公开(公告)号：US10340651B1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-02

申请号：US16106238

申请日：2018-08-21

Applicant: Luminar Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Mark A. Drummer ,  Scott R. Campbell ,  Alain Villeneuve ,  Laurance S. Lingvay

IPC: G01C3/08 ,  H01S3/094 ,  H01S3/067 ,  H01S3/16 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S7/486 ,  G01S17/10

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit a ranging pulse of light that is directed into a field of regard of the lidar system. The lidar system also includes a fiber-optic splitter configured to split off a portion of the ranging pulse of light to produce a trigger pulse of light that is directed to a receiver of the lidar system. The receiver is configured to detect, at a first time, at least a portion of the trigger pulse of light; and detect, at a second time subsequent to the first time, a portion of the ranging pulse of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The lidar system further includes a processor configured to determine the distance from the lidar system to the target based at least in part on the first time and the second time.

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：US20180088236A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-29

申请号：US15818501

申请日：2017-11-20

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: G01S17/10 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/93 ,  G01S7/486 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S7/48

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 and a receiver to detect a return pulse of light. The receiver can include a first channel to receive a first portion of the return pulse and produce a first digital output signal, and a second channel to receive a second portion of the return pulse and produce a second digital output signal. The receiver can include a logic circuit to produce an output electrical-edge signal in response to receiving the digital output signals. The receiver can also include a time-to-digital converter to determine a time interval based on an emission time of the pulse of light and based on the electrical-edge signal. The lidar system can also include a processor to determine a distance to a target based at least in part on the time interval.

公开(公告)号：US09857468B1

公开(公告)日：2018-01-02

申请号：US15470708

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: G01S17/00 ,  G01S17/06 ,  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 configured to produce an optical seed pulse of light at an operating wavelength between approximately 1400 nm and approximately 1600 nm. The lidar system may also include an optical amplifier configured to amplify the optical seed pulse to produce an eye-safe output optical pulse that is emitted into a field of view. The optical amplifier may produce an amount of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) associated with the output optical pulse. The lidar system may include an optical filter configured to filter the output optical pulse to reduce the associated ASE. The lidar system may also include a receiver configured to detect at least a portion of the output optical pulse reflected or scattered from the field of view.

公开(公告)号：US20170199277A1

公开(公告)日：2017-07-13

申请号：US15470730

申请日：2017-03-27

Applicant: Luminar Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Alain Villeneuve ,  Jason M. Eichenholz

IPC: G01S17/10 ,  G01S7/481 ,  H01S3/067 ,  G01S7/486 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/48 ,  G01S17/93

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 which includes one or more light sources to produce one or more optical signals and a demultiplexer to separate the one or more optical signals into a plurality of sub-portions which may be distributed to a plurality of sensor heads. The sensor heads emit the sub-portions of the one or more optical signals into a plurality of fields of view and to detect reflected or scattered light from the fields of view. The lidar system also includes one or more optical amplifiers and one or more filters to reduce amplified spontaneous emission produced by the one or more optical amplifiers.

公开(公告)号：US10720748B2

公开(公告)日：2020-07-21

申请号：US16273736

申请日：2019-02-12

Applicant: Luminar Technologies, Inc.

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

IPC: H01S3/094 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S17/10 ,  H01S3/067 ,  H01S3/00 ,  H01S3/08 ,  G02B27/09 ,  H01S5/00 ,  G01S7/48 ,  G02B26/10 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/497 ,  H01S3/23 ,  H01S5/40 ,  G02B27/10 ,  H01S3/0941 ,  H01S3/16 ,  H01S5/024 ,  H01S5/028 ,  H01S5/062 ,  H01S5/0683 ,  G01S17/931

Abstract: In one embodiment, a laser system includes a seed laser diode configured to produce a free-space seed-laser beam and a seed-laser focusing lens configured to focus the seed-laser beam. The laser system also includes a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) that includes a front facet, a back facet, and a waveguide extending from the front facet to the back facet. The SOA is configured to: receive, at the front facet, light from the focused seed-laser beam; amplify the received light as the received light propagates along the SOA waveguide from the front facet to the back facet; and emit, from the back facet, an amplified free-space beam that includes the amplified received light. The laser system further includes a mounting platform, where one or more of the seed laser diode, the seed-laser focusing lens, and the SOA are mechanically attached to the mounting platform.

公开(公告)号：US20190221988A1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-18

申请号：US16273736

申请日：2019-02-12

Applicant: Luminar Technologies, Inc.

