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US 10,908,262 B2Granted
Ladar transmitter with optical field splitter/inverter for improved gaze on scan area portions
AssigneeAeye, Inc.
InventorLuis Carlos Dussan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a scanning ladar transmitter that employs an optical field splitter/inverter to improve the gaze characteristics of the ladar transmitter on desirable portions of a scan area. Also disclosed is the use of scan patterns such as Lissajous scan patterns for a scanning ladar transmitter where a phase drift is induced into the scanning to improve the gaze characteristics of the ladar transmitter on desirable portions of the scan area.
Claims65
A method comprising:
- positioning an optical field splitter/inverter optically downstream from a first mirror and a second mirror;
- scanning the first mirror at a sinusoidal frequency to define a periodic scan pattern along a first axis within a scan area;
- scanning the second mirror to define another scan pattern along a second axis within the scan area, wherein the scanning of the first and second mirrors defines the scan area;
- splitting and inverting the scan area via the optical field splitter/inverter;
- and
- transmitting a plurality of light pulses to the split and inverted scan area via the scanning first and second mirrors and the optical field splitter/inverter;
- wherein the scanning of the first and second mirrors defines a target scan area within the split and inverted scan area for a ladar transmitter that transmits the light pulses;
- and
- wherein the positioning step comprises positioning the field splitter/inverter downstream from the first and second mirrors such that the target scan area of the ladar transmitter moves relatively slower in a middle section of the split and inverted scan area than it does at outer sections of the split and inverted scan area.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- scanning a first mirror at a sinusoidal frequency to define a periodic scan pattern along a first axis within a scan area;
- scanning a second mirror to define another scan pattern along a second axis within the scan area, wherein the scanning of the first and second mirrors defines the scan area;
- splitting and inverting the scan area via an optical field splitter/inverter that is positioned optically downstream from the first and second mirrors, wherein the field splitter/inverter comprises a triangular prism shape;
- and
- transmitting a plurality of light pulses to the split and inverted scan area via the scanning first and second mirrors and the optical field splitter/inverter.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- scanning a first mirror at a sinusoidal frequency to define a periodic scan pattern along a first axis within a scan area;
- scanning a second mirror to define another scan pattern along a second axis within the scan area, wherein the scanning of the first and second mirrors defines the scan area;
- splitting and inverting the scan area via an optical field splitter/inverter that is positioned optically downstream from the first and second mirrors, wherein the field splitter/inverter comprises a W shape;
- and
- transmitting a plurality of light pulses to the split and inverted scan area via the scanning first and second mirrors and the optical field splitter/inverter.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- scanning a first mirror at a first sinusoidal resonant frequency to define a periodic scan pattern along a first axis within a scan area;
- scanning a second mirror at a second resonant sinusoidal frequency to define another scan pattern along a second axis within the scan area, wherein the scanning of the first and second mirrors defines (1) the scan area and (2) a Lissajous scan pattern for the scanning first and second mirrors;
- splitting and inverting the scan area via an optical field splitter/inverter that is positioned optically downstream from the first and second mirrors;
- and
- transmitting a plurality of light pulses to the split and inverted scan area via the scanning first and second mirrors and the optical field splitter/inverter.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- scanning a first mirror at a sinusoidal frequency to define a periodic scan pattern along a first axis within a scan area;
- scanning a second mirror to define another scan pattern along a second axis within the scan area, wherein the scanning of the first and second mirrors defines the scan area;
- splitting and inverting the scan area via an optical field splitter/inverter that is positioned optically downstream from the first and second mirrors;
- transmitting a plurality of light pulses to the split and inverted scan area via the scanning first and second mirrors and the optical field splitter/inverter, wherein the light pulses include light at a first and second wavelength;
- selectably reflecting light within the light pulses at the second wavelength toward a position sensor via a dichroic mirror;
- and
- the position sensor sensing the reflected light at the second wavelength, the sensed light being indicative of a position of the scanning first or second scanable mirrors.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- scanning a first mirror at a sinusoidal frequency to define a periodic scan pattern along a first axis within a scan area;
- scanning a second mirror to define another scan pattern along a second axis within the scan area, wherein the scanning of the first and second mirrors defines the scan area;
- splitting and inverting the scan area via an optical field splitter/inverter that is positioned optically downstream from the first and second mirrors;
- transmitting a plurality of light pulses to the split and inverted scan area via the scanning first and second mirrors and the optical field splitter/inverter;
- employing ray tracing to identify regions within the field splitter/inverter that will receive and reflect the light pulses as a result of the scanning;
- and
- applying a reflective coating to the identified regions.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- scanning a first mirror at a sinusoidal frequency to define a periodic scan pattern along a first axis within a scan area;
- scanning a second mirror to define another scan pattern along a second axis within the scan area, wherein the scanning of the first and second mirrors defines the scan area;
- splitting and inverting the scan area via an optical field splitter/inverter that is positioned optically downstream from the first and second mirrors;
- transmitting a plurality of light pulses to the split and inverted scan area via the scanning first and second mirrors and the optical field splitter/inverter;
- and
- inducing a periodic phase drift in the scanning of at least one of the first and/or second mirrors which is scanning at a resonant frequency.
