Optical system for light detection and ranging
AssigneeLumentum Operations LLC
InventorsBarrie P. Keyworth, Eric R. Hegblom, John Michael Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In some implementations, an optical system includes an emitter array including a plurality of emitters. The plurality of emitters are arranged in a plurality of channels and the emitter array is configured to illuminate on a per-channel basis. Respective positions of emitters, of the plurality of emitters, of a channel, of the plurality of channels, vary across a width of the channel. The optical system includes a lens to receive light from the emitter array and a diffuser to receive light from the lens. The diffuser is configured to diffuse light along a length of the plurality of channels of the emitter array. The optical system includes a corrective optical element to receive light from the diffuser.
Claims20
A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system, comprising:
- a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array comprising a plurality of VCSELs,
- wherein the plurality of VCSELs are arranged in a plurality of channels and each of the plurality of channels includes a separately addressable set of VCSELs configured to illuminate on a per-channel basis, and
- wherein respective positions of VCSELs, of the plurality of VCSELs, of a channel, of the plurality of channels, vary across a width of the channel;
- a first lens to receive light from the VCSEL array;
- a diffuser to receive light from the first lens,
- wherein the diffuser is configured to diffuse light along a length of the plurality of channels of the VCSEL array;
- an image sensor array configured for line readout,
- wherein an aspect ratio of the image sensor array is smaller than an aspect ratio of the VCSEL array;
- and
- a second lens to provide light to the image sensor array.
An optical system, comprising:
- an emitter array comprising a plurality of emitters,
- wherein the plurality of emitters are arranged in a plurality of channels and each of the plurality of channels includes a separately addressable set of emitters configured to illuminate on a per-channel basis,
- wherein an aspect ratio of the emitter array is not matched to and less than an aspect ratio of a field of view of the optical system, and
- wherein respective positions of emitters, of the plurality of emitters, of a channel, of the plurality of channels, vary across a width of the channel;
- a lens to receive light from the emitter array;
- a diffuser to receive light from the lens,
- wherein the diffuser is configured to diffuse light along a length of the plurality of channels of the emitter array;
- and
- a corrective optical element to receive light from the diffuser and to correct distortion.
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) device, comprising:
- a VCSEL array comprising a plurality of VCSELs,
- wherein the plurality of VCSELs are arranged in a plurality of channels and each of the plurality of channels includes a separately addressable set of VCSELs configured to illuminate on a per-channel basis, and
- wherein respective positions of VCSELs, of the plurality of VCSELs, of a channel, of the plurality of channels, vary across a width of the channel such that multiple adjacent first VCSELs, of the VCSELs of the channel, are in an ascending pattern relative to the width of the channel, and multiple adjacent second VCSELs, of the VCSELs of the channel, are in a descending pattern relative to the width of the channel;
- and
- an image sensor array configured for line readout,
- wherein an aspect ratio of the image sensor array is lower than an aspect ratio of the VCSEL array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.