公开(公告)号：EP2972081B1

公开(公告)日：2020-04-22

申请号：EP14765420.6

申请日：2014-03-13

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： SHPUNT, Alexander ,  EINAT, Ronen ,  MOR, Zafrir

IPC: G01C3/08 ,  G01C3/00 ,  G02B17/00 ,  G01B11/24 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/89

公开(公告)号：EP3224650A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-04

申请号：EP15788293.7

申请日：2015-10-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： SHPUNT, Alexander ,  GERSON, Yuval

IPC: G01S17/89 ,  G02B26/10

CPC classification number: G01S17/89 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G02B26/101 ,  G02B26/105

Abstract: A scanning device (20) includes a scanner (22), which includes a base (32) and a gimbal (28), mounted within the base so as to rotate relative to the base about a first axis of rotation. A transmit mirror (24) and at least one receive mirror (26) are mounted within the gimbal so as to rotate in mutual synchronization about respective second axes, which are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first axis. A transmitter (36) emits a beam including pulses of light toward the transmit mirror, which reflects the beam so that the scanner scans the beam over a scene. A receiver (44) receives, by reflection from the at least one receive mirror, the light reflected from the scene and generates an output indicative of the time of flight of the pulses to and from points in the scene.

Abstract translation: 扫描装置包括扫描仪，该扫描仪包括基座和万向节，该基座和万向节安装在基座内以便相对于基座绕第一旋转轴线旋转。 透射反射镜和至少一个接收反射镜安装在万向节内，以便围绕相互平行并垂直于第一轴线的相应的第二轴线相互同步旋转。 发射器向发射镜发射包括光脉冲的光束，该光束反射光束，以便扫描器在场景上扫描光束。 接收器通过从至少一个接收镜的反射接收从场景反射的光并且产生表示脉冲往返于场景中的点的飞行时间的输出。

公开(公告)号：EP2926225A1

公开(公告)日：2015-10-07

申请号：EP14751316.2

申请日：2014-02-13

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： SHPUNT, Alexander ,  ERLICH, Raviv ,  AKERMAN, Ronen ,  HALUTZ, Ran

IPC: G06F3/0346 ,  G06F3/0484 ,  G06F3/01

CPC classification number: G06F3/0426 ,  G06F3/017 ,  G06F3/0488 ,  G06T7/521 ,  G09G3/025

Abstract: Control apparatus includes an optical subsystem, which is configured to direct first light toward a scene that includes a hand of a user in proximity to a wall of a room and to receive the first light that is reflected from the scene, and to direct second light toward the wall so as to project an image of a control device onto the wall. A processor is configured to control the optical subsystem so as to generate, responsively to the received first light, a depth map of the scene, to process the depth map so as to detect a proximity of the hand to the wall in a location of the projected image, and to control electrical equipment in the room responsively to the proximity.

Abstract translation: 控制装置包括光学子系统，其被配置为将第一光引导到包括用户靠近房间的墙壁的场景的场景，并且接收从场景反射的第一光，并且引导第二光 朝向墙壁，以将控制装置的图像投影到墙壁上。 处理器被配置为控制光学子系统，以便响应于所接收的第一光，生成场景的深度图，以处理深度图，以便在该位置处检测手到墙壁的接近度 投影图像，并根据接近度控制房间内的电气设备。

公开(公告)号：WO2018034734A1

公开(公告)日：2018-02-22

申请号：PCT/US2017/039162

申请日：2017-06-25

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： SHPUNT, Alexander ,  GERSON, Yuval

IPC: G02B26/08 ,  G01C15/00 ,  G01S3/789 ,  G01S7/481

CPC classification number: H04N13/271 ,  F16M11/08 ,  F16M11/18 ,  F16M11/22 ,  F16M2200/08 ,  G01C15/002 ,  G01S3/789 ,  G01S7/4812 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G02B26/0816 ,  G02B26/105 ,  G03B37/02 ,  H04N5/23238 ,  H04N5/332 ,  H04N13/254 ,  H04N13/296 ,  H04N2213/001

Abstract: Scanning apparatus (20, 80) includes a base (22, 82) and a gimbal (52), including a shaft (56) that fits into rotational bearings (58) in the base and is configured to rotate through 360O about a gimbal axis relative to the base. A mirror assembly (60), fixed to the gimbal, includes a mirror (50), which is positioned on the gimbal axis and is configured to rotate about a mirror axis perpendicular to the gimbal axis. A transmitter (40) directs pulses of optical radiation toward the mirror, which directs the optical radiation toward a scene. A receiver (66) receives, via the mirror, the optical radiation reflected from the scene and outputs signals in response to the received radiation. Control circuitry (34) drives the gimbal to rotate about the gimbal axis and the mirror to rotate about the mirror axis, and processes the signals output by the receiver in order to generate a three-dimensional map of the scanned area.

Abstract translation: 扫描设备（20,80）包括基座（22,82）和万向节（52），万向节包括轴（56），所述轴（56）配合到基座中的旋转轴承（58）中并且被配置 围绕万向轴相对于基座旋转360°。 固定到万向节的反射镜组件（60）包括反射镜（50），该反射镜定位在万向节轴上并且构造成围绕垂直于万向节轴线的反射镜轴旋转。 发射器（40）将光辐射脉冲导向反射镜，该反射镜将光辐射引向场景。 接收器（66）经由反射镜接收从场景反射的光辐射并响应于接收到的辐射输出信号。 控制电路（34）驱动万向架围绕万向轴和镜子旋转以围绕镜轴旋转，并且处理由接收器输出的信号以生成扫描区域的三维地图。

公开(公告)号：WO2014203139A4

公开(公告)日：2014-12-24

申请号：PCT/IB2014/062245

申请日：2014-06-15

Applicant: APPLE INC

Inventor： SHPUNT, Alexander ,  COHEN, Benjamin

IPC: G02B5/00

Abstract: An optoelectronic module (130, 148) includes a beam transmitter (104), which emits at least one beam of light along a beam axis, and a receiver (114), which senses the light received by the module along a collection axis of the receiver, which is parallel to the beam axis within the module. Beam-combining optics (142, 150, 170) direct the beam and the received light so that the beam axis is aligned with the collection axis outside the module. The beam-combining optics include multiple faces, including at least a first face (144, 160, 172) configured for internal reflection and a second face (146, 151) comprising a beamsplitter (158), which is intercepted by both the beam axis and the collection axis.

公开(公告)号：WO2019172983A1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-12

申请号：PCT/US2018/067436

申请日：2018-12-24

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： SUTTON, Andrew J. ,  SHPUNT, Alexander ,  GERSON, Yuval

IPC: G01S7/481

Abstract: An optical device (10) includes a laser light source (12) configured to emit a collimated beam (28) of light, and a scanning mirror (16), which is configured to reflect and scan the beam of light over a predefined angular range. The optical device further includes a volume holographic grating, VHG (14), which is positioned to receive and reflect the collimated beam emitted by the laser light source toward the scanning mirror by Bragg reflection at a predefined Bragg-angle, while transmitting the beam reflected from the scanning mirror over a part of the angular range that is outside a cone containing the Bragg-angle. Preferably, the optical device includes a detector (33), which is configured to receive and sense the light that is returned from a scene through the VHG (14) onto the scanning mirror (16), such that the returned light reflected by the scanning mirror (16) reflects from the VHG (14) by Bragg reflection toward the detector (33). Preferably, the optical device includes control circuitry (18), which is coupled to drive the laser light source (12) and the scanning mirror (16) and to receive a signal output by the detector (33) in response to the reflected light impinging on the detector (33), and which is configured to map the scene responsively to the signal. Preferably, the collimated beam (28) of light includes pulses of light, and the control circuitry (18) is configured to determine a distance to the target scene responsively to a time-of-flight of the pulses. An optical scanner projects and scans a beam from a light source across a one-or two-dimensional angular space. In a case where the optical scanner is used in a LiDAR-system, the beam is projected to a target scene, and the beam reflected from the scene is received by the scanner and forwarded to a radiation detector adjacent to the light source. A compact scanning device is provided with on-axis illumination and a low optical power loss.

公开(公告)号：WO2019050596A1

公开(公告)日：2019-03-14

申请号：PCT/US2018/038140

申请日：2018-06-19

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： SHPUNT, Alexander ,  SUTTON, Andrew J. ,  SOSKIND, Yakov G.

IPC: H01S5/183 ,  H01S5/14

CPC classification number: H01S5/141 ,  H01S3/0071 ,  H01S3/08009 ,  H01S3/08059 ,  H01S5/0215 ,  H01S5/02236 ,  H01S5/1032 ,  H01S5/105 ,  H01S5/183 ,  H01S5/18341 ,  H01S5/1838

Abstract: An optoelectronic device (20, 60, 80, 120, 140, 180, 200, 240, 280) includes a semiconductor substrate (24, 84, 144, 204, 244) and a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) (22, 82, 142, 202, 242) light source formed on the substrate and configured to emit coherent light at a predefined wavelength along a beam axis (26, 86, 146, 206, 246) perpendicular to a surface of the substrate. A block (28, 88, 148, 208, 248) of a transparent material is mounted on the surface of the substrate and forms, with the VCSEL, a resonant cavity at the predefined wavelength having an entrance face (36, 96, 156, 216, 256) that is aligned with the beam axis and an exit face (42, 104, 168, 228, 310) that is laterally displaced with respect to the entrance face along a cavity axis (40, 100, 160, 220, 260, 300) running parallel to the surface of the substrate.