3 more elements
A beam scanner apparatus for a ladar transmitter, the apparatus comprising:
- a first scanable mirror configured to scan to a plurality of scan positions with respect to a first axis of a scan area;
- a second scanable mirror positioned optically downstream from the first scanable mirror, the second scanable mirror configured to scan to a plurality of scan positions with respect to a second axis of the scan area, wherein the scan positions of the first and second scanable mirrors define where the ladar transmitter is targeted within the scan area;
- a beam scanner controller configured to drive the first and second scanable mirrors to scan along the first and second axes to define a scan pattern for targeting by the ladar transmitter within the scan area, wherein the beam scanner controller is further configured to drive the first and second scanable mirrors such that at least one of the first scanable mirror and/or the second scanable mirror scans at a sinusoidal frequency;
- and
- an optical field splitter/inverter positioned optically downstream from the first and second scanable mirrors to split and invert the scan area defined by the first and second scanable mirrors, wherein the field splitter/inverter is positioned such that the targeting of the ladar transmitter moves relatively slower in a middle section of the split and inverted scan area than it does at outer sections of the split and inverted scan area.
2 more elements
A beam scanner apparatus for a ladar transmitter, the apparatus comprising:
- a first scanable mirror configured to scan to a plurality of scan positions with respect to a first axis of a scan area;
- a second scanable mirror positioned optically downstream from the first scanable mirror, the second scanable mirror configured to scan to a plurality of scan positions with respect to a second axis of the scan area, wherein the scan positions of the first and second scanable mirrors define where the ladar transmitter is targeted within the scan area;
- a beam scanner controller configured to drive the first and second scanable mirrors to scan along the first and second axes to define a scan pattern for targeting by the ladar transmitter within the scan area, wherein the beam scanner controller is further configured to drive the first and second scanable mirrors such that at least one of the first scanable mirror and/or the second scanable mirror scans at a sinusoidal frequency;
- and
- an optical field splitter/inverter positioned optically downstream from the first and second scanable mirrors to split and invert the scan area defined by the first and second scanable mirrors, wherein the field splitter/inverter comprises a triangular prism shape.
2 more elements
A beam scanner apparatus for a ladar transmitter, the apparatus comprising:
- a first scanable mirror configured to scan to a plurality of scan positions with respect to a first axis of a scan area;
- a second scanable mirror positioned optically downstream from the first scanable mirror, the second scanable mirror configured to scan to a plurality of scan positions with respect to a second axis of the scan area, wherein the scan positions of the first and second scanable mirrors define where the ladar transmitter is targeted within the scan area;
- a beam scanner controller configured to drive the first and second scanable mirrors to scan along the first and second axes to define a scan pattern for targeting by the ladar transmitter within the scan area, wherein the beam scanner controller is further configured to drive the first and second scanable mirrors such that at least one of the first scanable mirror and/or the second scanable mirror scans at a sinusoidal frequency;
- and
- an optical field splitter/inverter positioned optically downstream from the first and second scanable mirrors to split and invert the scan area defined by the first and second scanable mirrors, wherein the field splitter/inverter comprises a W shape.
