Optical switch for dynamic range lidar
AssigneeArete Associates
InventorsSteven Eric Rako, James Thomas Murray
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a system includes a signal generator operable to generate a control waveform, an optical splitter operable to split light among first and second optical paths, and a detector in optical communication with the first optical path and operable to provide reference for the control waveform generation of the signal generator via the light of the first optical path. The system also includes an optical switch operable to attenuate a portion of the light of the second optical path based on the generated control waveform to detect a dynamic range signal.
Claims17
A system, comprising:
- a signal generator operable to generate a control waveform;
- an optical splitter operable to split light among first and second optical paths;
- a detector in optical communication with the first optical path and operable to provide reference for the control waveform generation of the signal generator via the light of the first optical path;
- and
- an optical switch operable to attenuate a portion of the light of the second optical path based on the generated control waveform to detect a dynamic range signal,
- wherein the dynamic range signal comprises light detection and ranging (lidar) returns, the lidar returns comprise laser pulses, and a measurement of a one of the laser pulses is used in attenuating the portion of the light of the second optical path for the one laser pulse or another of the laser pulses.
A method, comprising:
- splitting light from lidar returns among first and second optical paths;
- detecting the light in the first optical path to generate a radio frequency (RF) waveform;
- and
- attenuating, with an optical switch, a portion of the light of the second optical path associated with near range lidar returns via the generated RF waveform to detect far range lidar returns from a target,
- wherein the lidar returns comprise laser pulses, and the method further comprises using a measurement of one of the laser pulses in attenuating the portion of the light of the second optical path for the one laser pulse or another of the laser pulses.
A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, direct the processor to attenuate light associated with near range lidar returns via:
- a split of light from lidar returns among first and second optical paths;
- a generation of a radio frequency (RF) waveform based on a detection of the light in the first optical path;
- and
- use of the generated RF waveform to attenuate a portion of the light of the second optical path associated with the near range lidar returns to detect far range lidar returns from a target,
- wherein the lidar returns comprise laser pulses, and the instructions further direct the processor to use using a measurement of one of the laser pulses to attenuate the portion of the light of the second optical path for the one laser pulse or another of the laser pulses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.