Rotating LIDAR with Co-Aligned Imager
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transmitter that emits light pulses toward a scene according to a pointing direction of the device;
a LIDAR receiver that detects reflections of the emitted light pulses from the scene;
an image sensor that captures an image of the scene according to the pointing direction of the device and based on at least external light originating from one or more external light sources;
a platform that supports the LIDAR transmitter, the LIDAR receiver, and the image sensor in a particular relative arrangement; and
an actuator that rotates the platform about an axis to adjust the pointing direction of the device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Example implementations are provided for an arrangement of co-aligned rotating sensors. One example device includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transmitter that emits light pulses toward a scene according to a pointing direction of the device. The device also includes a LIDAR receiver that detects reflections of the emitted light pulses reflecting from the scene. The device also includes an image sensor that captures an image of the scene based on at least external light originating from one or more external light sources. The device also includes a platform that supports the LIDAR transmitter, the LIDAR receiver, and the image sensor in a particular relative arrangement. The device also includes an actuator that rotates the platform about an axis to adjust the pointing direction of the device.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transmitter that emits light pulses toward a scene according to a pointing direction of the device; a LIDAR receiver that detects reflections of the emitted light pulses from the scene; an image sensor that captures an image of the scene according to the pointing direction of the device and based on at least external light originating from one or more external light sources; a platform that supports the LIDAR transmitter, the LIDAR receiver, and the image sensor in a particular relative arrangement; and an actuator that rotates the platform about an axis to adjust the pointing direction of the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle comprising:
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a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor that includes a transmitter and a receiver, wherein the transmitter emits light pulses toward a scene according to a pointing direction of the LIDAR sensor, and wherein the receiver detects reflections of the emitted light pulses propagating from the scene; a camera that captures an image according to a pointing direction of the camera and based on at least external light originating from one or more external light sources; a platform that supports the LIDAR sensor and the camera in a particular relative arrangement; and an actuator that rotates the platform about an axis to simultaneously change the pointing direction of the LIDAR sensor and the pointing direction of the camera according to the particular relative arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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scanning a scene using a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor, wherein the LIDAR sensor emits light pulses toward the scene and detects reflections of the emitted light pulses from the scene; generating an image of the scene using an image sensor that detects external light originating from one or more external light sources; and rotating a platform that supports the LIDAR sensor and the image sensor in a particular relative arrangement, wherein rotating the platform comprises simultaneously rotating the LIDAR sensor and the image sensor about an axis. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification