Aligning optical components in LIDAR systems

A method of aligning a laser light source with respect to a light sensor, the method comprising:

• causing a manipulator to move the laser light source successively through a plurality of alignments with respect to the light sensor, wherein the light sensor is coupled to a housing;
• applying an electric current to at least one first electrical contact of the manipulator to provide the electric current to at least one second electrical contact of the laser light source;
• causing the laser light source to emit light at individual alignments of the plurality of alignments, wherein the light exits the housing toward an object that reflects the light to the light sensor that is coupled to the housing;
• monitoring detected light signals produced by the light sensor in response to the light emitted by the laser light source while at the individual alignments;
• determining, based on the monitoring the detected light signals, an optimal alignment for the laser light source with respect to the light sensor;
• causing the manipulator to maintain the laser light source in the optimal alignment;
• and
• coupling the laser light source to the housing while the manipulator maintains the laser light source at the optimal alignment.

A system for aligning light sensors within a LIDAR assembly, the system comprising:

• a fixture to support the LIDAR assembly with respect to a surface to enable at least one laser light source of the LIDAR assembly to emit light toward the surface;
• a first light sensor to produce detected light signals in response to receiving reflected light that is reflected by the surface back toward the LIDAR assembly;
• a manipulator to install a second light sensor at an optimal location of a sensor board, wherein the sensor board is configured to secure the second light sensor within the LIDAR assembly upon the sensor board being installed into the LIDAR assembly;
• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more computer readable storage media storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to:
• determine, based on the detected light signals, a region of the first light sensor having received the reflected light;
• map a location of the region of the first light sensor to a location of the sensor board;
• determine the optimal location of the sensor board at which to install the second light sensor based at least in part on the region of the first light sensor;
• cause the manipulator to align the second light sensor at the optimal location of the sensor board;
• and
• cause the manipulator to release the second light sensor subsequent to the second light sensor being coupled to the sensor board at the optimal location.

A method for aligning one or more light sensors within a LIDAR assembly, the method comprising:

• coupling at least one laser light source to a housing of the LIDAR assembly at an alignment to direct light emitted by the at least one laser light source toward a surface that is remote from the LIDAR assembly;
• positioning a first light sensor within the LIDAR assembly by mating the first light sensor to a mounting structure of the LIDAR assembly;
• causing the at least one laser light source to emit the light toward the surface while the first light sensor is positioned within the LIDAR assembly to generate reflected light that is reflected by the surface;
• monitoring detected light signals produced by the first light sensor to determine at least one region of the first light sensor that receives the reflected light;
• determining, based on the at least one region of the first light sensor, at least one optimal alignment within the LIDAR assembly to position at least one second light sensor with respect to the at least one laser light source;
• customizing a sensor board by positioning the at least one second light sensor on the sensor board based on the at least one region to generate a customized sensor board;
• and
• subsequent to removing the first light sensor from the LIDAR assembly, coupling the at least one second light sensor to the housing at the at least one optimal alignment, wherein coupling the at least one second light sensor to the housing includes coupling the customized sensor board to the mounting structure.