Optical signal routing devices and systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12147076-B2
Application number	US-202318337119-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2023
Priority date	Oct 29, 2019
Publication date	Nov 19, 2024
Grant date	Nov 19, 2024

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 the waveguide comprises an input end, a first section, a second section, a third section, and an output end, the first section extending between the input end and the second section, the second section extending between the first section and the third section, the third section extending between the second section and the output end, wherein the second section comprises a concave-shaped surface configured to focus light into the third section of the waveguide; and
a light emitter configured to emit light, wherein the light emitter is optically coupled to the input end of the waveguide.

2. The LIDAR device of claim 1 , wherein the second section of the waveguide further comprises a mirror configured to reflect light toward the concave-shaped surface.

3. The LIDAR device of claim 1 , wherein the first section of the waveguide extends in a first direction, wherein the second section of the waveguide extends in a second direction different than the first direction, and wherein the third section of the waveguide extends in a third direction different than the second direction.

4. The LIDAR device of claim 3 , wherein the first direction is parallel to the third direction.

5. The LIDAR device of claim 1 , 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.

6. The LIDAR device of claim 1 , 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.

7. 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.

8. The LIDAR device of claim 1 , wherein the input end includes a curved surface.

9. The LIDAR device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an optical element disposed on the substrate, wherein the optical element is configured to direct at least a portion of the light emitted by the light emitter into the input end of the waveguide.

10. The LIDAR device of claim 9 , wherein the optical element comprises a cylindrical lens.

11. The LIDAR device of claim 10 , wherein the cylindrical lens comprises an optical fiber.

12. The LIDAR device of claim 9 , wherein the optical element is configured to at least partially collimate the light emitted by the light emitter.

13. The LIDAR device of claim 9 , 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.

14. The LIDAR device of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is configured to guide light from the input end to the output end via the first section, the second section, and the third section.

15. The LIDAR device of claim 14 , wherein the output end comprises a mirror, wherein the mirror is configured to reflect out of the waveguide at least a portion of the light guided to the output end.

16. A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device comprising:
a substrate;
a waveguide disposed on the substrate, wherein the waveguide comprises an input end, a first section, a second section, a third section, and an output end, the first section extending between the input end and the second section, the second section extending between the first section and the third section, the third section extending between the second section and the output end, wherein the second section comprises a concave-shaped surface configured to focus light into the third section of the waveguide;
a light emitter configured to emit light, wherein the light emitter is optically coupled to the input end of the waveguide;
an opaque material defining a plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of apertures includes a first aperture optically coupled to the output end of the waveguide; and
a lens optically coupled to the plurality of apertures.

17. The LIDAR device of claim 16 , wherein the waveguide is configured to guide light from the input end to the output end via the first section, the second section, and the third section, wherein the output end comprises a mirror, wherein the mirror is configured to reflect out of the waveguide and through the first aperture at least a portion of the light guided to the output end.

18. The LIDAR device of claim 17 , wherein the lens is configured to direct the light reflected out of the waveguide and through the first aperture toward a scene as a first light beam.

19. The LIDAR device of claim 18 , further comprising:
a first light detector optically coupled to the first light detector, wherein the lens is configured to direct reflections of the first light beam by one or more objects in the scene to the first light detector via the first aperture.

20. The LIDAR device of claim 16 , wherein the waveguide is a first waveguide, further comprising a second waveguide disposed on the substrate, wherein the plurality of apertures includes a second aperture optically coupled to the second waveguide.

Assignees

• Waymo Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G01S7/4815

  using multiple transmitters · CPC title

• G02B6/125 Primary

  Bends, branchings or intersections · CPC title

• G01S7/4812

  transmitted and received beams following a coaxial path · CPC title

• G01S17/42

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

• G02B6/1228

  Tapered waveguides, e.g. integrated spot-size transformers (for coupling with fibres G02B6/305) · CPC title