Heat dissipation in an optical device
AssigneeAurora Operations, Inc.
InventorsJames Ferrara, Sen Lin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A phase shifter includes a substrate layer, a cladding layer, and a waveguide. The phase shifter includes a waveguide and a heating element. The phase shifter includes a thermally conductive structure disposed on the cladding layer to disperse heat from the waveguide. The thermally conductive structure may include a metal strip disposed longitudinally along the beam, may include thermally conductive pads, and/or may include thermally conductive vias coupled between the cladding layer and the substrate layer. The phase shifter may be incorporated into light detection and ranging (LIDAR) devices, telecommunications devices, and/or computing devices.
Claims20
A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system for a vehicle, the LIDAR system comprising:
- a light emitter configured to generate a light signal;
- and
- a phase shifter configured to receive the light signal, wherein the phase shifter includes:
- a waveguide configured to receive the light signal;
- a substrate layer, wherein the substrate layer includes a cavity configured to thermally isolate the waveguide from the substrate layer;
- a plurality of arms configured to hold the waveguide with reference to the substrate layer;
- a heating element configured to selectively heat the waveguide to modulate one or more properties of the light signal;
- and
- a plurality of thermally conductive strips configured to disperse heat from the waveguide,
- wherein one or more of the plurality of thermally conductive strips extend from the waveguide and a portion of the one or more of the plurality of thermally conductive strips overlaps with at least one of the plurality of arms in a first direction.
An autonomous vehicle (AV) control system comprising:
- a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system comprising:
- a light emitter configured to generate a light signal;
- and
- a phase shifter configured to receive the light signal, wherein the phase shifter includes:
- a waveguide configured to receive the light signal;
- a substrate layer, wherein the substrate layer includes a cavity configured to thermally isolate the waveguide from the substrate laver;
- a plurality of arms configured to hold the waveguide with reference to the substrate layer;
- a heating element configured to selectively heat the waveguide to modulate one or more properties of the light signal;
- and
- a plurality of thermally conductive strips configured to disperse heat from the waveguide, wherein one or more of the plurality of thermally conductive strips extend from the waveguide and a portion of the one or more plurality of thermally conductive strips overlaps with at least one of the plurality of arms in a first direction;
- and
- one or more processors coupled to the LIDAR sensor system and configured to at least partially control an AV based on an output from the LIDAR sensor system.
An autonomous vehicle (AV) comprising:
- a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system comprising:
- a light emitter configured to generate a light signal;
- and
- a phase shifter configured to receive the light signal, wherein the phase shifter includes:
- a waveguide configured to receive the light signal;
- a substrate layer, wherein the substrate layer includes a cavity configured to thermally isolate the waveguide from the substrate laver;
- a plurality of arms configured to hold the waveguide with reference to the substrate layer;
- a heating element configured to selectively heat the waveguide to modulate one or more properties of the light signal;
- and
- a plurality of thermally conductive strips configured to disperse heat from the waveguide, wherein one or more of the plurality of thermally conductive strips extend from the waveguide and a portion of the one or more thermally conductive strips overlaps with at least one of the plurality of arms in a particular direction;
- and
- one or more processors coupled to the LIDAR sensor system and configured to at least partially control the AV based on an output from the LIDAR sensor system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.