Transmitter charging module for light detection and ranging (lidar) device

A light detection and ranging (lidar) device comprising:

• a controller;
• a plurality of light emitters;
• a charging circuit comprising a plurality of energy storage devices;
• and
• a pulser circuit,
• wherein the charging circuit is configured to receive an indication of a first set of light emitters to be fired during a firing cycle, wherein the first set of light emitters is a subset of the plurality of light emitters such that the plurality of light emitters includes one or more light emitters that are not in the first set of light emitters,
• wherein the charging circuit is configured to selectively charge, during a charging cycle, a first set of energy storage devices, wherein the first set of energy storage devices is a subset of the plurality of energy storage devices such that the plurality of energy storage devices includes one or more energy storage devices that are not in the first set of energy storage devices,
• wherein each energy storage device of the first set of energy storage devices is associated with a light emitter in the first set of light emitters,
• wherein the charging circuit is arranged across a first printed circuit board (PCB surface and a second PCB surface,
• wherein the first PCB surface and the second PCB surface are different surfaces of a single PCB,
• wherein the first PCB surface is located within a recession formed within the single PCB,
• wherein the second PCB surface is located outside of the recession formed within the single PCB,
• wherein the charging circuit is configured to refrain from charging, during the charging cycle, each energy storage device in the plurality of energy storage devices that is not in the first set of energy storage devices, and
• wherein the pulser circuit is configured to discharge energy stored within each of the energy storage devices in the first set of energy storage devices through the associated light emitter in the first set of light emitters in order to cause the first set of light emitters to emit light signals during the firing cycle.

A light detection and ranging (lidar) device comprising:

• a controller;
• a plurality of light emitters;
• a charging circuit comprising a plurality of energy storage devices;
• a pulser circuit,
• wherein the charging circuit is configured to receive an indication of a first set of light emitters to be fired during a firing cycle, wherein the first set of light emitters is a subset of the plurality of light emitters such that the plurality of light emitters includes one or more light emitters that are not in the first set of light emitters,
• wherein the charging circuit is configured to selectively charge, during a charging cycle, a first set of energy storage devices, wherein the first set of energy storage devices is a subset of the plurality of energy storage devices such that the plurality of energy storage devices includes one or more energy storage devices that are not in the first set of energy storage devices,
• wherein each energy storage device of the first set of energy storage devices is associated with a light emitter in the first set of light emitters,
• wherein the charging circuit is arranged across a first printed circuit board (PCB) surface and a second PCB surface,
• wherein the first PCB surface and the second PCB surface are different surfaces of a single PCB,
• wherein the first PCB surface is located within a recession formed within the single PCB,
• wherein the second PCB surface is located outside of the recession formed within the single PCB,
• wherein the charging circuit is configured to refrain from charging, during the charging cycle, each energy storage device in the plurality of energy storage devices that is not in the first set of energy storage devices, and
• wherein the pulser circuit is configured to discharge energy stored within each of the energy storage devices in the first set of energy storage devices through the associated light emitter in the first set of light emitters in order to cause the first set of light emitters to emit light signals during the firing cycle;
• and
• a plurality of light detectors configured to detect reflections of the light signals emitted by the first set of light emitters during the firing cycle.