Abstract: An apparatus include a motor, a first scanner, and a second scanner. The first scanner is coupled to the motor, and the motor is configured to rotate the first scanner at a first angular velocity about a rotation axis to deflect a first beam incident in a third plane on the first scanner into a first plane different from the third plane. The second scanner is coupled to the motor, and the motor is configured to rotate the second scanner at a second angular velocity different from the first angular velocity about the rotation axis to deflect a second beam incident in the third plane on the second scanner into a second plane different from the third plane.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system for a vehicle includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a scanner. The transmitter is configured to output a transmit beam. The transmitter includes a first grating coupler. The receiver includes a plurality of second grating couplers spaced apart from the first grating coupler.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system for a vehicle, includes a first scanner that receives a beam transmitted along an optical axis and projects the beam, a second scanner that is positioned along the optical axis, one or more motors that are coupled to the first scanner and the second scanner, and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to generate, based on one or more components of a particular waveform, a signal indicating data including a relative phase between the first scanner and the second scanner, and transmit the generated signal to the one or more motors, the signal causing the one or more motors to rotate the first scanner and the second scanner.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system for a vehicle includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a scanner. The transmitter is configured to output a transmit beam. The transmitter includes a first grating coupler. The receiver includes a plurality of second grating couplers spaced apart from the first grating coupler.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser source, a first scanner, and a second scanner. The first scanner receives a first beam from the laser source and applies a first angle modulation to the first beam to output a second beam at a first angle. The second scanner receives the second beam and applies a second angle modulation to the second beam to output a third beam at a second angle.

Abstract: An apparatus is presented for refractive beam steering in a LIDAR system. The apparatus includes a first scanner that receives a beam transmitted along an optical axis and projects the beam as a plurality of scan lines in a first plane between a first angle and a second angle, wherein the first angle and the second angle are defined with respect to the optical axis; a motor that is coupled to the first scanner; one or more processors that are configured to generate rotation information based on one or more components of a particular waveform and transmit a signal to the motor, the signal causing the motor to rotate the first scanner based on the rotation information.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a first polygon scanner, a second polygon scanner, and an optic. The first polygon scanner includes a plurality of first facets around an axis of rotation. The second polygon scanner includes plurality of second facets that are outward from the plurality of first facets relative to the axis of rotation. The optic is inward from the first polygon scanner relative to the axis of rotation. The optic is configured to output a first beam to the first polygon scanner. The first polygon scanner is configured to refract the first beam to output a second beam to the second polygon scanner. The second polygon scanner is configured to refract the second beam to output a third beam.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system includes a window, a laser source configured to generate a beam, one or more scanning optics configured to output the beam through the window, and a sensor. The sensor includes at least one light emitter configured to output light associated with a parameter different than a corresponding parameter of the beam, a first optic coupled to the window, the first optic configured to receive the light from the light emitter and provide the light into the window to undergo total internal reflection in the window, a second optic coupled to the window, the second optic configured to receive the light provided into the window by the first optic, and a detector configured to receive the light from the second optic and output a signal indicative of a presence of an obscurant on the window.

Abstract: A method is presented for optimizing a scan pattern of a LIDAR system on an autonomous vehicle. The method includes receiving first SNR values based on values of a range of the target, where the first SNR values are for a respective scan rate. The method further includes receiving second SNR values based on values of the range of the target, where the second SNR values are for a respective integration time. The method further includes receiving a maximum design range of the target at each angle in the angle range. The method further includes determining, for each angle in the angle range, a maximum scan rate and a minimum integration time. The method further includes defining a scan pattern of the LIDAR system based on the maximum scan rate and the minimum integration time at each angle and operating the LIDAR system according to the scan pattern.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser source, a first lens, and a second lens. The laser source is configured to output a first beam. The first lens includes a planar portion and a convex portion. The first lens is configured to receive the first beam and output a second beam responsive to the first beam. The second lens includes a concave portion and a planar portion. The second lens is configured to receive the second beam and output a third beam responsive to the second beam.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser source, a first scanner, and a second scanner. The first scanner receives a first beam from the laser source and applies a first angle modulation to the first beam to output a second beam at a first angle. The second scanner receives the second beam and applies a second angle modulation to the second beam to output a third beam at a second angle.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser source, a first lens, and a second lens. The laser source is configured to output a first beam. The first lens includes a planar portion and a convex portion. The first lens is configured to receive the first beam and output a second beam responsive to the first beam. The second lens includes a concave portion and a planar portion. The second lens is configured to receive the second beam and output a third beam responsive to the second beam.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser source, a first scanner, and a second scanner. The first scanner receives a first beam from the laser source and applies a first angle modulation to the first beam to output a second beam at a first angle. The second scanner receives the second beam and applies a second angle modulation to the second beam to output a third beam at a second angle.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser source configured to output a first beam and a polygon scanner. The polygon scanner includes a plurality of facets. Each facet of the plurality of facets is configured to transmit a second beam responsive to the first beam. The plurality of facets include a first facet having a first field of view over which the first facet transmits the second beam and a second facet having a second field of view over which the second facet transmits the second beam. The first field of view is greater than the second field of view.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser source, a first scanner, and a second scanner. The first scanner receives a first beam from the laser source and applies a first angle modulation to the first beam to output a second beam at a first angle. The second scanner receives the second beam and applies a second angle modulation to the second beam to output a third beam at a second angle.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a LIDAR system with a waveguide array arranged in a first plane. The waveguide array is configured to generate a plurality of beams where each beam is transmitted from a respective waveguide in the array. The apparatus also includes a collimator configured to shape the plurality of beams into a fan of collimated beams having an angular spread in the first plane. Additionally, the apparatus includes a polygon scanner configured to adjust a direction of the fan in a second plane that is different than the first plane. A method is also provided employing the apparatus.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser source configured to output a first beam and a polygon scanner. The polygon scanner includes a plurality of facets. Each facet of the plurality of facets is configured to transmit a second beam responsive to the first beam. The plurality of facets include a first facet having a first field of view over which the first facet transmits the second beam and a second facet having a second field of view over which the second facet transmits the second beam. The first field of view is greater than the second field of view.

Abstract: A method is presented for optimizing a scan pattern of a LIDAR system on an autonomous vehicle. The method includes receiving first SNR values based on values of a range of the target, where the first SNR values are for a respective scan rate. The method further includes receiving second SNR values based on values of the range of the target, where the second SNR values are for a respective integration time. The method further includes receiving a maximum design range of the target at each angle in the angle range. The method further includes determining, for each angle in the angle range, a maximum scan rate and a minimum integration time. The method further includes defining a scan pattern of the LIDAR system based on the maximum scan rate and the minimum integration time at each angle and operating the LIDAR system according to the scan pattern.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser source, a first scanner, and a second scanner. The first scanner receives a first beam from the laser source and applies a first angle modulation to the first beam to output a second beam at a first angle. The second scanner receives the second beam and applies a second angle modulation to the second beam to output a third beam at a second angle.

Abstract: An apparatus is presented for refractive beam steering in a LIDAR system. The apparatus includes a first scanner that receives a beam transmitted along an optical axis and projects the beam as a plurality of scan lines in a first plane between a first angle and a second angle, wherein the first angle and the second angle are defined with respect to the optical axis; a motor that is coupled to the first scanner; one or more processors that are configured to generate rotation information based on one or more components of a particular waveform and transmit a signal to the motor, the signal causing the motor to rotate the first scanner based on the rotation information.