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

IPC: H01S3/094 ,  H01S3/00 ,  G02B27/10 ,  G01S7/48 ,  H01S5/00 ,  G02B27/09 ,  H01S3/08 ,  H01S3/067 ,  G01S7/486 ,  G01S17/10 ,  H01S3/13 ,  G02B26/10 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/497 ,  H01S3/23 ,  H01S5/40

Abstract: In one embodiment, a laser system includes a seed laser diode configured to produce a free-space seed-laser beam and a seed-laser focusing lens configured to focus the seed-laser beam. The laser system also includes a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) that includes a front facet, a back facet, and a waveguide extending from the front facet to the back facet. The SOA is configured to: receive, at the front facet, light from the focused seed-laser beam; amplify the received light as the received light propagates along the SOA waveguide from the front facet to the back facet; and emit, from the back facet, an amplified free-space beam that includes the amplified received light. The laser system further includes a mounting platform, where one or more of the seed laser diode, the seed-laser focusing lens, and the SOA are mechanically attached to the mounting platform.

公开(公告)号：US10003168B1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-19

申请号：US15828236

申请日：2017-11-30

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Alain Villeneuve

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

CPC classification number: H01S3/094053 ,  G01S7/4804 ,  G01S7/4815 ,  G01S7/4818 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S7/497 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/936 ,  G02B26/101 ,  G02B27/0927 ,  G02B27/10 ,  H01S3/005 ,  H01S3/0064 ,  H01S3/0078 ,  H01S3/067 ,  H01S3/06733 ,  H01S3/06758 ,  H01S3/08077 ,  H01S3/094003 ,  H01S3/094007 ,  H01S3/094042 ,  H01S3/094096 ,  H01S3/09415 ,  H01S3/1301 ,  H01S3/1608 ,  H01S3/1618 ,  H01S3/2333 ,  H01S3/2375 ,  H01S5/0057 ,  H01S5/02469 ,  H01S5/0287 ,  H01S5/06216 ,  H01S5/0683 ,  H01S5/4012 ,  H01S5/4087

Abstract: In one embodiment, a laser system includes a seed laser diode configured to produce a free-space seed-laser beam and a seed-laser lens configured to collimate the seed-laser beam. The laser system also includes a pump laser diode configured to produce a free-space pump-laser beam and a pump-laser lens configured to collimate the pump-laser beam. The laser system further includes an optical-beam combiner configured to combine the collimated 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 seed laser, the seed-laser lens, the pump laser, the pump-laser lens, the combiner, the focusing lens, and the input end of the gain fiber are mechanically attached to the platform.

公开(公告)号：US09812838B2

公开(公告)日：2017-11-07

申请号：US15470694

申请日：2017-03-27

Applicant: Luminar Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Alain Villeneuve ,  Jason M. Eichenholz

IPC: G01C3/08 ,  H01S3/067 ,  G01S7/483 ,  H01S3/10 ,  H01S3/00 ,  G01S17/02

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 seed laser to produce seed pulses with wavelengths between approximately 1400 nm and 2050 nm. A first amplifier amplifies the seed pulses to produce amplified seed pulses and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE). An optical filter removes at least a portion of the ASE. A second amplifier amplifies the seed pulses to produce output pulses having a repetition frequency less than or equal to 100 MHz, a duration less than or equal to 20 nanoseconds, a duty cycle less than or equal to 1%, an energy greater than or equal to 10 nanojoules, a peak power greater than or equal to 1 watt, and an average power less than or equal to 50 watts, the ASE comprising less than or equal to 25% of the average power. A sensor head directs the output pulses into a field of view and detects reflected light therefrom.

公开(公告)号：US20170201059A1

公开(公告)日：2017-07-13

申请号：US15470694

申请日：2017-03-27

Applicant: Luminar Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Alain Villeneuve ,  Jason M. Eichenholz

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

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 seed laser to produce seed pulses with wavelengths between approximately 1400 nm and 2050 nm. A first amplifier amplifies the seed pulses to produce amplified seed pulses and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE). An optical filter removes at least a portion of the ASE. A second amplifier amplifies the seed pulses to produce output pulses having a repetition frequency less than or equal to 100 MHz, a duration less than or equal to 20 nanoseconds, a duty cycle less than or equal to 1%, an energy greater than or equal to 10 nanojoules, a peak power greater than or equal to 1 watt, and an average power less than or equal to 50 watts, the ASE comprising less than or equal to 25% of the average power. A sensor head directs the output pulses into a field of view and detects reflected light therefrom.