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US 2021/0278507 A1Published application
Lidar system including optical fibers selectively illuminating portions of field of view
AssigneeContinental Automotive Systems, Inc.
InventorRyan C. Stafford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A Lidar system includes an array of photodetectors, a fiber laser, and an optical switch connected to the fiber laser. An array of optical fibers is connected to the optical switch. At least some of the optical fibers of the array of optical fibers are aimed into different fields of illumination each positioned to be detected by a different segment of the array of photodetectors. Each segment of the array of photodetectors is smaller than the array of photodetectors.
Claims24
A system comprising:
- an array of photodetectors;
- a fiber laser;
- an optical switch connected to the fiber laser;
- an array of optical fibers connected to the optical switch, at least some of the optical fibers of the array of optical fibers being aimed into different fields of illumination each positioned to be detected by a different segment of the array of photodetectors, each segment of the array of photodetectors being smaller than the array of photodetectors.
1 more element
A computer having a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:
- supply light to an optical switch;
- adjust the optical switch to selectively illuminate different ones of an array of optical fibers, at least some of the optical fibers being aimed into different fields of illumination each positioned to be detected by a different segment of an array of photodetectors, each segment of the array of photodetectors being smaller than the array of photodetectors;
- and
- detect light reflected in the field of illumination with the photodetectors.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- supplying light to an optical switch;
- adjusting the optical switch to selectively illuminate different ones of an array of optical fibers, at least some of the optical fibers being aimed into different fields of illumination each positioned to be detected by a different segment of an array of photodetectors, each segment of the array of photodetectors being smaller than the array of photodetectors;
- and
- detecting light reflected in the field of illumination with the photodetectors.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.