公开(公告)号：US10139478B2

公开(公告)日：2018-11-27

申请号：US15861147

申请日：2018-01-03

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Stephen D. Gaalema ,  Austin K. Russell ,  Joseph G. LaChapelle ,  Scott R. Campbell ,  Jason M. Eichenholz ,  Tue Tran

IPC: G01C3/08 ,  G01S7/489 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S7/486

Abstract: To decrease the likelihood of a false detection when detecting light from light pulses scattered by remote targets in a lidar system, a receiver in the lidar system includes a photodetector and a pulse-detection circuit having a gain circuit with a varying amount of gain over time. The gain circuit operates in a low-gain mode for a time period T1 beginning with time t0 when a light pulse is emitted to prevent the receiver from detecting return light pulses during the threshold time period T1. Upon expiration of the threshold time period T1, the gain circuit operates in a high-gain mode to begin detecting return light pulses until a subsequent light pulse is emitted.

公开(公告)号：US10088559B1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-02

申请号：US15876669

申请日：2018-01-22

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Matthew D. Weed ,  Scott R. Campbell ,  Lane A. Martin ,  Jason M. Eichenholz ,  Austin K. Russell ,  Rodger W. Cleye ,  Melvin L. Stauffer

IPC: G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/08

Abstract: To compensate for motor dynamics in a scanner in a lidar system, a light source transmits light pulses at a variable pulse rate in accordance with a scan speed of the scanner. More specifically, the pulse rate may be directly related to the scan speed so that the light source transmits light pulses uniformly across a field of regard. A controller may determine the scan speed and provide a control signal to the light source adjusting the pulse rate accordingly.

公开(公告)号：US20180269646A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-20

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: H01S3/11 ,  H01S3/0941 ,  H01S3/102 ,  G01S7/481 ,  H01S3/094 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/88 ,  H01S3/30

CPC classification number: H01S3/1115 ,  G01S7/4814 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/88 ,  H01S3/0092 ,  H01S3/061 ,  H01S3/0612 ,  H01S3/0621 ,  H01S3/0627 ,  H01S3/08 ,  H01S3/094076 ,  H01S3/094084 ,  H01S3/0941 ,  H01S3/09415 ,  H01S3/1022 ,  H01S3/113 ,  H01S3/1611 ,  H01S3/1643 ,  H01S3/1673 ,  H01S3/30

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：US10007001B1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-26

申请号：US15727073

申请日：2017-10-06

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Joseph G. LaChapelle ,  Jason M. Eichenholz

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

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 ,  H01L31/03046 ,  H01L31/09 ,  H01L31/1085 ,  H01L31/167

Abstract: A lidar system operates as an active short-wave infrared (SWIR) camera system to determine a four-dimensional image at each point in a two-dimensional field of regard. The camera system includes a short-wave infrared spectrum scanner that transmits a pulse of light at a particular position or coordinate in a two-dimensional field of regard and a receiver that detects return pulses scattered from a target in the field of regard coincident with the particular position. The receiver includes a detector that detects the returned pulse, a range determination unit that determines, based on the timing of the returned pulse, a distance to the target at the particular position, and an intensity measurement unit that determines the magnitude, amplitude, or intensity of the returned pulse, which information provides an indication of the relative, or in some cases, absolute reflectivity of the target at the particular point in the field of regard.

公开(公告)号：US20180120433A1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-03

申请号：US15859170

申请日：2017-12-29

Applicant: Luminar Technologies, Inc.

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

IPC: G01S17/06 ,  G01S17/00 ,  G01S17/32

CPC classification number: G01S17/06 ,  G01S7/4804 ,  G01S7/4811 ,  G01S7/4814 ,  G01S7/4815 ,  G01S7/4816 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S7/4818 ,  G01S7/483 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/4861 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S17/00 ,  G01S17/02 ,  G01S17/08 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/32 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/88 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S17/936 ,  H01S3/0007 ,  H01S3/0078 ,  H01S3/0085 ,  H01S3/06733 ,  H01S3/0675 ,  H01S3/06754 ,  H01S3/06758 ,  H01S3/08086 ,  H01S3/094003 ,  H01S3/094042 ,  H01S3/094076 ,  H01S3/0941 ,  H01S3/10023 ,  H01S3/1106 ,  H01S3/1608 ,  H01S3/2383 ,  H01S5/0057 ,  H01S5/0085 ,  H01S5/4012 ,  H01S5/4087 ,  H01S2301/02

Abstract: A lidar system with a pulsed laser diode to produce a plurality of optical seed pulses of light at one or more operating wavelengths between approximately 1400 nm and approximately 1600 nm. The lidar system may also include one or more optical amplifiers to amplify the optical seed pulses to produce a plurality of output optical pulses. Each optical amplifier may produce an amount of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE), and the output optical pulses may have characteristics comprising: 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%. The lidar system may also include one or more optical filters to attenuate the ASE and a receiver to detect at least a portion of the output optical pulses scattered by a target located a distance.

