公开(公告)号：US12287409B2

公开(公告)日：2025-04-29

申请号：US18514635

申请日：2023-11-20

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Zeb Barber ,  Stephen Crouch ,  Emil Kadlec

IPC: G01S17/931 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/4912 ,  G01S17/34 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/228 ,  G05D1/65

Abstract: A system and method for combining multiple functions of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes receiving a second optical beam generated by the laser source or a second laser source, wherein the second optical beam is associated with a second local oscillator (LO); splitting the second optical beam into a third split optical beam and a fourth split optical beam; transmitting, to the optical device, the third split optical beam and the fourth split optical beam; receiving, from the optical device, a third reflected beam that is associated with the third split optical beam and a fourth reflected beam that is associated with the fourth split optical beam; and pairing the third reflected beam with the second LO signal and the fourth reflected beam with the second LO signal.

公开(公告)号：US12066548B2

公开(公告)日：2024-08-20

申请号：US17674537

申请日：2022-02-17

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Zeb Barber ,  Stephen Crouch ,  Emil Kadlec

IPC: G01S17/931 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/4912 ,  G01S17/34 ,  G05D1/00

CPC classification number: G01S17/931 ,  G01S7/4814 ,  G01S7/4912 ,  G01S17/34 ,  G05D1/0088 ,  G05D1/0223

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system for a vehicle, includes a laser source configured to generate light signals, a transceiver, and a fiber array coupled to the transceiver and including a plurality of output channels. The transceiver is configured to receive one or more light signals from the laser source through a first group of output channels of the fiber array, receive one or more local oscillator (LO) signals through a second group of output channels of the fiber array, transmit the one or more light signals into an environment of the vehicle, receive a first returned light reflected from one or more objects in the environment, and output the first returned light and a first LO signal of the one or more LO signals.

公开(公告)号：US11994629B2

公开(公告)日：2024-05-28

申请号：US17530328

申请日：2021-11-18

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Zeb Barber ,  Randy R. Reibel ,  Emil Kadlec

IPC: G01S7/4912 ,  G01S17/931

CPC classification number: G01S7/4917 ,  G01S17/931

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system including a laser configured to output a beam, an amplifier, and an optical network. The amplifier may be configured to receive a plurality of optical signals that are generated based on the beam and are respectively associated with a plurality of phases. The amplifier may be configured to generate a plurality of amplified optical signals based on the plurality of optical signals. The optical network may be coupled to the amplifier. The optical network may be configured to receive the plurality of amplified optical signals. The optical network may be configured to generate an optical signal based on the plurality of amplified optical signals. An amplitude of the optical signal may correspond to a combined amplitude of the plurality of amplified optical signals.

公开(公告)号：US11921236B1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-05

申请号：US18121967

申请日：2023-03-15

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Zeb Barber ,  Randy Ray Reibel ,  Sean Spillane

IPC: G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/4861 ,  G01S17/931

CPC classification number: G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/4861 ,  G01S17/931

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (lidar) system for a vehicle may include an input optical path, a first optical path, a plurality of second optical paths, a first optical amplifier, and a plurality of second optical amplifiers. The input optical path may be configured to receive a beam from a laser source. The first optical path and the plurality of second optical paths may be respectively branched from the input optical path. The first optical amplifier may be coupled to the first optical path and configured to output a local oscillator (LO) signal. The plurality of second optical amplifiers may be respectively coupled to the plurality of second optical paths, one of the plurality of second optical amplifiers being selectively turned on to modulate the beam received through a second optical path and output a modulated optical signal of the beam.

公开(公告)号：US11619716B1

公开(公告)日：2023-04-04

申请号：US17888364

申请日：2022-08-15

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Zeb Barber ,  Randy Ray Reibel ,  Sean Spillane

IPC: G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/4861 ,  G01S17/931

Abstract: A device may include an input optical path, a first optical path, a plurality of second optical paths, a first optical amplifier, a plurality of second optical amplifiers, and a control circuit. The input optical path may receive, at one end thereof, a beam from a laser source. The first optical path and the second optical paths may be respectively branched from at the other end of the input optical path. The first optical amplifier may be coupled to the first optical path. The second optical amplifiers may be respectively coupled to the second optical paths. The control circuit may selectively turn on one of the second optical amplifiers to output a modulated optical signal of the beam. The control circuit may turn on the first optical amplifier, in synchronization with turning on any one of the second optical amplifiers, to output a local oscillator (LO) signal.

