-
公开(公告)号：US11892572B1
公开(公告)日：2024-02-06
申请号：US17138079
申请日：2020-12-30
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor： James Dunphy , David Schleuning , Ralph Shepard
CPC classification number: G01S7/497 , G02B26/0833
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to multi-channel optical transmitter modules, lidar systems, and methods that involve micromirror devices. An example optical transmitter module includes at least one light-emitter device and a plurality of micromirror devices optically-coupled to the at least one light-emitter device. The at least one light-emitter device is configured to emit respective light beams toward an environment via the micromirror devices. The micromirror devices are configured to deflect the light beams. The optical transmitter module also includes a controller having at least one processor and a memory. The controller is configured to carry out operations. The operations include receiving information indicative of a retroreflector object in the environment. The operations include, based on the received information, causing at least one micromirror device of the plurality of micromirror devices to deflect at least one light beam so that the at least one light beam does not interact with the retroreflector object.
-
公开(公告)号：US20230003852A1
公开(公告)日：2023-01-05
申请号：US17363658
申请日：2021-06-30
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor： James Dunphy , Caner Onal , David Schleuning
IPC: G01S7/497 , G01S7/48 , G01S17/931
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to light detection and ranging (lidar) systems, lidar-equipped vehicles, and associated methods. An example method includes causing a firing circuit to trigger emission of an initial group of detection pulses from at least one light-emitter device of a lidar system in accordance with an initial set of one or more light-emission parameters. The method also includes causing the firing circuit to trigger emission of one or more test pulses and receiving, from at least one detector, information indicative of one or more return test pulses. The method yet further includes determining, based on the received information, a presence of a retroreflector based on an intensity of the return test pulse. The method additionally includes determining a subsequent set of light-emission parameters and causing the firing circuit to trigger emission of a subsequent group of detection pulses in accordance with the subsequent set of light-emission parameters.
-
公开(公告)号：US11353588B2
公开(公告)日：2022-06-07
申请号：US16177626
申请日：2018-11-01
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor： Caner Onal , David Schleuning , Brendan Hermalyn , Simon Verghese , Alex Mccauley , Brandyn White , Ury Zhilinsky
IPC: G01S17/89 , G06T7/521 , G01S7/497 , G01S7/481 , G01S7/48 , G01S7/4865 , G01S17/08 , G01S17/931
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that provide information about a scene based on a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor and a structured light pattern. In an example embodiment, a sensor system could include at least one ToF sensor configured to receive light from a scene. The sensor system could also include at least one light source configured to emit a structured light pattern and a controller that carries out operations. The operations include causing the at least one light source to illuminate at least a portion of the scene with the structured light pattern and causing the at least one ToF sensor to provide information indicative of a depth map of the scene based on the structured light pattern.
-
公开(公告)号：US20220137185A1
公开(公告)日：2022-05-05
申请号：US17516798
申请日：2021-11-02
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor： David Schleuning , Pierre-Yves Droz , Augusto Tazzoli , Vadim Gutnik , Pablo Hopman
IPC: G01S7/484 , G01S17/08 , G01S17/931 , H01S5/042
Abstract: Example embodiments relate to light detection and ranging (lidar) devices or other apparatus that incorporate laser light emitters capable of increased pulse energies and decreased pulse durations. These laser light emitters include a gain medium having two portions to which a pump electrode and a switch electrode, respectively, are coupled. The pump electrode is configured to apply a current through the gain medium that provides energy for lasing and the switch electrode is configured to apply a current through the gain medium that controls a transparency of the second portion of the gain medium. Thus the switch electrode, which controls the timing of emitted light pulses, can be driven by a lower current and thus have shorter pulse widths, rise time, and/or fall times, thereby allowing for shorter, higher-energy laser pulses to be emitted.
-
公开(公告)号：US20220082660A1
公开(公告)日：2022-03-17
申请号：US17121918
申请日：2020-12-15
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor： Pierre-Yves Droz , Ralph H. Shepard , Augusto Tazzoli , David Hutchison , David Schleuning , Nathaniel Golshan , Nathaniel Quillin , Andrew Abo , Caner Onal , Michael Tom , Robert Lockwood , Kelvin Kwong , Daiwei Li , Drew Ulrich , Simon Ellgas , Chandra Kakani , Erin Eppard , Samuel Lenius , Justin Andrade , James Dunphy
IPC: G01S7/484 , G01S7/481 , G01F23/00 , G01S17/931 , G01S17/89
Abstract: Example embodiments relate to light detection and ranging (lidar) devices having a light-guide manifold. An example lidar device includes a transmit subsystem. The transmit subsystem includes a light emitter. The transmit subsystem also includes a light-guide manifold optically coupled to the light emitter. Further, the transmit subsystem includes a telecentric lens assembly optically coupled to the light-guide manifold. The lidar device also includes a receive subsystem. The receive subsystem includes the telecentric lens assembly. The receive subsystem also includes an aperture plate having an aperture defined therein. The aperture plate is positioned at a focal plane of the telecentric lens assembly. Further, the receive subsystem includes a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) positioned to receive light traveling through the aperture.