公开(公告)号：US20180069367A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-08

申请号：US15804997

申请日：2017-11-06

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Alain Villeneuve ,  Joseph G. LaChapelle ,  Jason M. Eichenholz

IPC: H01S3/067 ,  H01S3/10 ,  H01S3/00 ,  G01S7/483 ,  G01S17/02

CPC classification number: G01S17/105 ,  G01S7/4804 ,  G01S7/4811 ,  G01S7/4814 ,  G01S7/4815 ,  G01S7/4816 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S7/4818 ,  G01S7/483 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/4861 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S7/4873 ,  G01S7/4876 ,  G01S17/00 ,  G01S17/02 ,  G01S17/06 ,  G01S17/08 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/102 ,  G01S17/32 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/88 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S17/936 ,  H01S3/0007 ,  H01S3/0078 ,  H01S3/0085 ,  H01S3/06733 ,  H01S3/0675 ,  H01S3/06754 ,  H01S3/06758 ,  H01S3/08086 ,  H01S3/094003 ,  H01S3/094042 ,  H01S3/094076 ,  H01S3/0941 ,  H01S3/10023 ,  H01S3/1106 ,  H01S3/1608 ,  H01S3/2383 ,  H01S5/0057 ,  H01S5/0085 ,  H01S5/4012 ,  H01S5/4087 ,  H01S2301/02

Abstract: A lidar system comprising with a light source, an optical link, and a sensor head. The light source can include a seed laser to produce pulses of light and an optical preamplifier to amplify the pulses of light. The optical link can convey amplified pulses of light to the sensor head remotely located from the light source. The sensor head can include an optical booster amplifier, a scanner to scan amplified output pulses of light across a field of regard, and a receiver to detect pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the sensor head.

公开(公告)号：US09869754B1

公开(公告)日：2018-01-16

申请号：US15466702

申请日：2017-03-22

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

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

IPC: G01C3/08 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S7/486

CPC classification number: G01S17/10 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/87

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a first lidar sensor, which includes a first scanner configured to scan first pulses of light along a first scan pattern and a first receiver configured to detect scattered light from the first pulses of light. The system also includes a second lidar sensor, which includes a second scanner configured to scan second pulses of light along a second scan pattern and a second receiver configured to detect scattered light from the second pulses of light. The first scan pattern and the second scan pattern are at least partially overlapped. The system further includes an enclosure, where the first lidar sensor and the second lidar sensor are contained within the enclosure. The enclosure includes a window configured to transmit the first pulses of light and the second pulses of light.

公开(公告)号：US09823353B2

公开(公告)日：2017-11-21

申请号：US15470735

申请日：2017-03-27

Applicant: Luminar Technologies, Inc.

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

IPC: G01C3/08 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/93 ,  G01S7/48 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/486

CPC classification number: G01S17/06 ,  G01S7/4804 ,  G01S7/4811 ,  G01S7/4814 ,  G01S7/4815 ,  G01S7/4816 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S7/4818 ,  G01S7/483 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/4861 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S17/00 ,  G01S17/02 ,  G01S17/08 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/32 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/88 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S17/936 ,  H01S3/0007 ,  H01S3/0078 ,  H01S3/0085 ,  H01S3/06733 ,  H01S3/0675 ,  H01S3/06754 ,  H01S3/06758 ,  H01S3/08086 ,  H01S3/094003 ,  H01S3/094042 ,  H01S3/094076 ,  H01S3/0941 ,  H01S3/10023 ,  H01S3/1106 ,  H01S3/1608 ,  H01S3/2383 ,  H01S5/0057 ,  H01S5/0085 ,  H01S5/4012 ,  H01S5/4087 ,  H01S2301/02

Abstract: A lidar system with a light source to emit a pulse of light into a field of view and a receiver to detect a return pulse of light which is reflected or scattered by a target in the field of view. The receiver may include an avalanche photodiode to generate an electrical-current pulse corresponding to the return pulse and a transimpedance amplifier to produce a voltage pulse that corresponds to the electrical-current pulse. A voltage amplifier may amplify the voltage pulse and a comparator may produce an edge signal when the amplified voltage pulse exceeds a threshold. A time-to-digital converter may determine a time interval based on an emission time of the pulse of light and based on the edge signal. A processor may determine a distance to the target using the time interval.

公开(公告)号：US09810786B1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-07

申请号：US15461380

申请日：2017-03-16

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

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

IPC: G01S3/08 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S7/484

CPC classification number: G01S17/10 ,  G01S7/4812 ,  G01S7/4814 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G02F1/39 ,  H01S3/0092 ,  H01S3/0612 ,  H01S3/0621 ,  H01S3/0627 ,  H01S3/09415 ,  H01S3/1086 ,  H01S3/113 ,  H01S3/1611 ,  H01S3/1643 ,  H01S3/1673

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a pump laser configured to produce pulses of light at a pump wavelength. The lidar system further includes an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) with an OPO medium configured to: receive the pump pulses from the pump laser; convert at least part of the received pump pulses into pulses of light at a signal wavelength and pulses of light at an idler wavelength; and emit at least a portion of the signal pulses. The lidar system also includes 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 also includes a processor configured to determine the distance from the lidar system to the target.

公开(公告)号：US20170131388A1

公开(公告)日：2017-05-11

申请号：US15342728

申请日：2016-11-03

Applicant: Luminar Technologies, Inc.

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

IPC: G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/10

CPC classification number: G01S7/4817 ,  G01S7/4812 ,  G01S7/4816 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/89

Abstract: A lidar system can include a light source that emits a pulse of light and a splitter that splits the pulse of light into two or more pulses of angularly separated light. The lidar system can also include a scanner configured to scan pulses of light along a scanning direction across a plurality of pixels located downrange from the lidar system. The lidar system can also include a detector array with a first detector and a second detector. The first and second detectors can be separated by a detector-separation distance along a direction corresponding to the scanning direction of the light pulses. The first detector can be configured to detect scattered light from the first pulse of light and the second detector can be configured to detect scattered light from the second pulse of light.