# US 2021/0278535 A1 · Distance detecting systems for use in mobile machines including gallium and nitrogen containing laser diodes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0278535 A1 - Document ID: US20210278535A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/165,827 - Filed: 2021-02-02 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-13 - Assignees: KYOCERA SLD Laser, Inc. - Applicants: KYOCERA SLD Laser, Inc. - Inventors: James W. Raring; Melvin McLaurin; Paul Rudy; Vlad Novotny - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210278535A1 ## CPC - G01S 17/10: using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves (determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32) - F21K 9/64: using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer - F21V 29/70: characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks - G01S 7/4817: {relating to scanning} - G01S 7/487: Extracting wanted echo signals {, e.g. pulse detection} - G01S 17/86: Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders - G01S 17/89: for mapping or imaging - G01S 17/931: of land vehicles - H01S 5/0085: {for modulating the output, i.e. the laser beam is modulated outside the laser cavity} - H01S 5/0087: {for illuminating phosphorescent or fluorescent materials, e.g. using optical arrangements specifically adapted for guiding or shaping laser beams illuminating these materials} - H01S 5/02212: Can-type, e.g. TO-CAN housings with emission along or parallel to symmetry axis - H01S 5/02251: using optical fibres - H01S 5/02325: Mechanically integrated components on mount members or optical micro-benches - H01S 5/02375: Positioning of the laser chips - H01S 5/02469: {Passive cooling, e.g. where heat is removed by the housing as a whole or by a heat pipe without any active cooling element like a TEC} - H01S 5/34333: {with a well layer based on Ga(In)N or Ga(In)P, e.g. blue laser} - H01S 5/4012: {Beam combining, e.g. by the use of fibres, gratings, polarisers, prisms} - H01S 5/4087: {emitting more than one wavelength} - B60Q 1/085: {due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers (B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence)} - H01S 5/0215: {Bonding to the substrate} - H01S 5/0217: {Removal of the substrate} - H01S 5/02255: using beam deflecting elements - H01S 5/02345: Wire-bonding - H01S 5/0287: {Facet reflectivity} - H01S 5/22: having a ridge or stripe structure - H01S 5/4031: {Edge-emitting structures} - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H01S: DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract A distance detecting system for use in mobile machines comprises a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode disposed within a light of a mobile machine. The gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode is configured to emit a first light with a first peak wavelength. A wavelength conversion member is configured to produce a white light. A first sensing light signal is based on the first peak wavelength. One or more optical elements are configured to direct at least partially the white light to illuminate one or more target objects or areas and to transmit respectively the first sensing light signal for sensing at least one remote point. A detector is configured to detect reflected signals of the first sensing light signal to determine coordinates of the at least one remote point. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -60. (canceled) ### Claim 61 A LIDAR and white light system comprising: at least one processor coupled to a power source and configured to supply power to a driver to generate a first driving current and a second driving current; a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode configured to be driven by the first driving current to emit a first light with a first peak wavelength in the violet or blue wavelength range; a sensing laser diode configured to be driven by the second driving current to emit a second light with a second peak wavelength in the infrared (IR) wavelength range; the at least one processor configured to provide a modulated driving current to the sensing laser diode, the modulated driving current configured to generate a pulse or a sequence of pulses of IR sensing light emitted from the sensing laser diode; a wavelength conversion member configured to receive at least partially the first light traveling along a first path; the first light incident on a surface of the wavelength conversion member and forming an excitation spot; the wavelength conversion member configured to at least partially absorb the first light and reemit a third light with a third peak wavelength that is longer than the first peak wavelength, the third light being combined with at least partially the first light to yield a white light emission; the wavelength conversion member configured to receive at least partially the second IR sensing light substantially on the excitation spot; the wavelength conversion member configured to pass, scatter, or reflect the second IR light; one or more optical elements optically coupled to the white light emission, wherein the one or more optical elements are configured to receive the white light emission traveling along a second path and to at least one of collimate, steer, or project a first beam of the white light emission for illuminating one or more remote objects, and to receive the IR sensing light traveling along the second path and to project a second beam of the IR sensing light with the second peak wavelength for mapping an area including the one or more remote objects and surroundings of the one or more remote objects; and a detector configured to detect reflected signals of the IR sensing light for mapping the one or more remote objects. ### Claim 62 (depends on 61) The LIDAR and white light system of claim 61, wherein the IR sensing light is flashed or pulsed and reflected portions of the IR sensing light are received by the detector, wherein the detector is configured as at least one of a photodiode array, a charge coupled diode (CCD) array, or another sensor array. ### Claim 63 (depends on 61) The LIDAR and white light system of claim 61, further comprising a signal receiver configured to convert electrical signals from the detector and to generate an image or map of the one or more target objects and their surroundings. ### Claim 64 (depends on 61) The LIDAR and white light system of claim 61, wherein the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode is configured to generate the first light with the first peak wavelength in violet wavelength range from 390 nm to 420 nm or blue wavelength range from 420 nm to 485 nm; and/or the sensing laser diode is configured to generate the second light with the second peak wavelength in IR wavelength range from 600 nm to 1100 nm, 1100 nm to 1450 nm, or 1450 nm to 1800 nm. ### Claim 65 (depends on 61) The LIDAR and white light system of claim 61, wherein the one or more optical elements comprises a first collimator configured to collimate the white light beam emission and IR sensing light to a divergence angle of less than about 15 degrees, less than about 10 degrees, or less than about 5 degrees; and/or wherein the one or more optical elements comprises at least an optical device selected from a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) controlled scanner, a digital-light processing (DLP) chip, and a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) chip. ### Claim 66 (depends on 61) The