Lidar system
First Claim
1. A lidar system comprising:
- a pulsed laser diode configured to produce a plurality of optical seed pulses of light at an operating wavelength between approximately 1400 nm and approximately 1600 nm;
an optical amplifier configured to amplify the optical seed pulses to produce a plurality of eye-safe output optical pulses that are emitted into a field of view, the optical amplifier producing an amount of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) associated with the output optical pulses, wherein the plurality of output optical pulses have characteristics comprising;
a pulse repetition frequency of less than or equal to 100 MHz;
a pulse duration of less than or equal to 20 nanoseconds; and
a duty cycle of less than or equal to 1%;
an optical filter configured to filter the output optical pulses to reduce the associated ASE; and
a receiver configured to detect at least a portion of the output optical pulses reflected or scattered from the field of view.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lidar system with a pulsed laser diode configured to produce an optical seed pulse of light at an operating wavelength between approximately 1400 nm and approximately 1600 nm. The lidar system may also include an optical amplifier configured to amplify the optical seed pulse to produce an eye-safe output optical pulse that is emitted into a field of view. The optical amplifier may produce an amount of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) associated with the output optical pulse. The lidar system may include an optical filter configured to filter the output optical pulse to reduce the associated ASE. The lidar system may also include a receiver configured to detect at least a portion of the output optical pulse reflected or scattered from the field of view.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A lidar system comprising:
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a pulsed laser diode configured to produce a plurality of optical seed pulses of light at an operating wavelength between approximately 1400 nm and approximately 1600 nm; an optical amplifier configured to amplify the optical seed pulses to produce a plurality of eye-safe output optical pulses that are emitted into a field of view, the optical amplifier producing an amount of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) associated with the output optical pulses, wherein the plurality of output optical pulses have characteristics comprising; a pulse repetition frequency of less than or equal to 100 MHz; a pulse duration of less than or equal to 20 nanoseconds; and a duty cycle of less than or equal to 1%; an optical filter configured to filter the output optical pulses to reduce the associated ASE; and a receiver configured to detect at least a portion of the output optical pulses reflected or scattered from the field of view. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A lidar system comprising:
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a pulsed laser diode configured to produce a plurality of optical seed pulses of light at an operating wavelength between approximately 1400 nm and approximately 1600 nm; an optical amplifier configured to amplify the optical seed pulses to produce a plurality of output optical pulses comprising an eye-safe output optical pulse that is emitted into a field of view, the optical amplifier producing an amount of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) associated with the output optical pulses; an optical filter configured to filter the output optical pulses to reduce the associated ASE; a scanner configured to scan at least a portion of the output optical pulses; and a receiver configured to detect at least a portion of the output optical pulses reflected or scattered from the field of view, wherein the lidar system is configured to generate point clouds of distance measurements at a rate between approximately 0.1 frames per second and approximately 1,000 frames per second. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A lidar system comprising:
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a plurality of pulsed laser diodes, each pulsed laser diode being configured to produce optical seed pulses of light at a different operating wavelength between approximately 1400 nm and approximately 1600 nm; an optical multiplexer configured to combine the optical seed pulses produced by each laser diode into a single optical fiber; an optical amplifier configured to amplify the combined optical seed pulses to produce a plurality of output optical pulses comprising an eye-safe output optical pulse that is emitted into a field of view, the optical amplifier producing an amount of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) associated with the output optical pulses; an optical filter configured to filter the output optical pulses to reduce the associated ASE; and a receiver configured to detect at least a portion of the output optical pulses reflected or scattered from the field of view. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification