Velodyne Lidar Usa, Inc.

Velodyne Lidar, Inc.

Fluke Corporation

Coherent, Inc.

Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.

Esi-pyrophotonics Lasers, Inc.

Veloyne Lidar, Inc.

Mathew Noel Rekow

David S Hall

Pieter Johannes Kerstens

Stephen S Nestinger

Pieter J Kerstens

Anand Gopalan

Thomas Heinke

Paul S Carlson

Kirk R Johnson

Richard Murison

Thomas J McManus

Yupeng Cui

Stephen R King

Thomas Richardson Tewell

Cristhian Octavio Reyes

Serguei Anikitchev

Pravin Kumar Venkatesan

Tullio Panarello

Glenn Simenson

Haibin Zhang

Stefan H Warnke

James Brookhyser

Qian Xu

Michael John Darwin

Stephen L Kwiatkowski

Betsy Brest

Fang Shan

Vishal Jain

Nathan Wilkerson

Nicolas Falletto

Matthew Pysher

Jack Rundel

Joe Frankel

Min Zhang

Yun Zhou

A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) method may include generating, by a first transmitter, a first light illumination signal; generating, by a second transmitter, a second light illumination signal; receiving first return signals corresponding to the first light illumination signal; receiving second return signals corresponding to the second light illumination signal; and sampling the first return signals or the second return signals during a short-range sampling period, such that the short-range sampling period avoids a period of dazzle.

LiDAR systems for near-field and far-field detection, and related methods and apparatus

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for configuring architectures for a sensor, and more particularly for light detection and ranging (hereinafter, 'LIDAR') systems based on ASIC sensor architectures supporting autonomous navigation systems. Effective ASIC sensor architecture can enable an improved correlation between sensor data as well as configurability and responsiveness of the system to its surrounding environment and avoid any unnecessary delay within the decision-making process that may result in a failure of the autonomous driving system. It may be essential to integrated multiple functions within an electronic module and implement the functionality with one or more ASICs.

Application specific integrated circuits for lidar sensor and multi-type sensor systems

Methods and systems for performing three-dimensional (3-D) LIDAR measurements with multiple illumination beams scanned over a 3-D environment are described herein. In one aspect, illumination light from each LIDAR measurement channel is emitted to the surrounding environment in a different direction by a beam scanning device. The beam scanning device also directs each amount of return measurement light onto a corresponding photodetector. In some embodiments, a beam scanning device includes a scanning mirror rotated in an oscillatory manner about an axis of rotation by an actuator in accordance with command signals generated by a master controller. In some embodiments, the light source and photodetector associated with each LIDAR measurement channel are moved in two dimensions relative to beam shaping optics employed to collimate light emitted from the light source. The relative motion causes the illumination beams to sweep over a range of the 3-D environment under measurement.

Multiple pixel scanning LIDAR

Apparatus and methods for aligning circuit boards (e.g., for LIDAR systems) are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an electronic device comprises a secondary device and a coupling device coupled to the secondary device. The coupling device comprises a plurality of conductive members, including a first conductive member and a second conductive member. Each of the conductive members comprises a first end configured to electrically and mechanically couple to a primary circuit board and a second end electrically and mechanically coupled to the secondary device. Each of the plurality of conductive members has an attribute adjustable in response to a condition being added to the respective conductive member, and is configured to maintain the adjusted attribute after the condition is removed.

Apparatus and methods for aligning devices for LIDAR systems

A plurality of beams of illumination light are emitted from a LIDAR device over a range of angles and scanned about an axis of rotation. The range of angles includes the axis of rotation. Intermediate electronics boards provide mechanical support and electrical connectivity between a rotating electronics board and various elements of a light emission and collection engine. One or more of the optical elements of the collection optics, the illumination optics, or both, is constructed from one or more materials that absorb light outside of a predetermined wavelength range. An overmolded lens is fixedly coupled to one or more of the light detecting elements to collect incoming light over a larger range of angles. A lens element is disposed in the light path between a light emitting element and the illumination optics to flatten the intensity distribution of light emitted from the light emitting element to reduce peak intensity.