公开(公告)号：WO2018057085A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-29

申请号：PCT/US2017/040648

申请日：2017-07-05

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： MANDAI, Shingo ,  NICLASS, Cristiano L ,  BILLS, Richard E ,  LAIFENFELD, Moshe ,  REZK, Mina A. ,  SHPUNT, Alexander ,  SOKOLOVSKY, Ron ,  KAITZ, Tal ,  AKERMAN, Ronen ,  MUDGE, Jason D. ,  SUTTON, Andrew J

IPC: G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/486

CPC classification number: G01S17/89 ,  G01B11/026 ,  G01S7/4814 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S7/4868 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G02F1/292

Abstract: An electro-optical device (20) includes a laser (28), which is configured to emit toward a scene (38) pulses (36) of optical radiation. An array (34) of detectors (79) are configured to receive the optical radiation that is reflected from points in the scene and to output signals indicative of respective times of arrival of the received radiation. A controller (26) is coupled to drive the laser to emit a sequence of pulses of the optical radiation toward each of a plurality of points in the scene and to find respective times of flight for the points responsively to the output signals, while controlling a power of the pulses emitted by the laser by counting a number of the detectors outputting the signals in response to each pulse, and reducing the power of a subsequent pulse in the sequence when the number is greater than a predefined threshold.

Abstract translation: 电光装置（20）包括激光器（28），该激光器构造成朝向场景（38）发射光辐射的脉冲（36）。 检测器（79）的阵列（34）被配置为接收从场景中的点反射的光辐射并输出指示所接收的辐射的相应到达时间的信号。 控制器（26）被耦合以驱动激光器向场景中的多个点中的每一个发射光学辐射的脉冲序列，并且响应于输出信号找出各个点的飞行时间，同时控制 通过对响应于每个脉冲输出信号的检测器的数量进行计数来激励由激光器发射的脉冲的功率，并且当该数量大于预定义的阈值时减小序列中的后续脉冲的功率。

公开(公告)号：WO2018039249A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-01

申请号：PCT/US2017/048042

申请日：2017-08-22

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： UPTON, Robert S. ,  KAKANI, Chandra S. ,  SHPUNT, Alexander ,  GERSON, Yuval

IPC: G01S17/87 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G02B9/60 ,  G02B13/00 ,  G02B13/22

CPC classification number: G01S17/88 ,  G01S7/4812 ,  G01S7/4815 ,  G01S7/4816 ,  G01S17/87 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G02B9/60 ,  G02B13/14 ,  G02B13/16 ,  G02B13/22

Abstract: Optical systems that may, for example, be used in light ranging and detection (LiDAR) applications, for example in systems that implement combining laser pulse transmission in LiDAR and that include dual transmit and receive systems. Receiver components of a dual receiver system in LiDAR applications may include a medium range (50 meters or less) receiver optical system with a medium entrance pupil and small F-number and with a medium to wide field of view. The optical system may utilize optical filters, scanning mirrors, and a nominal one-dimensional SPAD (or SPADs) to increase the probability of positive photon events.

Abstract translation: 例如，可以在光测距和检测（LiDAR）应用中使用的光学系统，例如在实现在LiDAR中实现组合激光脉冲传输并包括双发射和接收系统的系统中。 LiDAR应用中的双接收器系统的接收器组件可包括中等范围（50米或更小）的接收器光学系统，具有中等入瞳和小F值以及中等到宽视场。 光学系统可以使用光学滤波器，扫描镜和标称一维SPAD（或SPAD）来增加正性光子事件的概率。

公开(公告)号：WO2017176410A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-12

申请号：PCT/US2017/021018

申请日：2017-03-07

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： SHPUNT, Alexander ,  GERSON, Yuval

IPC: G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S7/481

CPC classification number: G01S17/89 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S17/42

Abstract: Apparatus for mapping includes an illumination assembly (123), which projects a line (122) of radiation extending in a first direction across a scene. A detection assembly (145) receives the radiation reflected from the scene within a sensing area (148) that contains at least a part of the line of the radiation, and includes a linear array (54, 136) of detector elements (56) and objective optics (52, 146), which focus the reflected radiation from the sensing area onto the linear array. A scanning mirror (46, 138) scans the line of radiation and the sensing area together over the scene in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. Processing circuitry (64, 66) processes signals output by the detector elements in response to the received radiation in order to construct a three-dimensional (3D) map of an object in the scene.

Abstract translation: 用于映射的设备包括照射组件（123），该照射组件（123）投射沿第一方向延伸越过场景的辐射线（122）。 检测组件（145）接收从包含辐射线的至少一部分的感测区域（148）内的场景反射的辐射，并且包括检测器元件（56）的线性阵列（54,136）和 客观光学器件（52,146），其将来自感测区域的反射辐射聚焦到线性阵列上。 扫描镜（46,138）在垂直于第一方向的第二方向上在场景上一起扫描辐射线和感测区域。 处理电路（64,66）响应于所接收的辐射来处理由探测器元件输出的信号，以便构建场景中的对象的三维（3D）地图。