Lidar systems including a gallium and nitrogen containing laser light source

• US 10,649,086 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2019
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera SLD Laser Incorporated (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Soraa Laser Diode, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Raring, James W., McLaurin, Melvin, Rudy, Paul, Novotny, Vlad
• Primary Examiner(s): Hansen, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US16/270,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20190187284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• 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 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4817 relating to scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/487 Extracting wanted echo signals , e.g. pulse detection
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0085 for modulating the output, i.e. the laser beam is modulated outside the laser cavity
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0087 for illuminating phosphorescent or fluorescent materials, e.g. using optical arrangements specifically adapted for guiding or shaping laser beams illuminating these materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0215 Bonding to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0217 Removal of the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02212 Can-type, e.g. TO-CAN housings with emission along or parallel to symmetry axis
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02251 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02255 using beam deflecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02325 Mechanically integrated components on mount members or optical micro-benches
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02345 Wire-bonding
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02375 Positioning of the laser chips
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02469 Passive cooling, e.g. where heat is removed by the housing as a whole or by a heat pipe without any active cooling element like a TEC
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0287 : Facet reflectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/22 : having a ridge or stripe structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/34333 : with a well layer based on Ga(In)N or Ga(In)P, e.g. blue laser
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4012 : Beam combining, e.g. by the use of fibres, gratings, polarisers, prisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4031 : Edge-emitting structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4087 : emitting more than one wavelength

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a mobile machine including a laser diode based lighting system having an integrated package holding at least a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode and a wavelength conversion member. The gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode is configured to emit a first laser beam with a first peak wavelength. The wavelength conversion member is configured to receive at least partially the first laser beam with the first peak wavelength to excite an emission with a second peak wavelength that is longer than the first peak wavelength and to generate the white light mixed with the second peak wavelength and the first peak wavelength. The mobile machine further includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system configured to generate a second laser beam and manipulate the second laser beam to sense a spatial map of target objects in a remote distance.

Claims

1. A mobile machine comprising:

a laser diode based lighting system comprising a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode and a wavelength conversion member, the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode being configured to emit a first laser beam with a first peak wavelength, the wavelength conversion member being configured as a remote pumped phosphor, the laser diode based lighting system further comprising a space supporting free-space-optics to guide at least partially the first laser beam from the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode to the remote pumped phosphor to excite an emission with a second peak wavelength that is longer than the first peak wavelength and to generate white light mixed with the second peak wavelength and the first peak wavelength; and

a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system configured to generate a second laser beam and manipulate the second laser beam to sense a spatial map of target objects in a remote distance.

2. The mobile machine of claim 1 wherein the second laser beam is generated from the first laser beam.

3. The mobile machine of claim 1 wherein the second laser beam is generated from a laser diode separate from the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode.

4. The mobile machine of claim 1 wherein the laser diode based lighting system further comprises a scanning MEMS or other beam scanner for directing the white light.

5. The mobile machine of claim 1 wherein the LIDAR system comprises a scanning MEMS or other beam scanner for manipulating the second laser beam.

6. The mobile machine of claim 1 wherein the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode is remotely coupled with the wavelength conversion member.

7. The mobile machine of claim 1 wherein the white light illuminates the target objects and their surrounding environment.

8. The mobile machine of claim 1 wherein the wavelength conversion member comprises a phosphor material configured to operate in a mode selected from at least one of a reflective mode or a transmissive mode.

9. A mobile machine comprising:

a laser diode based lighting system comprising a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode and a wavelength conversion member, the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode being configured to emit a first laser beam with a first peak wavelength, the wavelength conversion member being configured as a remote pumped phosphor, the laser diode based lighting system further comprising an optical fiber to guide at least partially the first laser beam from the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode to the remote pumped phosphor to excite an emission with a second peak wavelength that is longer than the first peak wavelength and to generate white light mixed with the second peak wavelength and the first peak wavelength; and

a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system configured to generate a second laser beam and manipulate the second laser beam to sense a spatial map of target objects in a remote distance.

10. The mobile machine of claim 9 wherein the second laser beam is generated from the first laser beam.

11. The mobile machine of claim 9 wherein the second laser beam is generated from a laser diode separate from the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode.

12. The mobile machine of claim 9 wherein the laser diode based lighting system further comprises a scanning MEMS or other beam scanner for directing the white light.

13. The mobile machine of claim 9 wherein the LIDAR system comprises a scanning MEMS or other beam scanner for manipulating the second laser beam.

14. The mobile machine of claim 9 wherein the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode is remotely coupled with the wavelength conversion member.

15. The mobile machine of claim 9 wherein the white light illuminates the target objects and their surrounding environment.

16. A mobile machine comprising:

a laser diode based lighting system comprising a surface mount device (SMD) package including a common support member configured to support a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode and a wavelength conversion member, the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode being configured to emit a first laser beam with a first peak wavelength, the wavelength conversion member being configured to receive at least partially the first laser beam to excite an emission with a second peak wavelength that is longer than the first peak wavelength and to generate white light mixed with the second peak wavelength and the first peak wavelength; and

a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system configured to generate a second laser beam and manipulate the second laser beam to sense a spatial map of target objects in a remote distance.

17. The mobile machine of claim 16 wherein the second laser beam is generated from the first laser beam.

18. The mobile machine of claim 16 wherein the second laser beam is generated from a laser diode separate from the gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode.

19. The mobile machine of claim 16 wherein the white light illuminates the target objects and their surrounding environment.

20. The mobile machine of claim 16 wherein the wavelength conversion member comprises a phosphor material configured to operate in a mode selected from at least one of a reflective mode or a transmissive mode.