LIDAR with Co-Aligned Transmit and Receive Paths
AssigneeWaymo LLC
InventorsPierre-Yves Droz, David Neil Hutchison, Ralph Hamilton Shepard, Nathaniel Golshan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One example system includes a light source that emits light. The system also includes a waveguide that guides the emitted light from a first side of the waveguide toward a second side of the waveguide opposite the first side. The waveguide has a third side extending between the first side and the second side. The system also includes a mirror that reflects the guided light toward the third side of the waveguide. At least a portion of the reflected light propagates out of the waveguide toward a scene. The system also includes a light detector, and a lens that focuses light from the scene toward the waveguide and the light detector.
Claims21
1-20:
- (canceled)
A system comprising:
- a light source that emits light;
- a waveguide that guides the emitted light from a first side of the waveguide toward a second side of the waveguide;
- a lens;
- an opaque material that defines an aperture;
- a mirror that reflects at least a portion of the guided light such that reflected light propagates out of the waveguide and through the aperture toward the lens, wherein the lens directs the reflected light propagating out of the waveguide toward a scene;
- and
- a light detector optically coupled to the aperture.
A system, comprising:
- a plurality of waveguides, wherein each waveguide is configured to guide light from a respective first side of the waveguide to a respective second side of the waveguide;
- a plurality of light sources, wherein each respective light source of the plurality of waveguides is optically coupled to the first side of a respective waveguide of the plurality of waveguides;
- a lens;
- an opaque material that defines a plurality of apertures;
- a plurality of mirrors, wherein each respective mirror of the plurality of mirrors is disposed on the second side of a respective waveguide of the plurality of waveguides and reflects at least a portion of the guided light in the respective waveguide such that reflected light propagates out of the respective waveguide and through a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures toward the lens, wherein the lens directs the reflected light propagating out of each of the waveguides toward a scene;
- and
- a plurality of light detectors optically coupled to the plurality of apertures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.