Vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array laser scanner
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for a vehicle lidar system comprising:
- a plurality of semiconductor lasers;
an optical element mounted with respect to the plurality of lasers so that at least two of the plurality of lasers produce beams that emanate from the optical element in substantially different directions;
control circuitry coupled to the plurality of semiconductor lasers and configured to sequentially and separately activate the at least two of the plurality of lasers;
a translator coupled to the plurality of semiconductor lasers, the translator configured to translate the plurality of semiconductor lasers with respect to the optical element.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Vehicle-based lidar systems and methods are disclosed using multiple lasers to provide more compact and cost-effective lidar functionality. Each laser in an array of lasers can be sequentially activated so that a corresponding optical element mounted with respect to the array of lasers produces respective interrogation beams in substantially different directions. Light from these beams is reflected by objects in a vehicle'"'"'s environment, and detected so as to provide information about the objects to vehicle operators and/or passengers.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for a vehicle lidar system comprising:
-
a plurality of semiconductor lasers; an optical element mounted with respect to the plurality of lasers so that at least two of the plurality of lasers produce beams that emanate from the optical element in substantially different directions; control circuitry coupled to the plurality of semiconductor lasers and configured to sequentially and separately activate the at least two of the plurality of lasers; a translator coupled to the plurality of semiconductor lasers, the translator configured to translate the plurality of semiconductor lasers with respect to the optical element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of detecting objects in a vehicle'"'"'s environment, the method comprising:
-
activating a first semiconductor laser to produce a first beam; deflecting the first beam in a first direction using a first optical element; activating a second semiconductor laser to produce a second beam; deflecting the second beam in a second direction using the first optical element; translating said second semiconductor laser relative to said first optical element; detecting light from at least one of the first beam and the second beam reflected by an object in the vehicle'"'"'s environment; and determining a location of the object in response to the detecting. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. An apparatus for detecting objects in a vehicle'"'"'s environment, the apparatus comprising:
-
a means for producing a first laser beam; a means for producing a second laser beam; a means for sequentially activating the means for producing a first laser beam and the means for producing a second laser beam; an optical element for deflecting the first laser beam in a first direction and the second laser beam in the second direction; a means for translating said first laser beam relative to said optical element; a means for detecting light from at least one of the first laser beam and the second laser beam reflected by an object in the vehicle'"'"'s environment; and a means for determining a location of the object using information from the means for detecting light.
-
Specification