US 2023/0055071 A1 · Waveguide Diffusers for LIDARs

Abstract

One example system comprises a light source configured to emit light. The system also comprises a waveguide configured to guide the emitted light from a first end of the waveguide toward a second end of the waveguide. The waveguide has an output surface between the first end and the second end. The system also comprises a plurality of mirrors including a first mirror and a second mirror. The first mirror reflects a first portion of the light toward the output surface. The second mirror reflects a second portion of the light toward the output surface. The first portion propagates out of the output surface toward a scene as a first transmitted light beam. The second portion propagates out of the output surface toward the scene as a second transmitted light beam.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a light emitter configured to emit light;
a waveguide having a first end, a second end, and an output surface between the first end and the second end;
an input mirror coupled to the first end of the waveguide, wherein the input mirror is configured to reflect the emitted light from the light emitter into the waveguide, such that the waveguide guides the emitted light toward the second end as guided light;
and
an output mirror coupled to the second end of the waveguide, wherein the output mirror is configured to reflect at least a portion of the guided light out of the waveguide through the output surface, wherein the light reflected out of the waveguide by the output mirror propagates toward a scene as a transmitted light beam.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/982,078Filed 7 Nov 2022

Priority

25 Sep 2018

Published

23 Feb 2023

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

G01S 7/4818
Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements: using optical fibres
G01S 17/02
Systems using the reflection or reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. lidar systems: systems using the reflection of…
G01S 7/4812
Common to transmitter and receiver: transmitted and received beams following a coaxial path
G01S 17/10
For measuring distance only: using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves

Waveguide Diffusers for LIDARs

Life of this patent

Waveguide Diffusers for LIDARs

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20