LIDAR and white light system of claim 61, wherein the sensing laser diode is configured for communication by transmitting data; and/or wherein the sensing laser diode is configured for illumination. ### Claim 67 (depends on 61) The LIDAR and white light system of claim 61, wherein: the detector comprises at least one selected from a photodiode, a photoresistor, a CCD camera, an antenna, a scanning mirror or a microdisplay coupled to a photodiode to convert the reflected light signals to electrical signals, the electrical signal being time-dependent; and the detector further comprises a signal receiver configured to convert the electrical signals to an image of the one or more target objects and their surroundings, the image characterized substantially by the second peak wavelength and being time-dependent. ### Claim 68 (depends on 61) The LIDAR and white light system of claim 61, wherein at least one of the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode or the sensing laser diode is configured in a surface mount device (SMD) type package; or wherein at least one of the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode or the sensing laser diode is configured in a package is selected from a can type, a flat package type, a surface mount type, a butterfly type, a C-mount type, or a Q-mount type. ### Claim 69 (depends on 61) The LIDAR and white light system of claim 61, wherein: the wavelength conversion member is characterized by a reflective mode so that the white light emission is emitted at least partially from the excitation spot on the wavelength conversion member; the wavelength conversion member is configured to reflect and scatter the IR sensing light off the excitation spot on the wavelength conversion member; and/or the wavelength conversion member comprises a yellow phosphor configured to generate the third light with the third peak wavelength in yellow color range. ### Claim 70 A sensing and white light system comprising: at least one processor coupled to a power source and configured to supply power to a driver to generate a first driving current and a second driving current; a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode configured to be driven by the first driving current to emit a first light with a first peak wavelength in the violet or blue wavelength range; a sensing laser diode configured to be driven by the second driving current to emit a second light with a second peak wavelength in the infrared (IR) wavelength range; the at least one processor configured to provide a modulated driving current to the sensing laser diode, the modulated driving current configured to generate a pulse of IR sensing light emitting light from the sensing laser diode; a wavelength conversion member configured to receive at least partially the first light traveling along a first path; the first light incident on a surface of the wavelength conversion member and forming an excitation spot; the wavelength conversion member configured to at least partially absorb the first light and reemit a third light with a third peak wavelength that is longer than the first peak wavelength, the third light being combined with at least partially the first light to yield a white light emission; the wavelength conversion member configured to receive at least partially the second IR sensing light substantially on the excitation spot; the wavelength conversion member configured to pass, scatter, or reflect the second IR light; one or more optical elements optically coupled to the white light emission, wherein the one or more optical elements are configured to receive the white light emission traveling along a second path and to at least one of collimate, steer, or project a first beam of the white light emission for illuminating one or more remote objects, and to receive the IR sensing light traveling along the second path and to project a second beam of the IR sensing light signal with the second peak wavelength for sensing one or more remote objects and/or surroundings of the one or more remote objects; and a detector configured to detect reflected signals of the IR sensing light for sensing the one or more remote objects. ### Claim 71 (depends on 70) The sensing and white light system of claim 70, further comprising a signal receiver configured to convert electrical signals from the detector and sense the one or more target objects and their surroundings. ### Claim 72 (depends on 70) The sensing and white light system of claim 70, wherein the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode is configured to generate the first light with the first peak wavelength in violet wavelength range from 390 nm to 420 nm or blue wavelength range from 420 nm to 485 nm; and/or wherein the sensing laser diode is configured to generate the second light with the second peak wavelength in IR wavelength range from 600 nm to 1100 nm, 1100 nm to 1450 nm, or 1450 nm to 1800 nm. ### Claim 73 (depends on 70) The sensing and white light system of claim 70, wherein the wavelength conversion member comprises a yellow phosphor configured to generate the third light with the third peak wavelength in yellow color range. ### Claim 74 (depends on 70) The sensing and white light system of claim 70, wherein the one or more optical elements comprises a first collimator configured to collimate the white light beam emission and IR sensing light to a divergence angle of less than about 15 degrees, less than about 10 degrees, or less than about 5 degrees; and/or wherein the one or more optical elements comprises at least an optical device selected from a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) controlled scanner, a digital-light processing (DLP) chip, and a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) chip. ### Claim 75 (depends on 70) The sensing and white light system of claim 70, wherein the sensing laser diode is configured for communication by transmitting data; and/or wherein the sensing laser diode is configured for illumination. ### Claim 76 (depends on 70) The sensing and white light system of claim 70, wherein: the detector comprises at least one selected from a photodiode, a photoresistor, a CCD camera, an antenna, a scanning mirror or a microdisplay coupled to a photodiode to convert the reflected light signals to electrical signals, the electrical signal being time-dependent, and the detector further comprises a signal receiver configured to convert the electrical signals to a distance measurement. ### Claim 77 (depends on 70) The sensing and white light system of claim 70, wherein at least one of the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode or the sensing laser diode is configured in a surface mount device (SMD) type package. ### Claim 78 (depends on 70) The sensing and white light system of claim 70, wherein at least one of the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode or the sensing laser diode is configured in a package is selected from a can type, a flat package type, a surface mount type, a butterfly type, a C-mount type, or a Q-mount type. ### Claim 79 (depends on 70) The sensing and white light system of claim 70, wherein the wavelength conversion member is characterized by a reflective mode so that the white light emission is emitted at least partially from the excitation spot. ### Claim 80 (depends on 70) The sensing and white light system of claim 70, wherein the wavelength conversion member is configured to reflect the IR sensing light off the excitation spot.