Waymo LLC

Google Inc.

William McCann

Pierre-yves Droz

Bernard G Fidric

Drew Eugene Ulrich

Gaetan Pennecot

Rahim Pardhan

Samuel William Lenius

Anthony Scott Levandowski

Luke Wachter

Daniel Gruver

Dorel Ionut Iordache

Zachary Morriss

Caner Onal

Peter Avram

Laila Mattos

Zach Morriss

Vadim Gutnik

Pierre-Yves Droz

Ionut Iordache

A vehicle is provided that includes one or more wheels positioned at a bottom side of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a first light detection and ranging device (LIDAR) positioned at a top side of the vehicle opposite to the bottom side. The first LIDAR is configured to scan an environment around the vehicle based on rotation of the first LIDAR about an axis. The first LIDAR has a first resolution. The vehicle also includes a second LIDAR configured to scan a field-of-view of the environment that extends away from the vehicle along a viewing direction of the second LIDAR. The second LIDAR has a second resolution. The vehicle also includes a controller configured to operate the vehicle based on the scans of the environment by the first LIDAR and the second LIDAR.

Vehicle with multiple light detection and ranging devices (LIDARs)

Systems and methods are described that relate to a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device. The LIDAR device includes a fiber laser configured to emit light within a wavelength range, a scanning portion configured to direct the emitted light in a reciprocating manner about a first axis, and a plurality of detectors configured to sense light within the wavelength range. The device additionally includes a controller configured to receive target information, which may be indicative of an object, a position, a location, or an angle range. In response to receiving the target information, the controller may cause the rotational mount to rotate so as to adjust a pointing direction of the LIDAR. The controller is further configured to cause the LIDAR to scan a field-of-view (FOV) of the environment. The controller may determine a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the environment based on data from scanning the FOV.

Long range steerable LIDAR system

Described herein is a LIDAR device that may include a transmitter, first and second receivers, and a rotating platform. The transmitter may be configured to emit light having a vertical beam width. The first receiver may be configured to detect light at a first resolution while scanning the environment with a first FOV and the second receiver may be configured to detect light at a second resolution while scanning the environment with a second FOV. In this arrangement, the first resolution may be higher than the second resolution, the first FOV may be at least partially different from the second FOV, and the vertical beam width may encompass at least a vertical extent of the first and second FOVs. Further, the rotating platform may be configured to rotate about an axis such that the transmitter and first and second receivers each move based on the rotation.

Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device having multiple receivers

An example apparatus may include a first plate having a first side. A first plurality of fins may be integral with the first side of the first plate and protruding perpendicularly therefrom. The first plurality of fins may be arranged in first concentric circles separated radially by a first distance. The apparatus may also include a second plate having a first side. The second plate may be rotatably coupled to the first plate. A second plurality of fins may be integral with the first side of the second plate and protruding perpendicularly therefrom. The second plurality of fins may be arranged in second concentric circles separated radially by the first distance. Each fin of the second plurality of fins may interpose between adjacent fins of the first plurality of fins to transfer heat between the second plate and the first plate.

Thermal rotary link

The present disclosure relates to optical receiver systems. An example system includes a plurality of substrates disposed in an edge-to-edge array along a primary axis. Each respective substrate of the plurality of substrates includes a plurality of detector elements. Each detector element of the plurality of detector elements generates a respective detector signal in response to light received by the detector element. The plurality of detector elements is arranged with a detector pitch between adjacent detector elements of the plurality of detector elements. Each respective substrate of the plurality of substrates also includes a signal receiver circuit configured to receive the detector signals generated by the plurality of detector elements. The respective substrates of the plurality of substrates are disposed such that the detector pitch is maintained between adjacent detector elements on their respective substrates.

Optical receiver systems and devices with detector array comprising a plurality of substrates aligned with an encapsulation layer comprising an alignment structure

Vehicle with multiple light detection and ranging devices (LIDARS)

Optical receiver systems and devices with detector array including a plurality of substrates disposed in an edge to edge array

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

William McCann