Light detection and ranging (lidar) sensor system including transceiver device

A light detection and ranging (lidar) system for a vehicle, the lidar system comprising:

• a first device including a laser source configured to generate a beam, and one or more optical components;
• a second device including a plurality of transceivers;
• a processor configured to operate the first device and the second device to generate, based on the beam, a plurality of optical signals and multiplex the plurality of transceivers such that each of the plurality of transceivers transmits the plurality of optical signals to an environment, wherein
• in response to transmitting the plurality of optical signals, the plurality of transceivers are configured to receive a plurality of returned optical signals in a plurality of channels and process the returned optical signals by one or more analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that are shared across the plurality of channels.

An autonomous vehicle control system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and one or more computer-readable storage mediums storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to:
• operate a device including a laser source to generate, based on a beam generated from the laser source, a plurality of optical signals and multiplex a plurality of transceivers such that each of the transceivers transmits the plurality of optical signals to an environment,
• in response to transmitting the plurality of optical signals, cause the plurality of transceivers to receive in a plurality of channels a plurality of returned optical signals that are reflected from an object in the environment and process the returned optical signals by one or more analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that are shared across the plurality of channels and configured to generate a digital signal in the plurality of channels, and
• control operation of a vehicle using the digital signal in the plurality of channels.

An autonomous vehicle comprising:

• at least one of a steering system or a braking system;
• and
• a vehicle controller comprising one or more processors configured to:
• operate a device including a laser source to generate, based on a beam generated from the laser source, a plurality of optical signals and multiplex a plurality of transceivers such that each of the transceivers transmits the plurality of optical signals to an environment,
• in response to transmitting the plurality of optical signals, cause the plurality of transceivers to receive in a plurality of channels a plurality of returned optical signals that are reflected from an object in the environment and process the returned optical signals by one or more analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that are shared across the plurality of channels and configured to generate a digital signal in the plurality of channels, and
• control the at least one of the steering system or the braking system using the digital signal in the plurality of channels.