Transmitter unit for emitting radiation into a surrounding area

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11579261-B2
Application number	US-201816615479-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2018
Priority date	May 23, 2017
Publication date	Feb 14, 2023
Grant date	Feb 14, 2023

Abstract

A transmitter unit for emitting radiation into the surrounding area, including at least one semiconductor laser, which has at least one first emitter possessing a first section and a second section; and at least one control unit for controlling the semiconductor laser. The control unit is configured to apply a first supply variable to the first section of the at least one emitter, and to apply a second supply variable differing from the first supply variable, to the second section of the at least one emitter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transmitter unit for emitting radiation into a surrounding area, comprising:
at least one semiconductor laser which includes a plurality of emitters, each emitter having a first section and a second section; and
at least one control unit configured to control the semiconductor laser;
wherein the control unit is configured to apply at least one first supply variable to the first sections of the plurality of emitters, and to apply a plurality of second supply variables, differing from the at least one first supply variable, to the second sections of the plurality of emitters, wherein the plurality of second supply variables supplied to the second sections of the plurality of emitters are different from each other to synchronize in time a plurality of laser pulses emitted by the plurality of emitters.

2. The transmitter unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first section includes a first region having at least one semiconductive material, the second section includes a second region having at least one semiconductive material, and the first region and the second region are set apart from each other.

3. The transmitter unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transmitter unit further includes a detector configured to detect at least one reference beam emitted by the plurality of emitters, wherein the plurality of second supply variables applied to the plurality of second sections of the plurality of emitters are a function of the at least one reference beam.

4. The transmitter unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transmitter unit includes further optical elements, the further optical elements include a deflection unit configured to deflect radiation emitted by the semiconductor laser, along a deflecting direction, into the surrounding area.

5. A lidar sensor, comprising:
a transmitter unit for emitting radiation into a surrounding area, the transmitter unit including:
at least one semiconductor laser which includes a plurality of emitters, each emitter having a first section and a second section; and
at least one control unit configured to control the semiconductor laser;
wherein the control unit is configured to apply at least one first supply variable to the first sections of the plurality of emitters, and to apply a plurality of second supply variables, differing from the at least one first supply variable, to the second sections of the plurality of emitters, wherein the plurality of second supply variables supplied to the second sections of the plurality of emitters are different from each other to synchronize in time a plurality of laser pulses emitted by the plurality of emitters; and

a receiving unit configured to receive radiation, which has been reflected by an object in the surrounding area.

6. A method of controlling a transmitter unit for emitting radiation into a surrounding area, the transmitter unit including at least one semiconductor laser which has a plurality of emitters, each emitter possessing a first section and a second section, the method comprising the following steps:
applying at least one first supply variable to the first sections of the plurality of emitters using a control unit; and
applying a plurality of second supply variables differing from the at least one first supply variable, to the second sections of the plurality of emitters, using the control unit, wherein the plurality of second supply variables supplied to the second sections of the plurality of emitters are different from each other to synchronize in time a plurality of laser pulses emitted by the plurality of emitters.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises the following steps:
detecting at least one reference beam emitted from the plurality of emitters using a detector;
analyzing the at least one reference beam; and
adapting the plurality of second supply variables applied to the plurality of second sections of the plurality of emitters as a function of the analysis.

8. The lidar sensor as recited in claim 5 , wherein the transmitter unit further includes a detector configured to detect at least one reference beam emitted by the plurality of emitters, wherein the plurality of second supply variables applied to the second sections of the plurality of emitters are a function of the at least one reference beam.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Kastner Martin
• Schwarz Hans-Jochen
• Spiessberger Stefan

Classifications

• G01S7/4815

  using multiple transmitters · CPC title

• G01S7/484 Primary

  Transmitters · CPC title

• H01S5/06835

  Stabilising during pulse modulation or generation · CPC title

• H01S5/0071

  for beam steering, e.g. using a mirror outside the cavity to change the beam direction · CPC title

• H01S5/0428

  for applying pulses to the laser · CPC title