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US 12,638,558 B2Granted
Hybrid two-dimensional steering LIDAR
AssigneeVoyant Photonics, Inc.
InventorsChristopher T. Phare, Sajan Shrestha
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical emitter device includes an emitter array comprising a plurality of end-fire tapers, each end-fire taper configured to selectively emit a respective beam of light. A lens system is configured to shape and direct each beam of light based on a position of the respective end-fire taper relative to an optical axis of the lens system. A rotating reflector, including an axis of rotation perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens system, is configured to redirect and scan the beams of light through a scanning range.
Claims16
An optical emitter device comprising:
- a first emitter array comprising a plurality of first point emitters, each respective first point emitter configured to emit a respective first beam of output light, and configured to receive a respective first beam of input light;
- a first lens system configured to shape and direct each respective first beam of output light and each respective first beam of input light based on a position of each respective first point emitter relative to a first optical axis of the first lens system;
- a rotating reflector configured to redirect each respective first beam of output light outwardly at an angle to the first optical axis, and configured to redirect each respective first beam of input light towards the first emitter array;
- at least one light source for generating the respective first beams of output light;
- a first photodetector circuit for detecting the first beams of input light received by the plurality of point emitters;
- a beam splitter for directing the respective first beams of output light to the plurality of point emitters and the respective first beams of input light to the first photodetector circuit;
- a second photodetector circuit;
- and
- a polarization beam splitter for splitting the first beams of input light into a first sub-beam having a first polarization mode for transmission to the first photodetector circuit, and a second sub-beam having a second polarization mode for transmission to the second photodetector circuit.
6 more elements
An optical emitter device comprising:
- a first emitter array comprising a plurality of first point emitters, each respective first point emitter configured to emit a respective first beam of output light, and configured to receive a respective first beam of input light;
- a first lens system configured to shape and direct each respective first beam of output light and each respective first beam of input light based on a position of each respective first point emitter relative to a first optical axis of the first lens system;
- and
- a rotating reflector configured to redirect each respective first beam of output light outwardly at an angle to the first optical axis, and configured to redirect each respective first beam of input light towards the first emitter array,
- wherein an outer end of at least some of the plurality of first point emitters are disposed substantially at a first focal plane of the first lens system,
- wherein the first focal plane of the first lens system comprises a substantially curved section;
- and
- wherein the outer end of at least some of the plurality of first point emitters is disposed proximate to the first focal plane, and
- wherein the first lens system consists of a single lens including:
- a front aspheric surface;
- and
- a back substantially convex aspheric surface;
- and
- a center thickness greater than one half of a focal length of the first lens system.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.