Methods and systems for thermal control of an optical source or optical filter in a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12523892-B2
Application number	US-202117168807-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2021
Priority date	Feb 12, 2019
Publication date	Jan 13, 2026
Grant date	Jan 13, 2026

Abstract

A Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes an optical emission source configured to emit an optical signal having a wavelength that varies based on a temperature of the optical emission source and/or an optical filter element that is configured to receive a reflection of the optical signal, the optical filter element having a passband that varies based on a temperature of the optical filter element; a thermal controller that is configured to generate a thermal control signal responsive to a temperature measurement related to the optical emission source or the optical filter element; and a temperature control element that is configured to adjust a temperature of the optical emission source or the optical filter element responsive to the thermal control signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus, comprising:
an optical emission source configured to emit an optical signal having a wavelength that varies based on a temperature of the optical emission source into a field external to the LIDAR apparatus; an optical filter element configured to receive a reflection of the optical signal after being reflected from surfaces within the field, the optical filter element having a passband that varies based on a temperature of the optical filter element; an emission source temperature sensor operatively coupled to measure an ambient temperature of or in close proximity to the optical emission source; an optical filter temperature sensor operatively coupled to measure an ambient temperature of, or in close proximity to, the optical filter element, a thermal controller comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable memory having: (i) emission source calibration information stored therein that represents a relationship between light emission wavelength of the optical emission source as a function of temperature values measured by the emission source temperature sensor, and (ii) optical filter calibration information representing a relationship between a passband of the optical filter as a function of temperature values measured by the optical filter temperature sensor, wherein the thermal controller is configured to generate a first thermal control signal responsive to the measured ambient temperature of the optical emission source and the stored emission source calibration information and a second thermal control signal responsive to the measured ambient temperature of the optical filter element and the stored optical filter calibration information; an emission source temperature control element configured to adjust a temperature of the optical emission source responsive to the first thermal control signal; and an optical filter temperature control element configured to adjust a temperature of the optical filter element in response to the second thermal control signal.

2 . The LIDAR apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the emission source temperature control element is a heater element or a heat sink.

3 . The LIDAR apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter temperature control element is a heater element; and
wherein the heater element comprises a transparent conductive oxide or nichrome.

4 . The LIDAR apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the heater element is coated onto the optical filter element.

5 . The LIDAR apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the heater element comprises wires carried on the optical filter element.

6 . The LIDAR apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the transparent conductive oxide comprises indium tin oxide.

7 . The LIDAR apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the heater element directly contacts the optical filter element.

8 . The LIDAR apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter temperature control element is a heater element; and
wherein the LIDAR apparatus further comprises: a thermal coupling member that is configured to connect the heater element to the optical filter element.

9 . The LIDAR apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter temperature control element is a heater element; and
wherein the heater element is positioned in a Fourier plane with respect to the optical filter element.

10 . The LIDAR apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter temperature control element is a heater element; and
wherein the LIDAR apparatus further comprises: an optical lens configured to receive a filtered reflection of the optical signal output from the optical filter element; wherein the optical lens comprises the optical filter element and the heater element is on a barrel of the optical lens.

11 . The LIDAR apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter temperature control element is a heater element; and
wherein the LIDAR apparatus further comprises: a monitor circuit that is configured to generate a temperature stabilization detection signal when the temperature of the optical emission source has stabilized; and wherein the heater element is further configured to adjust a temperature of the optical filter element responsive to the second thermal control signal and the temperature stabilization detection signal.

12 . The LIDAR apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter temperature control element is
a heater element or a heat sink.

13 . The LIDAR apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the emission source temperature control element is configured to adjust the temperature of the optical emission source; and
wherein the temperature control element is a heater element or a heat sink.

14 . The LIDAR apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising;
an optical lens configured to receive a filtered reflection of the optical signal output from the optical filter element; wherein the optical lens and the optical filter element are substantially vacated of humidity.

15 . The LIDAR apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first temperature coefficient of the optical emission source and a second temperature coefficient of the optical filter element have a same sign.

16 . A method of operating a Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus, comprising:
emitting, using an optical emission source, an optical signal having a wavelength that varies based on a temperature of the optical emission source into a field external to the LIDAR apparatus; receiving, using an optical filter element, a reflection of the optical signal after being reflected from surfaces within the field, the optical filter element having a passband that varies based on a temperature of the optical filter element; measuring an ambient temperature of, or in close proximity to, the optical emission source with an emission source temperature sensor; measuring an ambient temperature of, or in close proximity to, the optical filter element with an optical filter temperature sensor; storing, in a computer-readable memory: (i) emission source calibration information representing a relationship between light emission wavelength of the optical emission source as a function of temperature values measured by the emission source temperature sensor, and (ii) optical filter calibration information representing a relationship between a passband of the optical filter as a function of temperature values measured by the optical filter temperature sensor; generating, using a thermal controller: (i) a first thermal control signal responsive to the measured ambient temperature of the optical emission source and the stored emission source calibration information, and (ii) a second thermal control signal responsive to the measured ambient temperature of the optical filter and the stored optical filter calibration information; adjusting, using an emission source temperature control element, a temperature of the optical emission source responsive to the first thermal control signal; and adjusting, using an optical filter temperature control element, a temperature of the optical filter responsive to the second thermal control signal.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the emission source temperature control element is a heater element or a heat sink.

18 . The method of claim 16 ,
wherein the optical filter temperature control element is a heater element or a heat sink.

Assignees

• Sense Photonics Inc

Inventors

• Cordeiro Christine Elizabeth
• Finkelstein Hod
• Stokes Jamie
• Telfer Neil

Classifications

• G01S7/481

  Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements · CPC title

• G02F1/0121

  Operation of devices; Circuit arrangements, not otherwise provided for in this subclass · CPC title

• G02F2201/58

  Arrangements comprising a monitoring photodetector · CPC title

• G01S7/4814

  of transmitters alone · CPC title

• G01S7/497

  Means for monitoring or calibrating · CPC title