Light detection using an aperture
AssigneeWaymo LLC
InventorsPierre-Yves Droz, David Hutchison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to limitation of noise on light detectors using an aperture. One example implementation includes a system. The system includes a lens disposed relative to a scene. The lens focuses light from the scene. The system also includes an aperture defined within an opaque material. The system also includes a waveguide having a first side that receives light focused by the lens and transmitted through the aperture. The waveguide guides the received light toward a second side of the waveguide opposite to the first side. The waveguide has a third side extending between the first side and the second side. The system also includes an array of light detectors that intercepts and detects light propagating out of the third side of the waveguide.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a lens;
- a waveguide;
- a mirror coupled to the waveguide;
- an aperture defined within an opaque material, wherein the aperture is disposed between the lens and the waveguide, wherein the lens is configured to focus light from a scene into the aperture such that diverging light is transmitted out of the aperture, and wherein at least a portion of the diverging light transmitted out of the aperture is projected onto the waveguide;
- and
- an array of light detectors that intercepts and detects at least a portion of the diverging light.
A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device, comprising:
- a LIDAR transmitter that illuminates a scene;
- and
- a LIDAR receiver that receives light scattered by one or more objects within the scene, wherein the LIDAR receiver comprises:
- a lens;
- a waveguide;
- a mirror coupled to the waveguide;
- an aperture defined within an opaque material, wherein the aperture is disposed between the lens and the waveguide, wherein the lens is configured to focus light from a scene into the aperture such that diverging light is transmitted out of the aperture, and wherein at least a portion of the diverging light transmitted out of the aperture is projected onto the waveguide;
- and
- an array of light detectors that intercepts and detects at least a portion of the diverging light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.