Q-switched laser for LIDAR system
First Claim
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1. A lidar system comprising:
- a Q-switched laser configured to emit pulses of light, wherein the Q-switched laser comprises a gain medium and a Q-switch;
a scanner configured to scan the emitted pulses of light across a field of regard;
a receiver configured to detect at least a portion of the scanned pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system, wherein;
an output beam of the lidar system comprises the emitted pulses of light which are scanned across the field of regard;
an input beam of the lidar system comprises the portion of the scanned pulses of light detected by the receiver; and
the input and output beams are substantially coaxial;
an overlap mirror configured to overlap the input and output beams so that they are substantially coaxial, wherein the overlap mirror comprises;
a hole, slot, or aperture which the output beam passes through; and
a reflecting surface that reflects at least a portion of the input beam toward the receiver; and
a processor configured to determine the distance from the lidar system to the target based at least in part on a round-trip time of flight for an emitted pulse of light to travel from the lidar system to the target and back to the lidar system.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a Q-switched laser configured to emit pulses of light, where the Q-switched laser includes a gain medium and a Q-switch. The lidar system further includes a scanner configured to scan the emitted pulses of light across a field of regard and a receiver configured to detect at least a portion of the scanned pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The lidar system also includes a processor configured to determine the distance from the lidar system to the target based at least in part on a round-trip time of flight for an emitted pulse of light to travel from the lidar system to the target and back to the lidar system.
173 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A lidar system comprising:
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a Q-switched laser configured to emit pulses of light, wherein the Q-switched laser comprises a gain medium and a Q-switch; a scanner configured to scan the emitted pulses of light across a field of regard; a receiver configured to detect at least a portion of the scanned pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system, wherein; an output beam of the lidar system comprises the emitted pulses of light which are scanned across the field of regard; an input beam of the lidar system comprises the portion of the scanned pulses of light detected by the receiver; and the input and output beams are substantially coaxial; an overlap mirror configured to overlap the input and output beams so that they are substantially coaxial, wherein the overlap mirror comprises; a hole, slot, or aperture which the output beam passes through; and a reflecting surface that reflects at least a portion of the input beam toward the receiver; and a processor configured to determine the distance from the lidar system to the target based at least in part on a round-trip time of flight for an emitted pulse of light to travel from the lidar system to the target and back to the lidar system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification