Device for scanning frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) LiDAR range measurement
AssigneeMicrovision, Inc.
InventorVladimir Davydenko
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for scanning frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) LiDAR range measurement has a light source producing light having a varying frequency, a splitter splitting the light into reference light and output light, and an optical system having an optical axis. A plurality of free space couplers are arranged along a line such that the distance between adjacent free space couplers increases with increasing distance from the optical axis. Each free space coupler outcouples the output light into the free space and receives input light that was reflected at an object. A detector detects a superposition of the input light with the reference light, and a calculation unit determines the range to the object from the superposition detected by the detector.
Claims19
A device for scanning frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) LiDAR range measurement, comprising
- a light source configured to produce light having a varying frequency,
- a splitter configured to split the light into reference light and output light,
- a plurality of free space couplers arranged along a line, wherein each free space coupler is configured to
- outcouple the output light into the free space and
- to receive input light, which was reflected at an object,
- an optical system having an optical axis and configured to deflect the output light outcoupled by the free space couplers so that the output light is emitted in different directions lying in a first scanning plane,
- a detector configured to detect a superposition of the input light with the reference light, and
- a calculation unit configured to determine the range to the object from the superposition detected by the detector,
- wherein
- at least for a plurality of adjacent free space couplers, a distance between adjacent free space couplers continuously increases with increasing distance from the optical axis.
A device for scanning frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) LiDAR range measurement, comprising
- a light source configured to produce light having a varying frequency,
- a splitter configured to split the light into reference light and output light,
- at least one free space coupler configured to outcouple the output light into the free space and to receive input light, which was reflected at an object,
- a mechanical scanning unit comprising a movable mirror and configured to deflect the output light into different directions that lie in a scanning plane, wherein said different directions include a central direction,
- a detector configured to detect a superposition of the input light with the reference light,
- a calculation unit configured to determine the range to the object from the superposition detected by the detector,
- a control unit configured to control the mechanical scanning unit such that a density of points, which are illuminated by the output light in a plane that is perpendicular to the central direction, continuously decreases with increasing distance from the central direction.
A device for scanning frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) LiDAR range measurement, comprising
- a light source configured to produce light having a varying frequency,
- a splitter configured to split the light into reference light and output light,
- a plurality of free space couplers arranged in a two-dimensional array, wherein each free space coupler is configured to outcouple the output light into the free space and to receive input light, which was reflected at an object,
- an optical system having an optical axis and configured to deflect the output light outcoupled by the free space couplers so that the output light is emitted in different directions,
- a detector configured to detect a superposition of the input light with the reference light, and
- a calculation unit configured to determine the range to the object from the superposition detected by the detector,
- wherein
- a density of the free space couplers continuously decreases with increasing distance from the optical axis of the optical system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.