Ouster, Inc.

Eric Younge

Angus Pacala

Mark Frichtl

Marvin Liu Shu

A light ranging system including a shaft having a longitudinal axis; a light ranging device configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the light ranging device including a light source configured to transmit light pulses to objects in a surrounding environment, and detector circuitry configured to detect reflected portions of the light pulses that are reflected from the objects in the surrounding environment and to compute ranging data based on the reflected portion of the light pulses; a base subsystem that does not rotate about the shaft; and an optical communications subsystem configured to provide an optical communications channel between the base subsystem and the light ranging device, the optical communications subsystem including one or more turret optical communication components connected to the detector circuitry and one or more base optical communication components connected to the base subsystem.

Rotating compact light ranging system

Optical systems and methods for collecting distance information are disclosed. An example optical system includes a first transmitting optic, a plurality of illumination sources, a pixel array comprising at least a first column of pixels and a second column of pixels, each pixel in the first column of pixels being offset from an adjacent pixel in the first column of pixels by a first pixel pitch, the second column of pixels being horizontally offset from the first column of pixels by the first pixel pitch, the second column of pixels being vertically offset from the first column of pixels by a first vertical pitch; and a set of input channels interposed between the first transmitting optic and the pixel array.

Optical system for collecting distance information within a field

An image sensing device that includes a lens housing; a bulk lens system coupled to the lens housing and configured to receive light from the surrounding environment and focus the received light to a focal plane, the bulk lens system comprising a first lens, a second lens, and a third lens mounted in the lens housing; wherein the first lens, the second lens, or the first lens and the second lens are plastic; and wherein the third lens is glass; an array of photosensors configured to receive light from the bulk lens system and detect reflected portions of the light pulses that are reflected from the objects in the surrounding environment; and a mount that mechanically couples the lens housing with the array of photosensors, wherein the lens housing, the bulk lens system, and the mount are configured to passively focus light from the bulk lens system onto the array of photosensors over a temperature range.

Light ranging device with a multi-element bulk lens system

Rotating light ranging system with optical communication uplink and downlink channels

A light ranging system including a shaft; a first circuit board assembly that includes a stator assembly comprising a plurality of stator elements arranged about the shaft on a surface of the first circuit board assembly; a second circuit board assembly rotationally coupled to the shaft, wherein the second circuit board assembly includes a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor elements arranged about the shaft on a surface of the second circuit board assembly such that the plurality of rotor elements are aligned with and spaced apart from the plurality of stator elements; a stator driver circuit disposed on either the second or the first circuit board assemblies and configured to provide a drive signal to the plurality of stator elements, thereby imparting an electromagnetic force on the plurality of rotor elements to drive a rotation of the second circuit board assembly about the shaft; and a light ranging device mechanically coupled to the second circuit board assembly such that the light ranging device rotates with the second circuit board assembly.

Rotating compact light ranging system comprising a stator driver circuit imparting an electromagnetic force on a rotor assembly

A light ranging system including a housing; a shaft defining an axis of rotation; a first circuit board assembly disposed within and coupled to the housing in a fixed relationship such that the first circuit board assembly is aligned along a first plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the first circuit board assembly including a plurality of first circuit elements disposed on a first circuit board; a second circuit board assembly spaced apart from the first circuit board assembly within the housing in a second plane parallel to the first plane and rotationally coupled to the shaft such that the second circuit board assembly rotates about the axis of rotation, the second circuit board assembly including a plurality of second circuit elements disposed on a second circuit board and aligned with and configured to function in wireless cooperation with at least one of the first plurality of circuit elements; and a light ranging device electrically connected to and coupled to rotate with the second circuit board assembly, the light ranging device configured to transmit light pulses to objects in a surrounding environment, to detect reflected portions of the light pulses that are reflected from the objects in the surrounding environment, and to compute ranging data based on the reflected portion of the light pulses.

Light ranging system with opposing circuit boards

Optical systems and methods for collecting distance information are disclosed. An example optical system includes a bulk receiving optic, a plurality of illumination sources, a pixel array comprising at least a first column of pixels and a second column of pixels, each pixel in the first column of pixels being offset from an adjacent pixel in the first column of pixels by a first pixel pitch, the second column of pixels being horizontally offset from the first column of pixels by the first pixel pitch, the second column of pixels being vertically offset from the first column of pixels by a first vertical pitch; and a set of input channels interposed between the bulk receiving optic and the pixel array.

Embodiments describe optical imagers that include one or more micro-optic components. Some imagers can be passive imagers that include a light detection system for receiving ambient light from a field. Some imagers can be active imagers that include a light emission system in addition to the light detection system. The light emission system can be configured to emit light into the field such that emitted light is reflected off surfaces of an object in the field and received by the light detection system. In some embodiments, the light detection system and/or the light emission system includes micro-optic components for improving operational performance.

Growing community of inventors

Portola Valley, CA, United States of America

Eric Younge