Beijing Voyager Technology Co., Ltd.

Analog Devices Global Unlimited Company

Oracle International Corporation

Analog Devices,inc.

Ambilight Inc.

Guangzhou Woya Laideling Technology Co., Ltd.

Chao Wang

Lingkai Kong

Yonghong Guo

Youmin Wang

Yue Lu

Wenbin Zhu

Maurizio Zecchini

Eoin Edward English

Javier Calpe Maravilla

Qin Zhou

Yu Zhou

Liyan You

Jiazhi He

Paul O'Sullivan

Yuling Li

An-Jui Shey

Shengbo Xu

A transmitter for light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is provided. The transmitter includes a plurality of laser sources and a light modulator. Each of the laser sources includes interleaved emitting regions and gaps and is configured to provide a native laser beam in a respective incident direction. The light modulator is configured to receive the native laser beams from the plurality of laser sources in different incident directions and combine the native laser beams into a combined laser beam in a diffraction direction.

Transmitter having a light modulator for light detection and ranging (LiDAR)

Apparatus and methods for determining the distance to an object by detecting a reflected light beam. A light emitter emits a light beam. An optical fiber is mounted to direct the light beam as an output light beam of the optical fiber. An actuator is coupled proximate a distal end of the optical fiber, for moving the distal end of the optical fiber in a desired pattern. Collimation optics are mounted to intercept the output light beam of the optical fiber and collimate the output light beam of the optical fiber. A photodetector is mounted to receive a reflected light beam after reflecting off an object in an external environment. A control system determines a distance to the object based on an elapsed time between emission of the light beam and a detection of the reflected light beam by the photodetector.

Scanning fiber transmitter for distance detection

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a laser beam generation system. The laser beam generation system includes a first laser chip configured to generate a first polarized laser beam and a second laser chip configured to generate a second polarized laser beam. The laser beam generation system also includes a polarizer configured to combine the first polarized laser beam and the second polarized laser beam to generate a third laser beam.

Systems and methods for laser generation based on polarized beams

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system. In an example, the LiDAR system includes a laser source, a scanner, a beam deflecting unit, and a controller. The laser source is configured to emit a laser beam towards an object. The scanner is configured to receive a returned laser beam from the object, and deflect the returned laser beam towards a beam deflecting unit to form a first laser beam traveling along a first direction. The first direction deviates from a reference direction by a deviation angle. The beam deflecting unit is configured to receive the first laser beam, and deflect the first laser beam to form a second laser beam towards a photosensor. The controller is configured to dynamically control a deflection angle of the beam deflecting unit to cause the second laser beam to be deflected towards the photosensor to compensate the deviation angle.

Compensation of beam deviation in light detection and ranging (LiDAR)

An electrochromic apparatus includes a first glass, a first adhesive layer disposed on the first glass, a second glass, a second adhesive layer disposed on the second glass, a solid-state electrochromic device (ECD) interposed between the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer, and a sealant disposed at edges of the first glass and the second glass to seal the ECD. The first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer are disposed between the first glass and the second glass. The first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer are optically transparent. Edges of the adhesive layers are flush with or beyond edges of the ECD. The sealant is adhesive and waterproof.

Method for fabricating solid state electrochromic device, solid state electrochromic device and its applications

Embodiments of the disclosure provide receivers for light detection and ranging (LiDAR). In an example, a receiver includes an acousto-optical (AO) beam deflecting unit configured to receive an input laser beam and a controller configured to cause an acoustic signal to be applied to the AO beam deflecting unit to deflect the input laser beam for a deflection angle and form an output laser beam towards a beam sensor. The deflection angle between the input and the output laser beams is nonzero.

Acousto-optical beam deflecting unit for light detection and ranging (LiDAR)

Embodiments of the disclosure provide an optical sensing system, a method for controlling the optical sensing system, and a controller for the optical sensing system. The exemplary method for controlling the optical system includes dividing a detection range of the optical sensing system into a plurality of sections, where each section covers a different range of distances to the optical sensing system. For each divided section, the transmitter of the optical sensing system transmits an optical signal to each section of the plurality of sections. The receiver of the optical sensing system then receives the optical signal returned from the corresponding section of the plurality of sections. After receiving the retuned optical signal from each divided section, these optical signals are then combined to form a detection signal of the detection range of the optical sensing system.