-
Patent Agency Ranking
公开(公告)号：US20240159885A1
公开(公告)日：2024-05-16
申请号：US18417904
申请日：2024-01-19
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor： James Dunphy , David Schleuning , Ralph Shepard
CPC classification number: G01S7/497 , G02B26/0833
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to multi-channel optical transmitter modules, lidar systems, and methods that involve micromirror devices. An example optical transmitter module includes at least one light-emitter device and a plurality of micromirror devices optically-coupled to the at least one light-emitter device. The at least one light-emitter device is configured to emit respective light beams toward an environment via the micromirror devices. The micromirror devices are configured to deflect the light beams. The optical transmitter module also includes a controller having at least one processor and a memory. The controller is configured to carry out operations. The operations include receiving information indicative of a retroreflector object in the environment. The operations include, based on the received information, causing at least one micromirror device of the plurality of micromirror devices to deflect at least one light beam so the at least one light beam does not interact with the retroreflector object.
-
公开(公告)号：US11726277B2
公开(公告)日：2023-08-15
申请号：US17901545
申请日：2022-09-01
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor： Pierre-Yves Droz , David Schleuning
CPC classification number: G02B6/4226 , G02B6/4206 , G02B6/4221 , G01S7/4815 , G01S7/4818
Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to the manufacture of optical elements and optical systems. An example method includes providing a first substrate that has a plurality of light-emitter devices disposed on a first surface. The method includes providing a second substrate that has a mounting surface defining a reference plane. The method includes forming a structure and an optical spacer on the mounting surface of the second substrate. The method additionally includes coupling the first and second substrates together such that the first surface of the first substrate faces the mounting surface of the second substrate at an angle with respect to the reference plane.
-
18.发明申请公开(公告)号：US20210349185A1
公开(公告)日：2021-11-11
申请号：US17061003
申请日：2020-10-01
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor： David Schleuning , Pierre-Yves Droz , Jason Watson , James Dunphy
IPC: G01S7/487 , G01S7/481 , G01S7/4863
Abstract: Example embodiments relate to crosstalk reduction for light detection and ranging (lidar) devices using wavelength locking. An example embodiment includes a lidar device. The lidar device includes a first light emitter configured to emit a first light signal and a second light emitter configured to emit a second light signal. The lidar device also includes a first light guide and a second light guide. In addition, the lidar device includes a first light detector and a second light detector. Further, the lidar device includes a first wavelength-locking mechanism configured to use a portion of the first light signal to maintain a wavelength of the first light signal and a second wavelength-locking mechanism configured to use a portion of the second light signal to maintain a wavelength of the second light signal. The wavelengths of the first light signal and the second light signal are different.
-
公开(公告)号：US20210239923A1
公开(公告)日：2021-08-05
申请号：US17234960
申请日：2021-04-20
Applicant: Waymo LLC
Inventor： Pierre-Yves Droz , David Schleuning
IPC: G02B6/42
Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to the manufacture of optical elements and optical systems. An example method includes providing a first substrate that has a plurality of light-emitter devices disposed on a first surface. The method includes providing a second substrate that has a mounting surface defining a reference plane. The method includes forming a structure and an optical spacer on the mounting surface of the second substrate. The method additionally includes coupling the first and second substrates together such that the first surface of the first substrate faces the mounting surface of the second substrate at an angle with respect to the reference plane.
-
公开(公告)号：US10746945B1
公开(公告)日：2020-08-18
申请号：US15727849
申请日：2017-10-09
Applicant: WAYMO LLC
Inventor： Pierre-yves Droz , Augusto Tazzoli , David Schleuning , Nathaniel Golshan , David Hutchison
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods directed to alignment of light-emitting devices. An example method includes coupling a support substrate to a light guide assembly. The support substrate includes a plurality of elongate structures and a plurality of laser diodes. Each laser diode of the plurality of laser diodes is coupled to a respective elongate structure of the plurality of elongate structures. The method also includes causing a given laser diode of the plurality of laser diodes to emit light toward the light guide assembly. The light guide assembly includes a light guide manifold configured to guide at least a portion of the emitted light as transmitted light. The method additionally includes comparing at least one optical characteristic of the transmitted light to a desired optical characteristic and, based on the comparison, adjusting a position of the given laser diode by adjusting the respective elongate structure.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Search Results
31
records
(took 0.017 seconds)
