Waymo LLC

Ryan Davis

Blaise Gassend

Ralph Hamilton Shepard

Pierre-yves Droz

John P Massey

Samuel William Lenius

The present disclosure relates to optical devices and systems, specifically those related to light detection and ranging (LIDAR) systems. An example device includes a shaft defining a rotational axis. The shaft includes a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The device also includes a rotatable mirror disposed about the shaft. The rotatable mirror includes a multi-sided structure having an exterior surface and an interior surface. The multi-sided structure includes a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The second coefficient of thermal expansion is different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The multi-sided structure also includes a plurality of reflective surfaces disposed on the exterior surface of the multi-sided structure. The multi-sided structure yet further includes one or more support members coupled to the interior surface and the shaft.

Mirror coupling

Sensor housing

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that facilitate a scanning light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device configured to provide an asymmetric illumination pattern. An example system includes a rotatable base configured to rotate about a first axis and a mirror assembly. The mirror assembly is configured to rotate about a second axis, which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The system also includes an optical cavity coupled to the rotatable base. The optical cavity includes a photodetector and a photodetector lens arranged so as to define a light-receiving axis. The optical cavity also includes a light-emitter device and a light-emitter lens arranged so as to define a light-emission axis. At least one of the light-receiving axis or the light-emission axis forms a tilt angle with respect to the first axis.

LIDAR with tilted and offset optical cavity

Example embodiments relate to LIDAR systems with multi-faceted mirrors. An example embodiment includes a LIDAR system. The system includes a multi-faceted mirror that includes a plurality of reflective facets, which rotates about a first rotational axis. The system also includes a light emitter configured to emit a light signal toward one or more regions of a scene. Further, the system includes a light detector configured to detect a reflected light signal. In addition, the system includes an optical window positioned between the multi-faceted mirror and the one or more regions of the scene such that light reflected from one or more of the reflective facets is transmitted through the optical window. The optical window is positioned such that the optical window is non-perpendicular to the direction toward which the light emitted along the optical axis is directed for all angles of the multi-faceted mirror.

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Woodside, CA, United States of America

Ryan Davis