公开(公告)号：US20240302509A1

公开(公告)日：2024-09-12

申请号：US18669875

申请日：2024-05-21

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Zeb Barber ,  Randy R. Reibel ,  Emil Kadlec

IPC: G01S7/4912 ,  G01S17/931

CPC classification number: G01S7/4917 ,  G01S17/931

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system may include a laser configured to output a beam, an amplifier and a plurality of splitters. The amplifier may generate, based on the beam, a plurality of amplified optical signals that are respectively associated with a plurality of phases. The plurality of splitters, coupled between the amplifier and a plurality of outputs, may receive the plurality of amplified optical signals, generate, at a first point of time, a first combined optical signal of the plurality of amplified optical signals at a first output of the plurality of outputs with no optical signal at remaining outputs of the plurality of outputs, and generate, at a second point of time, a second combined optical signal of the plurality of amplified optical signals at a second output of the plurality of outputs with no optical signal at remaining outputs of the plurality of outputs.

公开(公告)号：US11921219B2

公开(公告)日：2024-03-05

申请号：US18160836

申请日：2023-01-27

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc

Inventor： Zeb Barber ,  Stephen Crouch ,  Emil Kadlec

IPC: G01S17/931 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/4912 ,  G01S17/34 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/02

CPC classification number: G01S17/931 ,  G01S7/4814 ,  G01S7/4912 ,  G01S17/34 ,  G05D1/0088 ,  G05D1/0223 ,  G05D2201/0213

Abstract: A system and method for combining multiple functions of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes receiving a second optical beam generated by the laser source or a second laser source, wherein the second optical beam is associated with a second local oscillator (LO); splitting the second optical beam into a third split optical beam and a fourth split optical beam; transmitting, to the optical device, the third split optical beam and the fourth split optical beam; receiving, from the optical device, a third reflected beam that is associated with the third split optical beam and a fourth reflected beam that is associated with the fourth split optical beam; and pairing the third reflected beam with the second LO signal and the fourth reflected beam with the second LO signal.

公开(公告)号：US20220390561A1

公开(公告)日：2022-12-08

申请号：US17870566

申请日：2022-07-21

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Zeb Barber ,  Randy Reibel ,  Devlin Baker ,  Emil Kadlec

IPC: G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/26 ,  G01S17/58 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G01S17/34

Abstract: In some implementations, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a laser source configured to provide an optical signal at a first signal power, an amplifier having a plurality of gain levels, at which the amplifier is configured to amplify the optical signal, and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to, based on the first signal power and a duty cycle of the optical signal, vary a gain level of the amplifier from the plurality of gain levels to generate a pulse signal, transmit the pulse signal from the amplifier to an environment, receive a reflected signal that is reflected from an object, responsive to transmitting the pulse signal, and determine a range to the object based on an electrical signal associated with the reflected signal.

公开(公告)号：US20220024487A1

公开(公告)日：2022-01-27

申请号：US17494188

申请日：2021-10-05

Applicant: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.

Inventor： Stephen CROUCH ,  Zeb Barber ,  Emil KADLEC ,  Ryan Galloway ,  Sean Spillane

IPC: B60W60/00 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G01S17/58 ,  G01S7/4912 ,  G01S17/34

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle control system includes one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to cause a transmitter to transmit a transmit signal from a laser source. The one or more processors are configured to cause a receiver to receive a return signal reflected by an object. The one or more processors are configured to cause one or more optics to generate a first polarized signal of the return signal with a first polarization, and generate a second polarized signal of the return signal with a second polarization. The one or more processors are configured to calculate a value of reflectivity based on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the first polarized signal and an SNR value of the second polarized signal. The one or more processors are configured to operate a vehicle based on the value of reflectivity.

公开(公告)号：US20240094401A1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-21

申请号：US18514635

申请日：2023-11-20

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Zeb Barber ,  Stephen Crouch ,  Emil Kadlec

IPC: G01S17/931 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/4912 ,  G01S17/34 ,  G05D1/00

CPC classification number: G01S17/931 ,  G01S7/4814 ,  G01S7/4912 ,  G01S17/34 ,  G05D1/0088 ,  G05D1/0223

Abstract: A system and method for combining multiple functions of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes receiving a second optical beam generated by the laser source or a second laser source, wherein the second optical beam is associated with a second local oscillator (LO); splitting the second optical beam into a third split optical beam and a fourth split optical beam; transmitting, to the optical device, the third split optical beam and the fourth split optical beam; receiving, from the optical device, a third reflected beam that is associated with the third split optical beam and a fourth reflected beam that is associated with the fourth split optical beam; and pairing the third reflected beam with the second LO signal and the fourth reflected beam with the second LO signal.