公开(公告)号：US12066575B2

公开(公告)日：2024-08-20

申请号：US17883722

申请日：2022-08-09

Applicant: Luminar Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Austin K. Russell ,  Matthew D. Weed ,  Liam J. McGregor ,  Jason M. Eichenholz

IPC: G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/48 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/486 ,  G01S7/4861 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S17/26 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S17/931

CPC classification number: G01S7/4817 ,  G01S7/4808 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01S7/4861 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S17/26 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G01S7/4868

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit pulses of light. The emitted pulses of light include one or more series of standard-resolution pulses alternating with one or more series of high-resolution pulses. Each series of the standard-resolution pulses includes multiple pulses having a standard pulse period, and each series of the high-resolution pulses includes multiple pulses having a high-resolution pulse period. The standard pulse period is greater than or equal to a round-trip time associated with a maximum range of the lidar system, and the high-resolution pulse period is less than the standard pulse period. The lidar system also includes a scanner configured to scan at least a portion of the emitted pulses of light across a field of regard.

公开(公告)号：US11933895B2

公开(公告)日：2024-03-19

申请号：US18101824

申请日：2023-01-26

Applicant: Luminar Technologies, Inc.

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

IPC: G02B26/08 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/08 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G02B5/09 ,  G02B7/182 ,  G02B26/10 ,  G02B26/12 ,  G02B27/09 ,  G02B27/10 ,  G02B27/30 ,  H01L25/16 ,  H01L27/146 ,  G01S17/87 ,  G02B5/08 ,  G02B5/18 ,  G02B5/22

CPC classification number: G01S17/08 ,  G01S7/4813 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G02B5/09 ,  G02B7/1821 ,  G02B26/101 ,  G02B26/105 ,  G02B26/123 ,  G02B26/125 ,  G02B27/0955 ,  G02B27/0977 ,  G02B27/1086 ,  G02B27/30 ,  H01L25/167 ,  H01L27/14643 ,  H01L27/14647 ,  G01S17/87 ,  G02B5/0841 ,  G02B5/1857 ,  G02B5/22 ,  H01L27/14694

Abstract: A lidar system includes one or more light sources configured to generate a first beam of light and a second beam of light, a scanner configured to scan the first and second beams of light across a field of regard of the lidar system, and a receiver configured to detect the first beam of light and the second beam of light scattered by one or more remote targets. The scanner includes a rotatable polygon mirror that includes multiple reflective surfaces angularly offset from one another along a periphery of the polygon mirror, the reflective surfaces configured to reflect the first and second beams of light to produce a series of scan lines as the polygon mirror rotates. The scanner also includes a pivotable scan mirror configured to (i) reflect the first and second beams of light and (ii) pivot to distribute the scan lines across the field of regard.

公开(公告)号：US10557940B2

公开(公告)日：2020-02-11

申请号：US15364085

申请日：2016-11-29

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 ,  Stephen D. Gaalema

IPC: G01C3/08 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/93 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/484 ,  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 ,  H01S3/16 ,  G01S17/32

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 across a field of regard. The lidar system also includes 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.

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：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：US20180284286A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-04

申请号：US15943467

申请日：2018-04-02

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

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

IPC: G01S17/93 ,  G01S17/08 ,  G02B27/09

Abstract: A lidar system operating in a vehicle comprising a first eye configured to scan a first field of regard and a second eye configured to scan a second field of regard. Each of the first eye and the second eye includes a respective optical element configured to output a beam of light, a respective scan mirror configured to scan the beam of light along a vertical dimension of the respective field of regard, and a respective receiver configured to detect scattered light from the beam of light. The field of regard of the lidar system includes the first field of regard and the second field of regard, combined along a horizontal dimension of the first field of regard and the second field of regard.

公开(公告)号：US20180284278A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-04

申请号：US15845552

申请日：2017-12-18

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Austin K. Russell ,  Matthew D. Weed ,  Liam J. McGregor ,  Lane A. Martin ,  Jason M. Eichenholz

IPC: G01S17/10

CPC classification number: G01S17/102 ,  G01S7/4816 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S7/483 ,  G01S7/4865 ,  G01S7/497 ,  G01S17/10 ,  G01S17/42 ,  G01S17/87 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S17/936

Abstract: To increase the effective pulse rate of a light source in a lidar system, a controller provides control signals to the light source to transmit a light pulse once the previous light pulse has been received. The controller may communicate with a receiver in the lidar system that detects received light signals. In response to detecting a received light signal, the receiver may provide an indication of the received light signal to the controller which may in turn provide a control signal to the light source to transmit the next light pulse. The receiver may also provide characteristics of the received light signal to the controller, such as the peak power for the received light signal, the average power for the received light signal, the pulse duration of the received light signal, etc. Then the controller may analyze the characteristics to determine whether to transmit another light pulse.

公开(公告)号：US20180284240A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-04

申请号：US15940482

申请日：2018-03-29

Applicant: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

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

IPC: G01S7/486 ,  G01S17/10

Abstract: A lidar system comprises a light source configured to emit pulses of light, a scanner configured to direct the pulses of light along a scan direction, where each of the pulses of light illuminates a respective field of view of the light source, and a receiver configured to detect the pulses of light scattered by remote targets. The receiver includes a low-gain detector associated with a low gain and a high-gain detector associated with a high gain. The low-gain detector is positioned so that a first scattered pulse of light that returns from a first target, located closer to the receiver than a second target, is detected primarily by the low-gain detector, and a second scattered pulse of light that returns from the second target is detected primarily by the high-gain detector.