# US 12,111,399 B2 · Lidar detection methods and systems with optical fiber array > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,399 B2 - Document ID: US12111399B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/116,195 - Filed: 2020-12-09 - Published: 2021-06-24 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-23 - Assignees: Y.E. Hub Armenia LLC - Applicants: Yandex Self Driving Group LLC - Inventors: Andrey Victorovich Golikov; Nikolay Evgenievich Orlov; Dmitry Valentinovich Solomentsev - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111399B2 ## CPC - G01S 7/4815: {using multiple transmitters} - G01S 17/931: of land vehicles - G01S 7/4817: {relating to scanning} - G01S 7/4818: {using optical fibres} - G01S 7/484: Transmitters - G01S 7/486: Receivers - G01S 17/42: Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates (indirect measurement G01S17/46) - G01S 17/933: of aircraft or spacecraft - G02B 26/0833: {the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD (G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B)} - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract The disclosed systems, and methods are directed to a LiDAR system comprising a radiation source for emitting a plurality of output beams, a microelectromechanical (MEM) component having a reflective surface for receiving the plurality of output beams and for reflecting the plurality of output beams towards the region of interest, a detection system for detecting a plurality of input beams from the region of interest, the detection system comprising a fibre optic array arranged to transmit the plurality of input beams to at least one photodetector, the fibre optic array comprising a plurality of optical fibres, each optical fibre having a receiving end, the receiving ends of the plurality of optical fibres being arranged in a two dimensional array and a receiving lens for focussing a given input beam of the plurality of input beams to a given receiving end of a given optical fibre of the fibre optic array. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A LiDAR system for detecting objects in a region of interest, the system comprising: a radiation source for emitting a plurality of output beams; a microelectromechanical (MEM) component having a reflective surface for receiving the plurality of output beams and for reflecting the plurality of output beams towards the region of interest, the MEM component configured to oscillate about a first oscillation axis by a first oscillation amplitude to modulate each one of the plurality of output beams by a vertical interval along a vertical axis in the region of interest; a detection system for detecting a plurality of input beams from the region of interest, the detection system comprising: a fibre optic array arranged to transmit the plurality of input beams to at least one photodetector, the fibre optic array comprising a plurality of optical fibres, each optical fibre having a receiving end, the receiving ends of the plurality of optical fibres being arranged in a two dimensional array; and a receiving lens configured to move to focus each different input beam of the plurality of input beams to a receiving end of a different optical fibre of the fibre optic array, wherein a distance between the receiving lens and the receiving ends of the plurality of optical fibres in the fibre optic array comprises a focal distance of the plurality of input beams. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The LiDAR system of claim 1, wherein a return pathway for the plurality of input beams from the region of interest to the detection system includes a sub-portion that is a same path as one used for the output beam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The LiDAR system of claim 2, wherein the return pathway includes the plurality of input beams being incident on, and being reflected by, the MEM component. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The LiDAR system of claim 1, wherein a return pathway for the plurality of input beams from the region of interest to the detection system includes a sub-portion that is a different path as one used for the output beam. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The LiDAR system of claim 1, wherein the radiation source is configured to emit a given output beam of the plurality of beams independently of a detection, by the detection system, of a given input beam of the plurality of input beams. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The LiDAR system of claim 1, wherein the radiation source is configured to emit a given output beam of the plurality of beams in a synchronized manner with a detection, by the detection system, of a given input beam of the plurality of input beams. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The LiDAR system of claim 1, wherein each given optical fibre of the (Original) fibre optic array has an associated photodetector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The LiDAR system of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of optical fibres of the fibre optic array have a common photodetector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The LiDAR system of claim 1, wherein the radiation source is one of: a single laser system and a double laser system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The LiDAR system of claim 1, wherein the MEM component is positioned on a platform which is configured to rotate on a horizontal plane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The LiDAR system of claim 1, further comprising a collimator for modulating a direction of the plurality of output beams towards the MEM component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The LiDAR system of claim 1, further comprising a processor which is configured to, responsive to a determination that there is an object in the region of interest, cause the first oscillation amplitude of the MEM component to be modulated to a first modulated oscillation amplitude to reduce the vertical interval of the plurality of output beams around the object. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The LiDAR system of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the MEM component is between 0.1 mm to 10 mm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The LiDAR system of claim 1, wherein the MEM component is configured to oscillate in multiple directions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The LiDAR system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of output beams and the plurality of input beams share a common propagation axis. ### Claim 16 A LIDAR method for detecting objects in a region of interest, the method being implemented by a processor communicatively connected to a LiDAR system, the method comprising: causing a radiation source to emit an output beam towards a microelectromechanical (MEM) component; causing the MEM component to oscillate with a first oscillation amplitude to reflect and spread the output beam by a vertical interval along a vertical axis in the region of interest; detecting, by a detection system, a plurality of input beams from the region of interest, the detecting comprising: receiving the plurality of input beams by a receiving lens; moving the receiving lens to focus each different input beam of the plurality of input beams to a receiving end of a different optical fibre of a fibre optic array, the fibre optic array comprising a plurality of optical fibres, each optical fibre having a receiving end, the receiving ends of the plurality of optical fibres being arranged in a two dimensional array. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The LiDAR method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises causing, by the processor, the radiation source to emit the plurality of output beams independently of the detection of the plurality of input beams by the detection system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The LiDAR method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises causing, by the processor, the radiation source to emit the plurality of output beams in coordination with the detection of the plurality of input beams by the detection system.