2 more elements
A beam scanner apparatus for a ladar transmitter, the apparatus comprising:
- a first scanable mirror configured to scan to a plurality of scan positions with respect to a first axis of a scan area;
- a second scanable mirror positioned optically downstream from the first scanable mirror, the second scanable mirror configured to scan to a plurality of scan positions with respect to a second axis of the scan area, wherein the scan positions of the first and second scanable mirrors define where the ladar transmitter is targeted within the scan area;
- a beam scanner controller configured to drive the first and second scanable mirrors to scan along the first and second axes to define a scan pattern for targeting by the ladar transmitter within the scan area, wherein the beam scanner controller is further configured to drive the first scanable mirror at a sinusoidal resonant frequency;
- and
- an optical field splitter/inverter positioned optically downstream from the first and second scanable mirrors to split and invert the scan area defined by the first and second scanable mirrors.
2 more elements
A beam scanner apparatus for a ladar transmitter, the apparatus comprising:
- a first scanable mirror configured to scan to a plurality of scan positions with respect to a first axis of a scan area;
- a second scanable mirror positioned optically downstream from the first scanable mirror, the second scanable mirror configured to scan to a plurality of scan positions with respect to a second axis of the scan area, wherein the scan positions of the first and second scanable mirrors define where the ladar transmitter is targeted within the scan area;
- a beam scanner controller configured to drive the first and second scanable mirrors to scan along the first and second axes to define a scan pattern for targeting by the ladar transmitter within the scan area, wherein the beam scanner controller is further configured to drive the first and second scanable mirrors such that at least one of the first scanable mirror and/or the second scanable mirror scans at a sinusoidal frequency;
- an optical field splitter/inverter positioned optically downstream from the first and second scanable mirrors to split and invert the scan area defined by the first and second scanable mirrors;
- a dichroic mirror positioned proximate to an injection region for the field splitter/inverter, wherein the dichroic mirror is configured to selectively reflect received light of a specified wavelength;
- and
- a position sensor positioned and configured to sense light reflected by the dichroic mirror, the sensed light being indicative of a position of the first or second scanable mirrors.
4 more elements
A beam scanner apparatus for a ladar transmitter, the apparatus comprising:
- a first scanable mirror configured to scan to a plurality of scan positions with respect to a first axis of a scan area;
- a second scanable mirror positioned optically downstream from the first scanable mirror, the second scanable mirror configured to scan to a plurality of scan positions with respect to a second axis of the scan area, wherein the scan positions of the first and second scanable mirrors define where the ladar transmitter is targeted within the scan area;
- a beam scanner controller configured to drive the first and second scanable mirrors to scan along the first and second axes to define a scan pattern for targeting by the ladar transmitter within the scan area, wherein the beam scanner controller is further configured to drive the first and second scanable mirrors such that at least one of the first scanable mirror and/or the second scanable mirror scans at a resonant frequency;
- and
- an optical field splitter/inverter positioned optically downstream from the first and second scanable mirrors to split and invert the scan area defined by the first and second scanable mirrors;
- and
- wherein the beam scanner controller comprises:
- a first driver for controllably scanning the first scanable mirror;
- a second driver for controllably scanning the second scanable mirror;
- and
- a processor configured to compute a periodic phase drift and provide a control signal to the driver for the at least one scanable mirror that scans at the resonant frequency such that the control signal induces the computed periodic phase drift in the scanning of the at least one scanable mirror that scans at the resonant frequency.
8 more elements
A beam scanner apparatus for a ladar transmitter, the apparatus comprising:
- a first scanable mirror configured to scan to a plurality of scan positions;
- a second scanable mirror positioned optically downstream from the first scanable mirror, the second scanable mirror configured to scan to a plurality of scan positions, wherein the scan positions of the first and second scanable mirrors define where the ladar transmitter is targeted within a scan area;
- and
- an optical field splitter/inverter positioned optically downstream from the first and second scanable mirrors to split and invert the scan area defined by the first and second scanable mirrors, wherein the field splitter/inverter is positioned such that the targeting of the ladar transmitter moves relatively slower in a middle section of the scan area than it does at outer sections of the scan area.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.