Lidar system with integrated circulator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11573297-B2
Application number	US-201916554858-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2019
Priority date	Sep 14, 2018
Publication date	Feb 7, 2023
Grant date	Feb 7, 2023

Abstract

A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photonic chip having an aperture, one or more photodetectors and a circulator. A transmitted light beam generated within the photonic chip exits the photonic chip via the aperture and a reflected light beam enters the photonic chip via the aperture, the reflected light beam being a reflection of the transmitted light beam from the object. The one or more photodetectors measure the parameter of the object from at least the reflected light beam. The circulator integrated into the photonic chip directs the transmitted light beam toward the aperture and directs the reflected light beam from the aperture to the one or more photodetectors. A navigation system navigates the vehicle with respect to the object based on the parameter of the object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of detecting an object, comprising:
directing a transmitted light beam generated within a laser to a circulator integrated into the photonic chip;
directing the transmitted light beam from the circulator to an aperture of the photonic chip;
receiving a reflected light beam at the aperture, the reflected light beam being a reflection of the transmitted light beam from the object;
directing the reflected light beam from the aperture to the circulator;
directing the reflected light beam from the circulator to one or more photodetectors via a receiver waveguide; and
detecting a parameter of the object from the reflected light beam at the one or more photodetectors.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating the transmitted light beam via the laser of the photonic chip.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising passing the transmitted light beam and the reflected light beam through a single lens in free space.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising directing the transmitted light beam from the aperture towards a selected direction via a microelectromechanical (MEMS) scanner and directing the reflected light beam received from the selected direction toward the aperture.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining a local oscillator beam from the transmitted beam via a splitter between the laser and the circulator.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising combining the local oscillator beam with the reflected light beam at a location between the circulator and the one or more photodetectors.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising navigating a vehicle with respect to the object based on the parameter of the object.

8. A Lidar system, comprising:
a photonic chip for measuring a parameter of an object, the photonic chip including:
a laser for generating a transmitted light beam;
an aperture by which the transmitted light beam exits the photonic chip and by which a reflected light beam enters the photonic chip, the reflected light beam being a reflection of the transmitted light beam from the object;
one or more photodetectors configured to measure the parameter of the object from at least the reflected light beam; and
a circulator integrated into the photonic chip, the circulator configured to direct the transmitted light beam toward the aperture and to direct the reflected light beam from the aperture to the one or more photodetectors; and
a receiver waveguide for directing the reflected light beam from the circulator to the one or more photodetectors.

9. The Lidar system of claim 8 , further comprising a laser integrated into the photonic chip, the laser generating the transmitted light beam.

10. The Lidar system of claim 8 , further comprising a single lens in free space in front of the aperture and through which the transmitted light beam and the reflected light beam pass.

11. The Lidar system of claim 8 , further comprising a microelectromechanical (MEMS) scanner configured to direct the transmitted light beam from the aperture towards a selected direction via and direct the reflected light beam received from the selected direction toward the aperture.

12. The Lidar system of claim 9 , further comprising a splitter between the laser and the circulator for obtaining a local oscillator beam from the transmitted light beam.

13. The Lidar system of claim 12 , further comprising a combiner between the circulator and the one or more photodetectors for combining the local oscillator beam with the reflected light beam.

14. The Lidar system of claim 8 , wherein the Lidar system is associated with a vehicle, further comprising a navigation system configured to navigate the vehicle with respect to the object based on the parameter of the object.

15. A vehicle, comprising:
a Lidar system for measuring a parameter of an object, the Lidar system including a photonic chip including:
a laser for generating a transmitted light beam;
an aperture by which a transmitted light beam generated within the photonic chip exits the photonic chip and by which a reflected light beam enters the photonic chip, the reflected light beam being a reflection of the transmitted light beam from the object;
one or more photodetectors configured to measure the parameter of the object from at least the reflected light beam;
a circulator integrated into the photonic chip, the circulator configured to direct the transmitted light beam toward the aperture and to direct the reflected light beam from the aperture to the one or more photodetectors;
a receiver waveguide for directing the reflected light beam from the circulator to the one or more photodetectors; and
a navigation system configured to navigate the vehicle with respect to the object based on the parameter of the object.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the Lidar system further comprises a laser integrated into the photonic chip, the laser generating the transmitted light beam.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the Lidar system further comprises a single lens in free space in front of the aperture and through which the transmitted light beam and the reflected light beam pass.

18. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the Lidar system further comprises a microelectromechanical (MEMS) scanner configured to direct the transmitted light beam from the aperture towards a selected direction via and direct the reflected light beam received from the selected direction toward the aperture.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the photonic chip further comprises a splitter between the laser and the circulator for obtaining a local oscillator beam from the transmitted light beam.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the photonic chip further comprises a combiner between the circulator and the one or more photodetectors for combining the local oscillator beam with the reflected light beam.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Kremer Richard
• Talty Timothy J
• Patterson Pamela R
• Huang Biqin
• Mulqueen Michael

Classifications

• G01S7/4817 Primary

  relating to scanning · CPC title

• G01S17/50

  Systems of measurement based on relative movement of target · CPC title

• G01S17/88

  Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title

• G01S7/4818

  using optical fibres · CPC title

• G05D1/0238

  using obstacle or wall sensors (G05D1/0246 and G05D1/0289 take precedence; lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S17/93) · CPC title