公开(公告)号：US12099120B2

公开(公告)日：2024-09-24

申请号：US17054242

申请日：2019-05-10

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Phillip Sandborn ,  Sen Lin

IPC: G01S17/58 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/491 ,  G01S17/34 ,  G01S17/95

CPC classification number: G01S17/34 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S7/491 ,  G01S17/58 ,  G01S17/95 ,  G01S7/4815

Abstract: A LIDAR system and method for determining a distance and a velocity of a target. The LIDAR system can include laser bank (62) is configured to generate a laser field from a first laser beam having a positive frequency sweep and a second laser beam having a negative frequency sweep, an optical combiner (65), an optical coupler (63), a photoreceiver (66), and a control circuit (69). The optical coupler direct a first portion of the laser field at the target such that the first portion is reflected by the target to the optical combiner. The optical combiner can optically combine the portions of the laser field. The output an 1-output (67) and a Q-output (68) according to the optically combined portions of the laser field. The control circuit can determine a nominal beat frequency, which corresponds to the distance of the target, and a frequency shift, which corresponds to the velocity of the target, accordingly.

公开(公告)号：US11927702B2

公开(公告)日：2024-03-12

申请号：US18099170

申请日：2023-01-19

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Sen Lin ,  Andrew Steil Michaels

IPC: G01S7/499 ,  G01S7/48 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S17/931

CPC classification number: G01S7/499 ,  G01S7/4816 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S17/931

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system for a vehicle includes one or more LIDAR pixels. At least one of the one or more LIDAR pixels includes a dual-polarization optical antenna, a second optical antenna, and one or more receivers. The dual-polarization optical antenna is configured to emit a transmit beam having a first polarization orientation, and detect a return beam having a second polarization orientation. The second optical antenna is offset from the dual-polarization optical antenna by a particular distance, and is configured to detect the return beam having the second polarization orientation. The one or more receivers are configured to generate one or more signals in response to detecting the second polarization orientation of the return beam.

公开(公告)号：US11415673B1

公开(公告)日：2022-08-16

申请号：US17535013

申请日：2021-11-24

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Sen Lin ,  Andrew Steil Michaels

IPC: G01S7/48 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/931

Abstract: A structure of a silicon photonics device for LIDAR includes a first insulating structure and a second insulating structure disposed above one or more etched silicon structures overlying a substrate member. A metal layer is disposed above the first insulating structure without a prior deposition of a diffusion barrier and adhesion layer. A thin insulating structure is disposed above the second insulating structure. A first configuration of the metal layer, the first insulating structure and the one or more etched silicon structures forms a free-space coupler. A second configuration of the thin insulating structure above the second insulating structure forms an edge coupler.

公开(公告)号：US20240192343A1

公开(公告)日：2024-06-13

申请号：US18427016

申请日：2024-01-30

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Sen Lin ,  Andrew Steil Michaels

IPC: G01S7/499 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S17/931

CPC classification number: G01S7/499 ,  G01S7/4816 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S17/931

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system includes a dual-polarization optical antenna, a single-polarization optical antenna, a first receiver, and a second receiver. The dual-polarization optical antenna is configured to (i) emit a transmit beam with a first polarization orientation and (ii) and detect a return beam having a second polarization orientation. The single-polarization optical antenna is configured to detect the return beam having the second polarization orientation.

公开(公告)号：US11994630B2

公开(公告)日：2024-05-28

申请号：US17827679

申请日：2022-05-28

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Andrew Steil Michaels ,  Sen Lin

IPC: G01S7/497 ,  B60W60/00 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/4915 ,  G01S7/493 ,  G01S17/06 ,  G01S17/32 ,  G01S17/58 ,  G01S17/931 ,  H01S3/00 ,  G01B9/02003 ,  G01S7/4911

CPC classification number: G01S7/497 ,  B60W60/001 ,  G01S7/4814 ,  G01S7/4915 ,  G01S7/493 ,  G01S17/06 ,  G01S17/32 ,  G01S17/58 ,  G01S17/931 ,  H01S3/0057 ,  G01B9/02003 ,  G01S7/4911 ,  H01S3/0085

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a laser and a calibration unit. The laser is configured to generate a laser beam based on a particular laser waveform that is associated with at least one parameter of a plurality of parameters. The calibration unit is configured to determine a particular value for the at least one parameter of the plurality of parameters to compensate for distortion characteristics of the laser. The calibration unit is configured to determine the particular value based on an output frequency of the laser beam. The calibration unit is configured to update the particular laser waveform with the particular value of the at least one parameter of the plurality of parameters.

