Self-Raman laser for lidar system
First Claim
1. A lidar system comprising:
- a self-Raman laser comprising a Raman-active gain medium and a Q-switch, wherein the self-Raman laser is configured to;
produce Q-switched pulses of light at a lasing wavelength of the self-Raman laser;
Raman-shift, in the Raman-active gain medium, at least a portion of the Q-switched pulses to produce Raman-shifted pulses of light, wherein the Raman-shifted pulses have a Raman-shifted wavelength that is longer than the lasing wavelength; and
emit at least a portion of the Raman-shifted pulses, wherein the emitted Raman-shifted pulses of light have optical characteristics comprising;
a pulse duration less than or equal to 20 nanoseconds;
a duty cycle less than or equal to 1%;
a pulse energy greater than or equal to 10 nanojoules; and
a peak power greater than or equal to 1 watt;
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; 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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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a self-Raman laser that includes a Raman-active gain medium and a Q-switch. The self-Raman laser is configured to: produce Q-switched pulses of light at a lasing wavelength of the self-Raman laser; Raman-shift, in the Raman-active gain medium, at least a portion of the Q-switched pulses to produce Raman-shifted pulses of light, where the Raman-shifted pulses have a Raman-shifted wavelength that is longer than the lasing wavelength; and emit at least a portion of the Raman-shifted pulses. 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.
174 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A lidar system comprising:
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a self-Raman laser comprising a Raman-active gain medium and a Q-switch, wherein the self-Raman laser is configured to; produce Q-switched pulses of light at a lasing wavelength of the self-Raman laser; Raman-shift, in the Raman-active gain medium, at least a portion of the Q-switched pulses to produce Raman-shifted pulses of light, wherein the Raman-shifted pulses have a Raman-shifted wavelength that is longer than the lasing wavelength; and emit at least a portion of the Raman-shifted pulses, wherein the emitted Raman-shifted pulses of light have optical characteristics comprising; a pulse duration less than or equal to 20 nanoseconds; a duty cycle less than or equal to 1%; a pulse energy greater than or equal to 10 nanojoules; and a peak power greater than or equal to 1 watt; 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; 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, 21)
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Specification