公开(公告)号：US10520602B2

公开(公告)日：2019-12-31

申请号：US15363795

申请日：2016-11-29

Applicant: Luminar Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Alain Villeneuve ,  Jason M. Eichenholz

IPC: G01C3/08 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/93 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S17/08 ,  H01S3/067 ,  H01S3/08 ,  H01S3/094 ,  H01S3/0941 ,  H01S3/10 ,  H01S3/11 ,  H01S5/40 ,  G01S7/48 ,  G01S7/483 ,  G01S17/02 ,  H01S3/00 ,  G01S17/00 ,  G01S17/06 ,  G01S17/88 ,  G01S7/487 ,  H01S5/00 ,  H01S3/23 ,  H01S3/16 ,  G01S17/32

Abstract: In one embodiment, a laser system includes a seed laser configured to produce optical seed pulses. The laser system also includes a first fiber-optic amplifier configured to amplify the seed pulses by a first amplifier gain to produce a first-amplifier output that includes amplified seed pulses and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE). The laser system further includes a first optical filter configured to remove from the first-amplifier output an amount of the ASE. The laser system also includes a second fiber-optic amplifier configured to receive the amplified seed pulses from the first optical filter and amplify the received pulses by a second amplifier gain to produce output pulses. The output pulses have output-pulse characteristics that include: a pulse repetition frequency of less than or equal to 100 MHz; a pulse duration of less than or equal to 20 nanoseconds; and a duty cycle of less than or equal to 1%.

公开(公告)号：US20190235052A1

公开(公告)日：2019-08-01

申请号：US16378315

申请日：2019-04-08

Applicant: Luminar Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Joseph G. LaChapelle ,  Matthew D. Weed ,  Scott R. Campbell ,  Jason M. Eichenholz ,  Austin K. Russell ,  Lane A. Martin

IPC: G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/00 ,  G01W1/02 ,  G01S7/497 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01W1/14 ,  G01S17/42

CPC classification number: G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/003 ,  G01S7/4868 ,  G01S7/497 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/936 ,  G01S17/95 ,  G01S2007/4975 ,  G01W1/02 ,  G01W1/14 ,  Y02A90/19

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for dynamically varying receiver characteristics in a lidar system includes emitting light pulses by a light source in a lidar system. The method further includes detecting, by a receiver in the lidar system, light from one of the light pulses scattered by one or more remote targets to identify a return light pulse. The method also includes determining an atmospheric condition at or near a geolocation of a vehicle that includes the lidar system. The method further includes providing a control signal to the receiver adjusting one or more characteristics of the receiver to compensate for attenuation or distortion of the return light pulses associated with the atmospheric condition.

公开(公告)号：US10340653B2

公开(公告)日：2019-07-02

申请号：US15901838

申请日：2018-02-21

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： David Welford ,  Martin A. Jaspan ,  Jason M. Eichenholz ,  Scott R. Campbell ,  Lane A. Martin ,  Matthew D. Weed

IPC: G01S17/88 ,  H01S3/11 ,  G01S17/10 ,  H01S3/094 ,  H01S3/30 ,  G01S7/481 ,  H01S3/102 ,  H01S3/0941 ,  H01S3/06 ,  H01S3/113 ,  H01S3/08 ,  H01S3/16 ,  H01S3/00

Abstract: A lidar system can include a solid-state laser to emit pulses of light. The solid-state laser can include a Q-switched laser having a gain medium and a Q-switch. The lidar system can also include a scanner configured to scan the emitted pulses of light across a field of regard and a receiver configured to detect at least a portion of the scanned pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The lidar system can also include a processor configured to determine the distance from the lidar system to the target based at least in part on a round-trip time of flight for an emitted pulse of light to travel from the lidar system to the target and back to the lidar system.

公开(公告)号：US10295668B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-21

申请号：US15843652

申请日：2017-12-15

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Joseph G. LaChapelle ,  Jason M. Eichenholz ,  Laurance S. Lingvay

IPC: G01S17/10 ,  G01S7/484

Abstract: A light source includes a laser configured to emit a ranging pulse including a sequence of fast pulses. A lidar system uses one or more properties of the sequence of fast pulses to determine a signature of the ranging pulse. A receiver includes a detector element configured to detect a light signal and a signature detection circuitry configured to determine whether the detected light signal corresponds to the signature of the emitted ranging pulse. The lidar system is configured to generate a pixel value based on the detected light signal if the detected light signal corresponds to the signature of the emitted ranging pulse.

公开(公告)号：US20190129009A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-02

申请号：US16178049

申请日：2018-11-01

Applicant: Luminar Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Jason M. Eichenholz ,  Joseph G. LaChapelle

IPC: G01S7/48 ,  G01S7/491 ,  G01S17/93

Abstract: A lidar system identifies anomalous optical pulses received by the lidar system. The lidar system includes a light source configured to output a plurality of transmitted pulses of light, each transmitted pulse of light having one or more representative characteristics, a scanner configured to direct the plurality of transmitted pulses of light to a plurality of locations within a field of regard, and a receiver configured to detect a plurality of received pulses of light from the field of regard. The lidar system is configured to identify an anomalous pulse amongst the plurality of received pulses of light based on its having at least one characteristic that does not correspond to the one or more representative characteristics of the plurality of transmitted pulses of light.