Three dimensional LIDAR system with targeted field of view

Methods and systems for performing three dimensional LIDAR measurements with a highly integrated LIDAR measurement device are described herein. In one aspect, the illumination source, detector, and illumination drive are integrated onto a single printed circuit board. In addition, in some embodiments, the associated control and signal conditioning electronics are also integrated onto the common printed circuit board. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the illumination drive and the illumination source are integrated onto a common Gallium Nitride substrate that is independently packaged and attached to the printed circuit board. In another aspect, the illumination light emitted from the illumination source and the return light directed toward the detector share a common optical path within the integrated LIDAR measurement device. In some embodiments, the return light is separated from the illumination light by a beam splitter. In some other embodiments, the optical design avoids losses associated with a beam splitter.

Integrated illumination and detection for LIDAR based 3-D imaging

Methods and systems for performing 3-D LIDAR measurements of objects simultaneously illuminated by two or more beams of light in the far field are described herein. A 3-D LIDAR based measurement device simultaneously emits at least two beams of light into a three dimensional environment from different locations. A portion of the three dimensional environment is simultaneously illuminated by the two or more light beams at a distance of at least five meters from the LIDAR device. However, the two or more light beams do not overlap at a distance less than five meters from the LIDAR device. The beams of light are slightly divergent, having highest intensity at the device and steadily lower intensity further away. By overlapping illumination beams in the far field, but not near the LIDAR device, overall intensity is maintained at moderate levels throughout the field of view of the LIDAR device.

LIDAR based 3-D imaging with far-field illumination overlap

Multiple pixel scanning lidar

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for generating, processing and correlating data from multiple sensors in an autonomous navigation system, and more particularly to the utilization of configurable and dynamic sensor modules within light detection and ranging systems that enable an improved correlation between sensor data as well as configurability and responsiveness of the system to its surrounding environment.

Dynamic control and configuration of autonomous navigation systems

Apparatus and methods for aligning circuit boards (e.g., for LIDAR systems) are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an electronic device comprises a secondary device and a coupling device coupled to the secondary device. The coupling device comprises a plurality of conductive members, including a first conductive member and a second conductive member. Each of the conductive members comprises a first end configured to electrically and mechanically couple to a primary circuit board and a second end electrically and mechanically coupled to the secondary device. The second end of the first conductive member is coupled to a first side of the secondary device, and the second end of the second conductive member is coupled to a second side of the secondary device. The second side of the secondary device is opposite to the first side of the secondary device.

Methods and systems for performing three dimensional LIDAR measurements with a highly integrated LIDAR measurement device are described herein. In one aspect, the illumination source, detector, and illumination driver are integrated onto a single printed circuit board. In addition, in some embodiments, the associated control and signal conditioning electronics are also integrated onto the common printed circuit board. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the illumination driver and the illumination source are integrated onto a common Gallium Nitride substrate that is independently packaged and attached to the printed circuit board. In another aspect, the illumination light emitted from the illumination source and the return light directed toward the detector share a common optical path within the integrated LIDAR measurement device. In some embodiments, the return light is separated from the illumination light by a beam splitter. In some other embodiments, the optical design avoids losses associated with a beam splitter.

A camera producing visible light images with thermal data. The camera may include visible light lens and sensor, an infrared light lens and sensor, and a display. The display displays some of the visible light image and thermal data from the respective sensors. The visible light image is divided into an array of zones where each zone may provide thermal data associated with the corresponding portion of the target shown in the zone. The camera may sense infrared images also provide audible alarms where the alarm is emitted with a tone of variable output to indicate the relative level of the alarm.

Visible light and IR combined image camera

Growing community of inventors

Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America

Mathew Noel Rekow