Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system including integrated light source
AssigneeAurora Operations, Inc.
InventorsAmir Hosseini, Sen Lin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system mounted to a vehicle includes a first device and a second device coupled to the first device. The first device includes a laser source and one or more optical components. The first device is configured to output an optical signal associated with a local oscillator (LO) signal. The second device includes an optical amplifier array device and a transceiver device. The optical amplifier array device includes an integrated optical component and is configured to amplify the optical signal. The transceiver device is configured to transmit the amplified optical signal to an environment and receive a returned optical signal that is reflected from an object in the environment.
Claims20
A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system for a vehicle comprising:
- a first device including a laser source and one or more optical components, the first device configured to output an optical signal associated with a local oscillator (LO) signal;
- and
- a second device coupled to the first device, the second device including:
- an optical amplifier array device including an integrated optical component and configured to amplify the optical signal, an input of the optical amplifier array device coupled to a first output of the first device through a bend in the integrated optical component for receiving the optical signal;
- and
- a transceiver device configured to transmit the amplified optical signal to an environment and receive a returned optical signal that is reflected from an object in the environment, a first input of the transceiver device coupled to an output of the optical amplifier array device for receiving the amplified optical signal and a second input of the transceiver device coupled to a second output of the first device for receiving the LO signal.
An autonomous vehicle control system, comprising:
- a LIDAR system comprising:
- a first device including a laser source and one or more optical components, the first device configured to output an optical signal associated with a local oscillator (LO) signal;
- and
- a second device coupled to the first device, the second device including:
- an optical amplifier array device including an integrated optical component and configured to amplify the optical signal, an input of the optical amplifier array device coupled to a first output of the first device through a bend in the integrated optical component for receiving the optical signal;
- and
- a transceiver device configured to transmit the amplified optical signal to an environment and receive a returned optical signal that is reflected from an object in the environment, a first input of the transceiver device coupled to an output of the optical amplifier array device for receiving the amplified optical signal and a second input of the transceiver device coupled to a second output of the first device for receiving the LO signal;
- and
- one or more processors configured to:
- determine at least one of a range to the object or a velocity of the object using the returned optical signal;
- and
- control operation of an autonomous vehicle responsive to the at least one of the range or the velocity.
An autonomous vehicle, comprising:
- a LIDAR system comprising:
- a first device including a laser source and one or more optical components, the first device configured to output an optical signal associated with a local oscillator (LO) signal;
- and
- a second device coupled to the first device, the second device including:
- an optical amplifier array device including an integrated optical component and configured to amplify the optical signal, an input of the optical amplifier array device coupled to a first output of the first device through a bend in the integrated optical component for receiving the optical signal;
- and
- a transceiver device configured to transmit the amplified optical signal to an environment and receive a returned optical signal that is reflected from an object in the environment, a first input of the transceiver device coupled to an output of the optical amplifier array device for receiving the amplified optical signal and a second input of the transceiver device coupled to a second output of the first device for receiving the LO signal;
- a steering system;
- a braking system;
- and
- a vehicle controller comprising one or more processors configured to:
- determine at least one of a range to the object or a velocity of the object using the returned optical signal;
- and
- control operation of at least one of the steering system and the braking system responsive to the at least one of the range or the velocity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.