Three-dimensional-mapping two-dimensional-scanning lidar based on one-dimensional-steering optical phased arrays and method of using same

• US 9,869,753 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2014
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quanergy Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Quanergy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Eldada, Louay
• Primary Examiner(s): Ratcliffe, Luke D
• Application Number:
  US14/460,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20160049765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 356 301- 515
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4814 of transmitters alone
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4815 using multiple transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4817 relating to scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0071 for beam steering, e.g. using a mirror outside the cavity to change the beam direction

Abstract

A plurality of one-dimensional planar beam forming and steering optical phased array chips form a two-dimensional-scanning solid-state lidar, enabling manufacturing of three-dimensional mapping time-of-flight lidars at high yield and low cost resulting from the simplicity of said one-dimensional optical phased array chips.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an emitter array of one-dimensional planar beam forming and steering optical phased array photonic integrated circuit chips in a first vertical dimension, each photonic integrated circuit chip emitting optical phase controlled unmodulated pulses of coherent light waves that interfere with each other to form an optical beam pointed in a plurality of directions in a second dimension perpendicular to the first vertical dimension; and

a receiver array to collect reflected pulses indicative of the distance and the reflectivity of a sensed object, the distance of the sensed object establishing a third dimension.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one off-chip lens.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the off-chip lens is selected from a refractive lens, a graded index lens, a diffractive optical element and a holographic optical element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one on-chip grating.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the unmodulated pulses of coherent light waves are generated from a single laser.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the unmodulated pulses of coherent light waves are generated by a plurality of lasers, with the optical input into each photonic integrated circuit chip being generated from one of the plurality of lasers.