Patents by Inventor Chandra S. Kakani

Chandra S. Kakani has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11550038
    Abstract: An optical device includes a transmitter, which emits a beam of optical radiation, and a receiver, which includes a detector configured to output a signal in response to the optical radiation. An active area of the detector has a first dimension along a first axis and a second dimension, which is less than the first dimension, along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. An anamorphic lens, which collects and focuses the optical radiation onto the active area of the detector, has a first focal length in a first plane containing the first axis and a second focal length, greater than the first focal length, in a second plane containing the second axis. A scanner scans the beam across a target scene in a scan direction that is aligned with the first axis, and directs the optical radiation that is reflected from the target scene toward the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Robert S. Upton, Alexander Shpunt, Andrew J. Sutton, Chandra S. Kakani, Yuval Gerson
  • Patent number: 10634770
    Abstract: Optical systems that may, for example, be used in remote sensing systems, for example in systems that implement combining laser pulse transmission in LiDAR and that include dual transmit and receive systems. A dual receiver system may include a receiver including an optical system with a relatively small aperture and wide field of view for capturing reflected light from short-range (e.g., <20 meters) objects, and a receiver that includes an optical system with a relatively large aperture and small field of view for capturing reflected light from long-range (e.g., >20 meters) objects. The optical systems may refract the reflected light to photodetectors (e.g., single photo-avalanche detectors (SPADs)) that capture the light. Light captured at the photodetectors may, for example, be used to determine range information for objects or surfaces in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chandra S. Kakani, Alexander Shpunt, Mina A. Rezk, Robert S. Upton, Yuval Gerson
  • Publication number: 20200096615
    Abstract: An optical device includes a transmitter, which emits a beam of optical radiation, and a receiver, which includes a detector configured to output a signal in response to the optical radiation. An active area of the detector has a first dimension along a first axis and a second dimension, which is less than the first dimension, along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. An anamorphic lens, which collects and focuses the optical radiation onto the active area of the detector, has a first focal length in a first plane containing the first axis and a second focal length, greater than the first focal length, in a second plane containing the second axis. A scanner scans the beam across a target scene in a scan direction that is aligned with the first axis, and directs the optical radiation that is reflected from the target scene toward the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Robert S. Upton, Alexander Shpunt, Andrew J. Sutton, Chandra S. Kakani, Yuval Gerson
  • Patent number: 10557943
    Abstract: Optical systems that may, for example, be used in light ranging and detection (LiDAR) applications, for example in systems that implement combining laser pulse transmission in LiDAR and that include dual transmit and receive systems. Receiver components of a dual receiver system in LiDAR applications may include a medium range (50 meters or less) receiver optical system with a medium entrance pupil and small F-number and with a medium to wide field of view. The optical system may utilize optical filters, scanning mirrors, and a nominal one-dimensional SPAD (or SPADs) to increase the probability of positive photon events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Upton, Chandra S. Kakani, Alexander Shpunt, Yuval Gerson
  • Publication number: 20180052234
    Abstract: Optical systems that may, for example, be used in light ranging and detection (LiDAR) applications, for example in systems that implement combining laser pulse transmission in LiDAR and that include dual transmit and receive systems. Receiver components of a dual receiver system in LiDAR applications may include a medium range (50 meters or less) receiver optical system with a medium entrance pupil and small F-number and with a medium to wide field of view. The optical system may utilize optical filters, scanning mirrors, and a nominal one-dimensional SPAD (or SPADs) to increase the probability of positive photon events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Upton, Chandra S. Kakani, Alexander Shpunt, Yuval Gerson
  • Publication number: 20180003803
    Abstract: Optical systems that may, for example, be used in remote sensing systems, for example in systems that implement combining laser pulse transmission in LiDAR and that include dual transmit and receive systems. A dual receiver system may include a receiver including an optical system with a relatively small aperture and wide field of view for capturing reflected light from short-range (e.g., <20 meters) objects, and a receiver that includes an optical system with a relatively large aperture and small field of view for capturing reflected light from long-range (e.g., >20 meters) objects. The optical systems may refract the reflected light to photodetectors (e.g., single photo-avalanche detectors (SPADs)) that capture the light. Light captured at the photodetectors may, for example, be used to determine range information for objects or surfaces in the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chandra S. Kakani, Alexander Shpunt, Mina A. Rezk, Robert S. Upton, Yuval Gerson