公开(公告)号：US10267898B2

公开(公告)日：2019-04-23

申请号：US15871687

申请日：2018-01-15

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Scott R. Campbell ,  Rodger W. Cleye ,  Jason M. Eichenholz ,  Lane A. Martin ,  Matthew D. Weed

IPC: G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/87 ,  G01S7/486

Abstract: A lidar system is disclosed. The lidar system can include a light source to produce first and second sets of pulses of light. The system can also include a first lidar sensor with a first scanner to scan the first set of pulses of light along a first scan pattern, and a first receiver to detect scattered light from the first set of pulses of light. The system can also include a second lidar sensor with a second scanner to scan the second set of pulses of light along a second scan pattern, and a second receiver to detect scattered light from the second set of pulses of light. The first scan pattern and the second scan pattern can be at least partially overlapped in an overlap region. The lidar system can also include an enclosure to contain the light source, the first lidar sensor, and the second lidar sensor.

公开(公告)号：US20190107623A1

公开(公告)日：2019-04-11

申请号：US16155243

申请日：2018-10-09

Applicant: Luminar Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Scott R. Campbell ,  Matthew D. Weed ,  Lane A. Martin ,  Jason M. Eichenholz ,  Austin K. Russell

IPC: G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G02B26/10

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit pulses of light and a scanner configured to scan at least a portion of the emitted pulses of light along a scan pattern contained within an adjustable field of regard. The scanner includes a first scanning mirror configured to scan the portion of the emitted pulses of light substantially parallel to a first scan axis to produce multiple scan lines of the scan pattern, where each scan line is oriented substantially parallel to the first scan axis. The scanner also includes a second scanning mirror configured to distribute the scan lines along a second scan axis that is substantially orthogonal to the first scan axis, where the scan lines are distributed within the adjustable field of regard according to an adjustable second-axis scan profile.

公开(公告)号：US10211592B1

公开(公告)日：2019-02-19

申请号：US15985486

申请日：2018-05-21

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Alain Villeneuve ,  Jason M. Eichenholz ,  Laurance S. Lingvay

IPC: H01S3/09 ,  H01S3/094 ,  G01S7/48 ,  H01S5/00 ,  G02B27/09 ,  H01S3/08 ,  H01S3/00 ,  H01S3/067 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S7/486

Abstract: In one embodiment, a laser system includes a seed laser diode configured to produce a free-space seed-laser beam. The laser system also includes a pump laser diode configured to produce a free-space pump-laser beam. The laser system further includes an optical-beam combiner configured to combine the seed-laser and pump-laser beams into a combined free-space beam and a focusing lens configured to focus the combined beam. The laser system also includes an optical gain fiber that includes an input end configured to receive the focused beam. The laser system also includes a mounting platform, where one or more of the optical-beam combiner, the focusing lens, and the input end of the gain fiber are mechanically attached to the platform.

公开(公告)号：US10121813B2

公开(公告)日：2018-11-06

申请号：US15909563

申请日：2018-03-01

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Jason M. Eichenholz ,  Scott R. Campbell ,  Joseph G. LaChapelle

IPC: G01S7/481 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H01L23/00 ,  G01S17/93

Abstract: To detect light from light pulses at the operating wavelength of a light source in a lidar system, a thin-film notch filter is directly deposited on a photodetector or a lens via vacuum deposition or monolithic epoxy. The thin-film notch filter may include an anti-reflective coating such as a pattern-coated dichroic filter having an optical transmission of 90% or greater at in-band wavelengths and less than 5% at out-of-band wavelengths. To deposit the filter onto the photodetector without disrupting electronic connections between the photodetector and an application-specific integrated circuit, the area surrounding the electrodes on the photodetector is kept open using photolithography.

公开(公告)号：US20180306926A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-25

申请号：US16017650

申请日：2018-06-25

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Joseph G. LaChapelle ,  Jason M. Eichenholz

IPC: G01S17/89 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01J1/44 ,  G01S17/93 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/497 ,  G01S7/486 ,  G01S17/10

CPC classification number: G01S17/89 ,  G01J1/44 ,  G01J2001/4466 ,  G01S7/003 ,  G01S7/4802 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S7/4818 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S7/487 ,  G01S7/497 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/87 ,  G01S17/936 ,  H01L31/09

Abstract: A scanning system includes a light source configured to emit light as a series of one or more light pulses, a scanner configured to direct the one or more light pulses towards a remote target, and a receiver configured to detect light scattered by the remote target. The receiver includes a light detector element disposed on an ASIC that includes multiple comparators disposed in parallel with one another, and corresponding time-to-digital converters (TDCs) coupled to the comparator. Each of the comparators processes a received electrical signal from the light detector element to produce a digital edge signal when the amplitude of the received electrical signal reaches a particular threshold. A corresponding TDC outputs a time delay value associated with a time at which the received electrical signal reaches the particular threshold.