Dynamic signal control in flash LiDAR

Embodiments of the disclosure provide an apparatus for emitting laser light and a system and method for detecting laser light returned from an object. The system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes one or more laser sources, at least one of the laser sources configured to provide a respective native laser beam having a wavelength above 1,100 nm. The transmitter also includes a wavelength converter configured to receive the native laser beams provided by the laser sources and convert the native laser beams into a converted laser beam having a wavelength below 1,100 nm. The transmitter further includes a scanner configured to emit the converted laser beam to the object in a first direction. The receiver is configured to detect a returned laser beam having a wavelength below 1,100 nm and returned from the object in a second direction.

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system using a wavelength converter

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a system for controlling power of laser lights emitted by an optical sensing device. The system includes at least one storage device configured to store instructions and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one storage device and configured to execute the instructions to perform operations. The operations include detecting an object within a field of view of the optical sensing device based on a reflected laser signal received by the optical sensing device, determining a distance of the object from the optical sensing device, determining a value indicating a total power of one or more laser beams to be incident on an aperture at the distance, and comparing the value with a predetermined tolerance value. The operations also includes adjusting a laser emission scheme to reduce the total power when the value is greater than the predetermined tolerance value.

Dynamic laser power control in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a receiver in an optical sensing system. The exemplary receiver includes a movable detector configured to receive optical signals reflected or scattered from an object scanned by the optical sensing system. The receiver further includes an actuator configured to move the movable detector. The receiver also includes a controller configured to determine a plurality of target positions of the movable detector for receiving the optical signals. The controller is further configured to control the actuator to move the movable detector to the plurality target positions according to a movement pattern.

LiDAR receiver with movable detector

Embodiments of the disclosure provide receivers for light detection and ranging (LiDAR). In an example, a receiver includes a beam reflecting unit comprising a plurality of digital micromirror devices (DMDs). The beam reflecting unit is configured to receive an input laser beam returned from an object being scanned by the LiDAR and reflect the input laser beam by at least one DMD selectively switched to an 'ON' state at an operation angle to form an output laser beam towards a detector. The detector is configured to receive the output laser beam.

Beam reflecting unit for light detection and ranging (LiDAR)

Embodiments of the disclosure provide receivers for light detection and ranging (LiDAR). In an example, a receiver includes a beam converging device and an EO beam deflecting unit. The beam converging device is configured to receive a laser beam from an object being scanned by the LiDAR and form an input laser beam. The EO beam deflecting unit is configured to generate a non-uniform medium having at least one of a refractive index gradient or a diffraction grating, receive the input laser beam such that the input laser beam impinges upon the non-uniform medium, and form an output laser beam towards a photosensor. An angle between the input and the output laser beams is nonzero.

Electro-optical beam deflecting unit for light detection and ranging (LiDAR)

Embodiments of the disclosure provide receivers for light detection and ranging (LiDAR). In an example, a receiver includes a beam reflecting unit having a plurality of digital micromirror devices (DMDs). The beam reflecting unit is configured to receive an input light beam returned from an object being scanned by the LiDAR, reflect a signal in the input light beam by at least one first DMD selectively switched to an 'ON' state at an operation angle to form an output signal towards a detector, reflect a noise signal in the input light beam away from the detector by at least one second DMD selectively switched to an 'OFF' state at a non-operation angle. The receiver also includes the detector configured to receive the output signal.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide receivers for light detection and ranging (LiDAR). In an example, a receiver includes a beam converging device, an AO beam deflecting unit, and a beam sensor. The beam converging device is configured to receive a laser beam from an object being scanned by the LiDAR and form an input laser beam. The AO beam deflecting unit is configured to generate a diffraction grating along a propagating direction of an acoustic wave, receive the input laser beam such that the input laser beam impinges upon the diffraction grating, and form an output laser beam towards the beam sensor. An angle between the input and the output laser beams is nonzero.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a receiver in an optical sensing system for receiving a light beam. The receiver includes a first polarizer configured to pass the light beam of a first polarization. The receiver further includes an electro-optical layer coated with patterned transparent electrodes. An electric field is applied to a selected area of the electro-optical layer through the patterned transparent electrodes, and the electro-optical layer changes a portion of the light beam from the first polarization to a second polarization. The receiver also includes a second polarizer configured to selectively pass the portion of the light beam of the second polarization. The receiver additionally includes a detector configured to receive the portion of the light beam output from the second polarizer.

Growing community of inventors

Milpitas, CA, United States of America

Chao Wang