公开(公告)号：US11965992B2

公开(公告)日：2024-04-23

申请号：US17827679

申请日：2022-05-28

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Andrew Steil Michaels ,  Sen Lin

IPC: G01S7/497 ,  B60W60/00 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/4915 ,  G01S7/493 ,  G01S17/06 ,  G01S17/32 ,  G01S17/58 ,  G01S17/931 ,  H01S3/00 ,  G01B9/02003 ,  G01S7/4911

CPC classification number: G01S7/497 ,  B60W60/001 ,  G01S7/4814 ,  G01S7/4915 ,  G01S7/493 ,  G01S17/06 ,  G01S17/32 ,  G01S17/58 ,  G01S17/931 ,  H01S3/0057 ,  G01B9/02003 ,  G01S7/4911 ,  H01S3/0085

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a laser and a calibration unit. The laser is configured to generate a laser beam based on a particular laser waveform that is associated with at least one parameter of a plurality of parameters. The calibration unit is configured to determine a particular value for the at least one parameter of the plurality of parameters to compensate for distortion characteristics of the laser. The calibration unit is configured to determine the particular value based on an output frequency of the laser beam. The calibration unit is configured to update the particular laser waveform with the particular value of the at least one parameter of the plurality of parameters.

公开(公告)号：US11953628B2

公开(公告)日：2024-04-09

申请号：US17943969

申请日：2022-09-13

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： James Ferrara ,  Sen Lin

IPC: G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/4911 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G02B6/42 ,  G02F1/01

CPC classification number: G01S7/4818 ,  G01S7/4911 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G02B6/4269 ,  G02B6/4272 ,  G02B6/4273 ,  G02F1/0147

Abstract: A phase shifter includes a substrate layer, a cladding layer, and a waveguide. The phase shifter includes a waveguide and a heating element. The phase shifter includes a thermally conductive structure disposed on the cladding layer to disperse heat from the waveguide. The thermally conductive structure may include a metal strip disposed longitudinally along the beam, may include thermally conductive pads, and/or may include thermally conductive vias coupled between the cladding layer and the substrate layer. The phase shifter may be incorporated into light detection and ranging (LIDAR) devices, telecommunications devices, and/or computing devices.

公开(公告)号：US11906667B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-20

申请号：US17890243

申请日：2022-08-17

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Sen Lin ,  Andrew Steil Michaels

IPC: G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G01S17/34 ,  G02B6/02

CPC classification number: G01S7/4818 ,  G01S17/34 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G02B6/021

Abstract: A LIDAR device for a vehicle includes an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a substrate layer, a cladding layer, a waveguide, a scattering array, and a reflector layer. The cladding layer is disposed on the substrate layer to form an interface with the substrate layer. The waveguide is disposed within the cladding layer and configured to route an infrared optical field. The scattering array is disposed within the cladding layer between the waveguide and the interface and perturbs the infrared optical field and scatters the infrared optical field into a first beam propagating toward a surface of the cladding layer and into a second beam propagating towards the interface. The reflector layer is disposed within the cladding layer between the waveguide and the surface of the cladding layer to reflect the first beam towards the interface.

公开(公告)号：US11906661B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-20

申请号：US17853674

申请日：2022-06-29

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Sen Lin ,  Andrew Steil Michaels

IPC: G01S7/48 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/931

CPC classification number: G01S7/4813 ,  G01S17/931

Abstract: A structure of a silicon photonics device for LIDAR includes a first insulating structure and a second insulating structure disposed above one or more etched silicon structures overlying a substrate member. A metal layer is disposed above the first insulating structure without a prior deposition of a diffusion barrier and adhesion layer. A thin insulating structure is disposed above the second insulating structure. A first configuration of the metal layer, the first insulating structure and the one or more etched silicon structures forms a free-space coupler. A second configuration of the thin insulating structure above the second insulating structure forms an edge coupler.

公开(公告)号：US11513289B1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-29

申请号：US17535024

申请日：2021-11-24

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Sen Lin ,  Andrew Steil Michaels

IPC: G02B6/12 ,  G02B6/136 ,  G01S7/481

Abstract: A structure of a silicon photonics device for LIDAR includes a first insulating structure and a second insulating structure disposed above one or more etched silicon structures overlying a substrate member. A metal layer is disposed above the first insulating structure without a prior deposition of a diffusion barrier and adhesion layer. A thin insulating structure is disposed above the second insulating structure. A first configuration of the metal layer, the first insulating structure and the one or more etched silicon structures forms a free-space coupler. A second configuration of the thin insulating structure above the second insulating structure forms an edge coupler.