Devices and methods for a rotary joint with multiple wireless links

    公开(公告)号:US09628170B1

    公开(公告)日:2017-04-18

    申请号:US15006844

    申请日:2016-01-26

    Applicant: Google Inc.

    CPC classification number: H04B7/24 H04B7/26

    Abstract: A device is provided that includes a first platform having a first side, and a second platform having a second side positioned within a predetermined distance to the first side. The device also includes an actuator configured to cause a relative rotation between the first platform and the second platform such that the first side of the first platform remains within the predetermined distance to the second side of the second platform. The device also includes a probe mounted to the first platform, and a plurality of probes mounted to the second platform. The device also includes a signal conditioner coupled to the plurality of probes. The signal conditioner may select one of the plurality of probes based on an orientation of the first platform relative to the second platform. The signal conditioner may then to use the selected probe for wireless communication with the probe on the first platform.

    Contactless Electrical Coupling for a Rotatable LIDAR Device
    5.
    发明申请
    Contactless Electrical Coupling for a Rotatable LIDAR Device 有权
    用于可旋转激光雷达装置的非接触电耦合

    公开(公告)号:US20150091374A1

    公开(公告)日:2015-04-02

    申请号:US14042705

    申请日:2013-09-30

    Applicant: Google Inc.

    Abstract: A rotatable LIDAR device including contactless electrical couplings is disclosed. An example rotatable LIDAR device includes a vehicle electrical coupling including (i) a first conductive ring, (ii) a second conductive ring, and (iii) a first coil. The example rotatable LIDAR device further includes a LIDAR electrical coupling including (i) a third conductive ring, (ii) a fourth conductive ring, and (iii) a second coil. The example rotatable LIDAR device still further includes a rotatable LIDAR electrically coupled to the LIDAR electrical coupling. The first conductive ring and the third conductive ring form a first capacitor configured to transmit communications to the rotatable LIDAR, the second conductive ring and the fourth conductive ring form a second capacitor configured to transmit communications from the rotatable LIDAR, and the first coil and the second coil form a transformer configured to provide power to the rotatable LIDAR.

    Abstract translation: 公开了一种包括非接触电耦合的可旋转LIDAR装置。 一种示例性的可旋转LIDAR装置包括车辆电耦合,其包括(i)第一导电环,(ii)第二导电环和(iii)第一线圈。 该实例可旋转LIDAR装置还包括LIDAR电耦合,其包括(i)第三导电环,(ii)第四导电环和(iii)第二线圈。 该示例可旋转的LIDAR装置还包括电耦合到激光雷达电耦合的可旋转激光雷达。 第一导电环和第三导电环形成第一电容器,其被配置为将通信传输到可旋转的激光雷达,第二导电环和第四导电环形成第二电容器,其被配置为从可旋转激光雷达传输通信,第一线圈和 第二线圈形成被配置为向可旋转的激光雷达提供电力的变压器。

    Laser diode firing system
    7.
    发明授权
    Laser diode firing system 有权
    激光二极管点火系统

    公开(公告)号:US09368936B1

    公开(公告)日:2016-06-14

    申请号:US14132219

    申请日:2013-12-18

    Applicant: Google Inc.

    Abstract: A laser diode firing circuit for a light detection and ranging device is disclosed. The firing circuit includes a laser diode coupled in series to a transistor, such that current through the laser diode is controlled by the transistor. The laser diode is configured to emit a pulse of light in response to current flowing through the laser diode. The firing circuit includes a capacitor that is configured to charge via a charging path that includes an inductor and to discharge via a discharge path that includes the laser diode. The transistor controlling current through the laser diode can be a Gallium nitride field effect transistor.

    Abstract translation: 公开了一种用于光检测和测距装置的激光二极管点火电路。 点火电路包括与晶体管串联耦合的激光二极管,使得通过激光二极管的电流由晶体管控制。 激光二极管被配置为响应于流过激光二极管的电流而发出光脉冲。 点火电路包括电容器,其配置为经由包括电感器的充电路径充电并经由包括激光二极管的放电路径放电。 控制通过激光二极管的电流的晶体管可以是氮化镓场效应晶体管。

    Multiplexed multichannel photodetector
    9.
    发明授权
    Multiplexed multichannel photodetector 有权
    复用多通道光电探测器

    公开(公告)号:US09529079B1

    公开(公告)日:2016-12-27

    申请号:US14669109

    申请日:2015-03-26

    Applicant: Google Inc.

    Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system can emit light toward an environment and detect responsively reflected light to determine a distance to one or more points in the environment. The reflected light can be detected by a plurality of plurality of photodiodes that are reverse-biased using a high voltage. Signals from the plurality of reverse-biased photodiodes can be amplified by respective transistors and applied to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The signal from a particular photodiode can be applied to the ADC by biasing a respective transistor corresponding to the particular photodiode while not biasing transistors corresponding to other photodiodes. The gain of each photodiode/transistor pair can be controlled by adjusting the bias voltage applied to each photodiode using a digital-to-analog converter. The gain of each photodiode/transistor pair can be controlled based on the detected temperature of each photodiode.

    Abstract translation: 光检测和测距(LIDAR)系统可以向环境发射光并响应于反射光检测以确定到环境中的一个或多个点的距离。 反射光可以由使用高电压反向偏置的多个多个光电二极管来检测。 来自多个反向偏置光电二极管的信号可以由相应的晶体管放大并施加到模数转换器(ADC)。 来自特定光电二极管的信号可以通过偏置对应于特定光电二极管的相应晶体管而被施加到ADC,而不偏置对应于其它光电二极管的晶体管。 可以通过使用数模转换器调节施加到每个光电二极管的偏置电压来控制每个光电二极管/晶体管对的增益。 可以基于每个光电二极管的检测温度来控制每个光电二极管/晶体管对的增益。

    Long Range Steerable LIDAR System
    10.
    发明申请
    Long Range Steerable LIDAR System 有权
    长程指导激光雷达系统

    公开(公告)号:US20160291134A1

    公开(公告)日:2016-10-06

    申请号:US14679683

    申请日:2015-04-06

    Applicant: Google Inc.

    Abstract: 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.

    Abstract translation: 描述了与光检测和测距(LIDAR)设备相关的系统和方法。 激光雷达装置包括被配置为发射波长范围内的光的光纤激光器,被配置为以围绕第一轴线往复运动的方式引导发射的光的扫描部分和被配置为感测波长范围内的光的多个检测器。 该装置还包括被配置为接收可以指示对象,位置,位置或角度范围的目标信息的控制器。 响应于接收到目标信息,控制器可以使旋转安装座旋转,以便调节激光雷达的指示方向。 控制器被进一步配置成使激光雷达扫描环境的视场(FOV)。 控制器可以基于来自扫描FOV的数据来确定环境的三维(3D)表示。

Patent Agency Ranking