Camera-style lidar setup
First Claim
1. A lidar apparatus comprising:
- a lidar transmitter that includes a laser source that produces a laser beam, a scan mirror or scan-mirror assembly angularly adjustable to deflect the beam in at least two orthogonal directions, and an afocal optical unit for magnifying the beam deflection;
said transmitter having an aperture for transmitting the beam; and
a lidar receiver that does not share the transmitter aperture;
wherein;
the receiver comprises plural separate discrete receiver modules, each having an aperture whose area is individually smaller than the area of the transmitter aperture, and each being either;
a CCD array, oran individual photodetector not integrated with other photodetectors into an array; and
aggregate aperture area of the plural receiver modules is larger than the area of the transmitter aperture.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Separate reception/transmission apertures enhance pointing: reception is more efficient than transmission (kept smaller for MEMS steering). Apparatus aspects of the invention include lidar transmitters emitting laser beams, and scan mirrors (or assemblies) angularly adjustable to deflect the beams in orthogonal directions. In one aspect, afocal optics magnify deflection; a transmitter aperture transmits the beam; a lidar receiver doesn'"'"'t share the transmitter aperture. In another aspect, auxiliary optics calibrate the deflection.
A method aspect of the invention notices and responds to a remote source—using a similar local laser, adjustable scan mirror or assembly, afocal deflection magnifier, transmission aperture and separate receiver. Method steps include operating the receiver to notice and determine location of the remote source; and controlling the transmitter to direct laser light back toward that location.
Among preferences: receiver aperture exceeds five times transmitter aperture; receiver is segmented; beam expander between laser and mirror(s) controls waist or divergence, for selecting Gaussian or Rayleigh divergence and “zoom”.
90 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A lidar apparatus comprising:
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a lidar transmitter that includes a laser source that produces a laser beam, a scan mirror or scan-mirror assembly angularly adjustable to deflect the beam in at least two orthogonal directions, and an afocal optical unit for magnifying the beam deflection; said transmitter having an aperture for transmitting the beam; and a lidar receiver that does not share the transmitter aperture;
wherein;the receiver comprises plural separate discrete receiver modules, each having an aperture whose area is individually smaller than the area of the transmitter aperture, and each being either; a CCD array, or an individual photodetector not integrated with other photodetectors into an array; and aggregate aperture area of the plural receiver modules is larger than the area of the transmitter aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for noticing and responding to a remote light source, said method utilizing a transmitter which includes a local radiation source that produces a laser beam, a scan mirror or scan-mirror assembly angularly adjustable to deflect the beam in at least two orthogonal directions, and an afocal optical unit for magnifying the beam deflection, said transmitter having an aperture for transmitting the beam;
- and a radiation receiver that does not share the transmitter aperture;
said method comprising the steps of;operating the receiver to notice and determine a location of the remote source; and controlling the transmitter to direct the laser beam back toward the determined location. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- and a radiation receiver that does not share the transmitter aperture;
Specification