公开(公告)号：US12253632B2

公开(公告)日：2025-03-18

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 ,  G01S17/34 ,  G01S17/58 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G05D1/00

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：US20240361464A1

公开(公告)日：2024-10-31

申请号：US18767123

申请日：2024-07-09

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Zeb Barber ,  Stephen Crouch ,  Emil Kadlec

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

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

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：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：US20250116773A1

公开(公告)日：2025-04-10

申请号：US18481695

申请日：2023-10-05

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Emil Kadlec ,  Mark Lund ,  Justin Torgerson

IPC: G01S7/4911 ,  B60W10/18 ,  B60W10/20 ,  B60W60/00 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/931

Abstract: A light detection and ranging sensor system includes a laser source configured to output a source beam; a modulator configured to receive a modulation signal and modulate the source beam based on the modulation signal to produce a modulated beam; an amplifier configured to amplify the modulated beam; and a protection circuit configured to detect, by evaluating at least one of the modulation signal or a parameter of the modulated beam, a condition associated with the modulated beam; and control input of the modulated beam to the amplifier in response to detecting the condition.

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：US11841441B2

公开(公告)日：2023-12-12

申请号：US17584169

申请日：2022-01-25

Applicant: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.

Inventor： Zeb William Barber ,  Stephen C. Crouch ,  Ryan Moore Galloway ,  Edward Joseph Angus ,  Emil Kadlec

IPC: G01S13/93 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G01S7/48 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S17/32 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G02B26/10

CPC classification number: G01S17/931 ,  G01S7/4804 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S17/32 ,  G02B26/105

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser source, a first scanner, and a second scanner. The first scanner receives a first beam from the laser source and applies a first angle modulation to the first beam to output a second beam at a first angle. The second scanner receives the second beam and applies a second angle modulation to the second beam to output a third beam at a second angle.

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.