on the shaft from the first set of trace antennas and the second set of trace antennas. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein a first bearing is connected to the shaft and a top side of the electrically sealed cavity and a second bearing is connected to the shaft and a bottom side of the electrically sealed cavity, wherein the first bearing and the second bearing permit the shaft and the first printed circuit board to rotate while the electrically sealed cavity and the second printed circuit board remain stationary, and wherein a non-contacting ground circuit is configured to shunt the one or more cavity currents from the first bearing and the second bearing.