LOW COST SMALL SIZE LIDAR FOR AUTOMOTIVE
First Claim
1. A LiDAR sensor comprising a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays each including a plurality of VCSELs, said sensor further including a separate lens positioned proximate each VCSEL array that receives and focuses a laser beam from each VCSEL in the particular array.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A LiDAR sensor having particular application for use on a vehicle. The LiDAR sensor includes a plurality of spaced apart VCSEL arrays each including a single lens, where the lens for each VCSEL array directs the beam of the particular laser in the array that is illuminated in a desired direction so that turning on and off of the lasers in each array creates a scanning effect. The number and the size of the VCSEL arrays are selected to provide the desired FOV for the sensor, where the VCSEL arrays can be positioned on a curved platform to provide that FOV. The sensor also includes one or more detectors for detecting reflections of the laser beams emitted by the lasers. Control electronics are provided to scan the laser beams and generate a three-dimensional point cloud of return image points.
106 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A LiDAR sensor comprising a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays each including a plurality of VCSELs, said sensor further including a separate lens positioned proximate each VCSEL array that receives and focuses a laser beam from each VCSEL in the particular array.
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12. An automotive LiDAR sensor comprising:
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a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays each including a plurality of VCSELs; a separate lens positioned proximate each VCSEL array that receives and focuses a laser beam from each VCSEL in the particular array; a detector assembly for detecting reflected beams reflected from objects that receive the laser beams; and receiver electronics responsive to the reflected beams and identifying a phase shift between the laser beams and the reflected beams for object range finding to determine the distance of the objects from the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A LiDAR sensor comprising:
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a semi-circular housing; an emitter including a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays mounted on the housing each including a plurality of VCSELs and a separate lens positioned proximate each VCSEL array that receives and focuses a laser beam from each VCSEL in the particular array; and a receiver including a detector assembly for detecting reflected beams reflected from objects that receive the laser beams, said receiver further including receiver electronics responsive to the reflected beams and identifying a phase shift between the laser beams and the reflected beams for object range finding to determine the distance of the objects from the sensor, wherein the sensor has a 180°
field-of-view. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification