# US 2026/0036679 A1 · LIDAR Receiver Using a Waveguide and an Aperture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0036679 A1 - Document ID: US20260036679A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 19/356,889 - Filed: 2025-10-13 - Published: 2026-02-05 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-01 - Assignees: Waymo LLC - Applicants: Waymo LLC - Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz; David Neil Hutchison; Ralph Hamilton Shepard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260036679A1 ## CPC - G01S 7/4816: {of receivers alone} - G01S 7/4818: {using optical fibres} - G01S 7/4863: Detector arrays, e.g. charge-transfer gates - G01S 17/42: Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates (indirect measurement G01S17/46) - G02B 6/003: {Lens or lenticular sheet or layer} - G02B 6/0055: {Reflecting element, sheet or layer} - G02B 6/4214: {the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device (G02B6/4246 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/4298: {coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers} - 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 - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to limitation of noise on light detectors using an aperture. One example implementation includes a system. The system includes a lens disposed relative to a scene. The lens focuses light from the scene. The system also includes an opaque material that defines an aperture. The system also includes a waveguide having a first side that receives light focused by the lens and transmitted through the aperture. The waveguide guides the received light toward a second side of the waveguide opposite to 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. The system also includes an array of light detectors that detects the reflected light propagating out of the third side. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a lens configured to focus light from a scene to provide focused light; an opaque material that defines a plurality of apertures; a plurality of waveguides; a plurality of optical elements; and a plurality of light detector arrays, wherein each respective light detector array of the plurality of light detector arrays is configured to receive a respective portion of the focused light via a respective optical path that extends through a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures, a respective waveguide of the plurality of waveguides, and a respective optical element of the plurality of optical elements, wherein the respective optical element is disposed between the respective waveguide and the respective light detector array. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least one optical element of the plurality of optical elements is configured to modify optical characteristics of at least one portion of the focused light received by at least one detector array of the plurality of detector arrays. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one optical element of the plurality of optical elements is configured to distribute an energy density of at least one portion of the focused light received by at least one detector array of the plurality of detector arrays. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one optical element comprises a mixing rod or a homogenizer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one optical element comprises a lens. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one optical element comprises a filter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each light detector array of the plurality of light detector array comprises an array of single photon light detectors connected in parallel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the single photon light detectors are single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a substrate comprising a transparent material, wherein the substrate is disposed between the plurality of waveguides and the plurality optical elements. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: focusing, by a lens, light from a scene to provide focused light; and receiving, by each respective light detector array of a plurality of light detector arrays, a respective portion of the focused light via a respective optical path that extends through a respective aperture of a plurality of apertures, a respective waveguide of a plurality of waveguides, and a respective optical element of a plurality of optical elements, wherein the respective optical element is disposed between the respective waveguide and the respective light detector array. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: modifying, by at least one optical element of the plurality of optical elements, optical characteristics of at least one portion of the focused light received by at least one detector array of the plurality of detector arrays. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: distributing, by at least one optical element of the plurality of optical elements, an energy density of at least one portion of the focused light received by at least one detector array of the plurality of detector arrays. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: emitting, by a light emitter, light toward the scene, wherein the focused light comprises light emitted by the light emitter that has been reflected by one or more objects within the scene. ### Claim 14 A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device comprising: a LIDAR transmitter configured to emit light toward a scene; and a LIDAR receiver configured to receive light reflected by one or more objects within the scene, wherein the LIDAR receiver comprises: a lens configured to focus light from the scene to provide focused light; an opaque material that defines a plurality of apertures; a plurality of waveguides; a plurality of optical elements; and a plurality of light detector arrays, wherein each respective light detector array of the plurality of light detector arrays is configured to receive a respective portion of the focused light via a respective optical path that extends through a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures, a respective waveguide of the plurality of waveguides, and a respective optical element of the plurality of optical elements, wherein the respective optical element is disposed between the respective waveguide and the respective light detector array. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The LIDAR device of claim 14, wherein at least one optical element of the plurality of optical elements is configured to modify optical characteristics of at least one portion of the focused light received by at least one detector array of the plurality of detector arrays. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The LIDAR device of claim 15, wherein the at least one optical element of the plurality of optical elements is configured to distribute an energy density of at least one portion of the focused light received by at least one detector array of the plurality of detector arrays. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The LIDAR device of claim 16, wherein the at least one optical element comprises a mixing rod or a homogenizer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The LIDAR device of claim 15, wherein the at least one optical element comprises a lens. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The LIDAR device of claim 15, wherein the at least one optical element comprises a filter. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The LIDAR device of claim 14, wherein each light detector array of the plurality of light detector array comprises an array of single photon light detectors connected in parallel.