Three-dimensional-mapping two-dimensional-scanning LIDAR based on one-dimensional-steering optical phased arrays and method of using same

• US 10,180,493 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2017
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quanergy Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Quanergy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Eldada, Louay
• Primary Examiner(s): Ratcliffe, Luke D
• Application Number:
  US15/854,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20180136317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4814 of transmitters alone
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4815 using multiple transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4817 relating to scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0071 for beam steering, e.g. using a mirror outside the cavity to change the beam direction

Abstract

A plurality of one-dimensional planar beam forming and steering optical phased array chips form a two-dimensional-scanning solid-state lidar, enabling manufacturing of three-dimensional mapping time-of-flight lidars at high yield and low cost resulting from the simplicity of said one-dimensional optical phased array chips.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

forming an emitter array of one-dimensional planar beam forming and steering optical phased array photonic integrated circuit chips in a first vertical dimension, each photonic integrated circuit chip emitting optical phase controlled unmodulated pulses of coherent light waves that interfere with each other to form an optical beam pointed in a plurality of directions in a second dimension perpendicular to the first vertical dimension; and

collecting at a receiver array reflected pulses indicative of the distance and the reflectivity of a sensed object, the distance of the sensed object establishing a third dimension.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising utilizing at least one off-chip lens.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the off-chip lens is selected from a refractive lens, a graded index lens, a diffractive optical element and a holographic optical element.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising utilizing at least one on-chip grating.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the unmodulated pulses of coherent light waves are generated from a single laser.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the unmodulated pulses of coherent light waves are generated by a plurality of lasers, with the optical input into each photonic integrated circuit chip being generated from one of the plurality of lasers.