Patent · US Active

Eye-safe scanning LIDAR system

US11016178B2 · kind B2 · utility

22Cited by
51References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 8, 2018
Grant dateMay 25, 2021
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 13, 2039

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S17/931
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A LIDAR illuminator includes a plurality of laser sources, each comprising an electrical input that receives a modulation drive signal that causes each of the plurality of laser sources to generate an optical beam. A controller having a plurality of electrical outputs, where a respective one of the plurality of electrical outputs is connected to an electrical input of a respective one of the plurality of laser sources, generates a plurality of modulation drive signals that cause the plurality of laser sources to generate a plurality of optical beams that form a combined optical beam. A peak optical energy of the combined optical beam in a measurement aperture at a measurement distance is less than a desired value.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.