Rotatable mirror device
    1.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US12130383B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-10-29

    申请号:US17134272

    申请日:2020-12-26

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    CPC classification number: G01S7/4817 G01D5/14 G01S17/08

    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and devices having a rotatable mirror assembly. An example system includes a housing and a rotatable mirror assembly. The rotatable mirror assembly includes a plurality of reflective surfaces, a shaft defining a rotational axis, and a mirror body coupling the plurality of reflective surfaces to the shaft. The mirror body includes a plurality of flexible support members. The rotatable mirror assembly also includes a coupling bracket configured to removably couple the rotatable mirror assembly to the housing. The system also includes a transmitter configured to emit emission light into an environment of the system after interacting with at least one reflective surface of the plurality of reflective surfaces. The system additionally includes a receiver configured to detect return light from the environment after interacting with the at least one reflective surface of the plurality of reflective surfaces.

    OPTIMIZED HIGH SPEED LIDAR MIRROR DESIGN

    公开(公告)号:US20230003847A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-01-05

    申请号:US17941118

    申请日:2022-09-09

    Applicant: WAYMO LLC

    Abstract: Aspects of the technology employ sensors having high speed rotating mirror assemblies. For instance, the sensors may be Lidar sensors configured to detect people and other objects in an area of interest. A given mirror assembly may have a triangular or other geometric cross-sectional shape. The reflective faces of the mirror assembly may connect along edges or corners. In order to minimize wind drag and torque issues, the corners are rounded, filleted, beveled, chamfered or otherwise truncated. Such truncation may extend the length of the mirror side. The mirror assembly may employ one or more beam stops, light baffles and/or acoustic/aerodynamic baffles. These sensors may be employed with self-driving or manual driven vehicles or other equipment. The sensors may also be used in and around buildings.

    Mirror coupling
    3.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US11460662B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-10-04

    申请号:US16232323

    申请日:2018-12-26

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical devices and systems, specifically those related to light detection and ranging (LIDAR) systems. An example device includes a shaft defining a rotational axis. The shaft includes a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The device also includes a rotatable mirror disposed about the shaft. The rotatable mirror includes a multi-sided structure having an exterior surface and an interior surface. The multi-sided structure includes a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The second coefficient of thermal expansion is different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The multi-sided structure also includes a plurality of reflective surfaces disposed on the exterior surface of the multi-sided structure. The multi-sided structure yet further includes one or more support members coupled to the interior surface and the shaft.

    Optical Redirector Device
    4.
    发明公开

    公开(公告)号:US20240118391A1

    公开(公告)日:2024-04-11

    申请号:US18540486

    申请日:2023-12-14

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    CPC classification number: G01S7/4816 G01S7/4814 G01S17/931

    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, lidar systems, and vehicles that include optical redirectors. An example lidar system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes at least one light-emitter device configured to transmit emission light into an environment. The receiver is configured to detect return light from the environment and includes a plurality of apertures, a plurality of photodetectors, and a plurality of optical redirectors. Each optical redirector is configured to optically couple a respective portion of return light from a respective aperture to at least one photodetector of the plurality of photodetectors. Each optical redirector also has a rotational orientation relative to other optical redirectors such that the redirection paths of optical redirectors that correspond to adjacent apertures are not coplanar with one another.

    Mirror coupling
    5.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US11906813B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-02-20

    申请号:US17896814

    申请日:2022-08-26

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical devices and systems, specifically those related to light detection and ranging (LIDAR) systems. An example device includes a shaft defining a rotational axis. The shaft includes a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The device also includes a rotatable mirror disposed about the shaft. The rotatable mirror includes a multi-sided structure having an exterior surface and an interior surface. The multi-sided structure includes a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The second coefficient of thermal expansion is different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The multi-sided structure also includes a plurality of reflective surfaces disposed on the exterior surface of the multi-sided structure. The multi-sided structure yet further includes one or more support members coupled to the interior surface and the shaft.

    Optimized high speed lidar mirror design

    公开(公告)号:US11841463B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-12-12

    申请号:US17941118

    申请日:2022-09-09

    Applicant: WAYMO LLC

    CPC classification number: G01S7/4817 G02B26/12

    Abstract: Aspects of the technology employ sensors having high speed rotating mirror assemblies. For instance, the sensors may be Lidar sensors configured to detect people and other objects in an area of interest. A given mirror assembly may have a triangular or other geometric cross-sectional shape. The reflective faces of the mirror assembly may connect along edges or corners. In order to minimize wind drag and torque issues, the corners are rounded, filleted, beveled, chamfered or otherwise truncated. Such truncation may extend the length of the mirror side. The mirror assembly may employ one or more beam stops, light baffles and/or acoustic/aerodynamic baffles. These sensors may be employed with self-driving or manual driven vehicles or other equipment. The sensors may also be used in and around buildings.

    Optical Redirector Device
    7.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20210199770A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-07-01

    申请号:US17134277

    申请日:2020-12-26

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, lidar systems, and vehicles that include optical redirectors. An example lidar system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes at least one light-emitter device configured to transmit emission light into an environment of the lidar system. The receiver is configured to detect return light from the environment and includes a plurality of apertures, a plurality of photodetectors, and a plurality of optical redirector elements. Each optical redirector element is configured to optically couple a respective portion of return light from a respective aperture to at least one photodetector of the plurality of photodetectors.

    Wiper Devices for Sensor Housings
    9.
    发明公开

    公开(公告)号:US20240109519A1

    公开(公告)日:2024-04-04

    申请号:US17957252

    申请日:2022-09-30

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    CPC classification number: B60S1/606 B60S1/3495

    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to wiper devices for cleaning sensor housings. An example embodiment includes a wiper device for cleaning a surface of a rotatable sensor housing. The wiper device may have a driving arm having a first end and a second end. The first end of the driving arm is connected to a rotatable shaft. The wiper device may also have a wiper arm pivotally connected to the second end of the driving arm. The pivotal connection is located between a front region and a rear region of the wiper arm. Further, the wiper device may have a wiper blade coupled to the front region of the wiper arm. The wiper blade may be configured to wipe the surface of the rotatable sensor housing. Additionally, the wiper device may have a counterweight coupled to the rear region of the wiper arm.

    Split Window and Baffling
    10.
    发明公开

    公开(公告)号:US20230194669A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-06-22

    申请号:US17645615

    申请日:2021-12-22

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    CPC classification number: G01S7/4813 G01S7/4817 G01S7/4812

    Abstract: An example lidar system includes a housing defining an interior space. The housing includes at least one optical window. The lidar system also includes a rotatable mirror assembly disposed within the interior space. The rotatable mirror assembly includes a transmit mirror portion and a receive mirror portion. The lidar system additionally includes a transmitter disposed within the interior space. The transmitter is configured to emit emission light into an environment of the lidar system along a transmit path. The lidar system also includes a receiver disposed within the interior space. The receiver is configured to detect return light that is received from the environment along a receive path. The lidar system additionally includes at least one optical baffle configured to minimize stray light in the interior space.

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