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US 2026/0309848 A1Published application
Lidar sensor system
AssigneeAurora Operations, Inc.
InventorsRyan Galloway, Evan Rogers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system includes a transmitter, one or more scanning optics, an optical module, and a receiver. The transmitter is configured to output a beam having a linear polarization. The optical module is configured to provide the beam to the one or more scanning optics. The one or more scanning optics are configured to output the beam received from the optical module. The receiver is spaced from the transmitter and receiver configured to receive a return beam from reflection of the beam by an object.
Claims20
A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system for a vehicle, the LIDAR system comprising:
- a transmitter configured to output a beam having a linear polarization;
- one or more scanning optics;
- a first receiver;
- a second receiver spaced from the first receiver;
- and
- an optical module configured to receive a return beam reflected from an object, wherein
- the optical module comprises:
- a first displacer;
- a wave plate;
- a second displacer;
- and
- a Faraday rotator located between the wave plate and the second displacer;
- wherein the second displacer is configured to split the return beam into a first component and a second component;
- and
- wherein the first displacer is configured to provide the first component of the return beam to the first receiver and the second component of the return beam to the second receiver.
12 more elements
An autonomous vehicle control system, comprising:
- a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system comprising:
- a transmitter configured to output a beam having a linear polarization;
- one or more scanning optics;
- a first receiver;
- a second receiver spaced from the first receiver;
- and
- an optical module configured to provide the beam to the one or more scanning optics, wherein the one or more scanning optics are configured to output the beam and receive a return beam from reflection of the beam by an object, wherein the optical module is configured to receive the return beam from the one or more scanning optics, wherein the optical module comprises:
- a first displacer;
- a wave plate;
- a second displacer;
- and
- a Faraday rotator located between the wave plate and the second displacer;
- wherein the second displacer is configured to split the return beam into a first component and a second component;
- and
- wherein the first displacer is configured to provide the first component of the return beam to the first receiver and the second component of the return beam to the second receiver;
- and
- one or more processors configured to:
- determine at least one of a range to the object or a velocity of the object based on the beam;
- and
- control operation of at least one of a steering system of an autonomous vehicle or a braking system of the autonomous vehicle responsive to the at least one of the range to or the velocity of the object.
17 more elements
An autonomous vehicle, comprising:
- a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system comprising:
- a transmitter configured to output a beam having a linear polarization;
- one or more scanning optics;
- a first receiver;
- a second receiver spaced from the first receiver;
- and
- an optical module configured to provide the beam to the one or more scanning optics, wherein the one or more scanning optics are configured to output the beam and receive a return beam from reflection of the beam by an object, wherein the optical module is configured to receive the return beam from the one or more scanning optics, wherein the optical module comprises:
- a first displacer;
- a wave plate;
- a second displacer;
- and
- a Faraday rotator located between the wave plate and the second displacer;
- wherein the second displacer is configured to split the return beam into a first component and a second component;
- and
- wherein the first displacer is configured to provide the first component of the return beam to the first receiver and the second component of the return beam to the second receiver;
- a steering system;
- a braking system;
- and
- a vehicle controller configured to:
- determine, based on the return beam, at least one of a range to the object or a velocity of the object;
- and
- control operation of at least one of the steering system or the braking system, based on the at least one of the range or the velocity.
19 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.