Optical signal routing devices and systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11385406-B2
Application number	US-201916667833-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2019
Priority date	Oct 29, 2019
Publication date	Jul 12, 2022
Grant date	Jul 12, 2022

Abstract

One example LIDAR device comprises a substrate and a waveguide disposed on the substrate. A first section of the waveguide extends lengthwise on the substrate in a first direction. A second section of the waveguide extends lengthwise on the substrate in a second direction different than the first direction. A third section of the waveguide extends lengthwise on the substrate in a third direction different than the second direction. The second section extends lengthwise between the first section and the second section. The LIDAR device also comprises a light emitter configured to emit light. The waveguide is configured to guide the light inside the first section toward the second section, inside the second section toward the third section, and inside the third section away from the second section.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device comprising:
a substrate;
a waveguide disposed on the substrate, wherein a first section of the waveguide extends lengthwise on the substrate in a first direction, wherein a second section of the waveguide extends lengthwise on the substrate in a second direction different than the first direction, wherein a third section of the waveguide extends lengthwise on the substrate in a third direction different than the second direction, and wherein the second section extends lengthwise between the first section and the third section;
a light emitter configured to emit light; and
an optical element configured to direct at least a portion of the light emitted by the light emitter into the waveguide at an angle-of-entry such that the waveguide guides the light inside the first section toward the second section, inside the second section toward the third section, and inside the third section away from the second section.

2. The LIDAR device of claim 1 , wherein the first direction of the first section is parallel to the third direction of the third section.

3. The LIDAR device of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide has an input end and an output end opposite the input end, wherein the first section extends between the input end and the second section, wherein the third section extends between the second section and the output end, wherein the waveguide has a first wall that extends from the input end to the output end and a second wall opposite the first wall, and wherein the waveguide is configured to receive the light at the input end and to transmit the light out of the waveguide at the output end.

4. The LIDAR device of claim 3 , wherein the first wall includes a flat edge in the second section of the waveguide, and wherein the second wall includes a curved edge in the second section of the waveguide.

5. The LIDAR device of claim 4 , further comprising:
a mirror disposed on the flat edge, wherein the mirror is configured to reflect at least a portion of the light transmitted out of the flat edge back into the waveguide and toward the curved edge of the second wall.

6. The LIDAR device of claim 3 , wherein the first wall includes an edge between the first section and the second section of the waveguide, and wherein a first angle between the first section and the edge at the first wall is different than a second angle between the first section and the second section at the second wall.

7. The LIDAR device of claim 6 , wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle.

8. The LIDAR device of claim 6 , wherein the edge is a flat edge and the first angle is a tilting angle of the flat edge, and wherein the tilting angle of the flat edge is associated with one or more optical characteristics of the light emitted by the light emitter.

9. The LIDAR of claim 8 , wherein the one or more optical characteristics include one or more wavelengths of the light.

10. The LIDAR of claim 8 , wherein the one or more optical characteristics include the angle-of-entry.

11. The LIDAR of claim 1 , wherein the angle-of-entry is between 0 degrees and 6 degrees.

12. The LIDAR device of claim 3 , wherein the first section of the waveguide is tapered such that a cross-sectional size of the first section at the input end is less than the cross-sectional size of the first section at a given distance to the input end.

13. The LIDAR device of claim 3 , wherein the third section of the waveguide is tapered such that a cross-sectional size of the third section at the output end is less than the cross-sectional size of the third section at a given distance to the output end.

14. The LIDAR device of claim 1 , wherein the optical element comprises a cylindrical lens.

15. The LIDAR device of claim 14 , wherein the cylindrical lens comprises an optical fiber.

16. The LIDAR device of claim 1 , wherein the optical element is configured to at least partially collimate the light emitted by the light emitter.

17. The LIDAR device of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is a first waveguide, further comprising a second waveguide disposed on the substrate, wherein the optical element is further configured to direct a portion of the light emitted by the light emitter into the second waveguide.

18. The LIDAR device of claim 1 , wherein the light emitter is disposed on the substrate.

19. The LIDAR device of claim 1 , wherein the optical element is disposed on the substrate.

20. The LIDAR device of 1 , wherein the first section of the waveguide has a first cross-sectional size, wherein the third section of the waveguide has a third cross-sectional size, and wherein the third cross-sectional size is less than the first cross-sectional size.

21. The LIDAR device of claim 4 , wherein the curved edge defines a concave-shaped surface inside the waveguide, and wherein the concave-shaped surface is configured to focus light into the third section of the waveguide.

22. The LIDAR device of claim 3 , wherein the input end includes a curved surface.

23. The LIDAR device of claim 3 , wherein the first wall includes a first tilted edge between the first section and the second section, and wherein the second wall includes a second tilted edge between the second section and the third section.

Assignees

• Waymo Llc

Inventors

• Dunphy James
• Hutchison David
• Droz Pierre-Yves
• Tung Yeh-Jiun

Classifications

• G01S17/42

  Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates (indirect measurement G01S17/46) · CPC title

• G01S7/4812

  transmitted and received beams following a coaxial path · CPC title

• G01S7/4815

  using multiple transmitters · CPC title

• G02B6/125 Primary

  Bends, branchings or intersections · CPC title

• G02B6/4214

  the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device (G02B6/4246 takes precedence) · CPC title