IP Library › Granted Patent US 12681151

Granted Patent B2

US 12681151 · App. 17/883,273 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

LIDAR sensor system

Inventors: Ryan Galloway (Bozeman, MT); Evan Rogers (Bozeman, MT)

Assignee: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.

G01S7/4817 G01S7/4808 G01S7/4813 G01S17/34 G01S17/931

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12681151
App. No.: 17/883,273
Granted: Jul 14, 2026
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system includes a transmitter, one or more scanning optics, an optical module, and a receiver. The transmitter is configured to output a beam having a linear polarization. The optical module is configured to provide the beam to the one or more scanning optics. The one or more scanning optics are configured to output the beam received from the optical module. The receiver is spaced from the transmitter and receiver configured to receive a return beam from reflection of the beam by an object.

Claims (81)

1 . A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system, comprising:

a transmitter configured to output a beam having a linear polarization;

one or more scanning optics;

an optical module configured to provide the beam to the one or more scanning optics, the one or more scanning optics configured to output the beam received from the optical module, wherein the optical module comprises:

a displacer configured to displace a path of a return beam relative to a path along which the beam from the transmitter passes through the displacer;

a first wave plate configured to adjust the polarization of the beam;

a second wave plate configured to adjust the polarization of the beam;

a collimator located between the first wave plate and the second wave plate, the collimator configured to collimate the beam outputted by the first wave plate; and

a Faraday rotator located between the displacer and the first wave plate, the Faraday rotator configured to output a magnetic field to adjust the polarization of the beam; and

a receiver spaced from the transmitter on an integrated chip including both the transmitter and the receiver, the receiver configured to receive the return beam from reflection of the beam by an object.

2 . The LIDAR sensor system of claim 1 , wherein:

the return beam configured for receipt by the receiver has the linear polarization; and

the linear polarization of the beam output by the transmitter, the linear polarization of the return beam, and arrangement of the receiver spaced from the transmitter on the integrated chip are configured to improve signal-to-noise ratio of the LIDAR sensor system compared with circularly polarized light.

3 . The LIDAR sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the displacer comprises a birefringent crystal configured to displace the path of the return beam based on a polarization of the return beam.

4 . The LIDAR sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the first wave plate and the second wave plate comprise a quarter wave plate configured to adjust the polarization of the beam from linear polarization to circular polarization.

5 . The LIDAR sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the first wave plate and the second wave plate rotate a polarization of the beam by 45 degrees.

6 . The LIDAR sensor system of claim 5 , wherein the Faraday rotator rotates the polarization of the beam by 45 degrees.

7 . The LIDAR sensor system of claim 6 , wherein the Faraday rotator rotates the polarization of the beam in an opposite direction than the first wave plate and the second wave plate.

8 . The LIDAR sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the scanning optics comprise a protected gold coating.

9 . The LIDAR sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is a first receiver, the LIDAR sensor system comprises a second receiver spaced from the first receiver, and the optical module comprises:

a first displacer;

a wave plate;

a second displacer; and

a Faraday rotator located between the wave plate and the second displacer;

wherein the first displacer is located between the transmitter and the wave plate and is configured to provide a first component of the return beam to the first receiver and a second component of the return beam to the second receiver, the wave plate is configured to adjust the polarization of the beam, the first component, and the second component, the Faraday rotator is configured to output a magnetic field to adjust the polarization of the beam, the first component, and the second component, and the second displacer is configured to split the return beam into the first component and the second component.

10 . The LIDAR sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the optical module comprises a circulator configured to adjust the polarization of the beam and a collimator configured to collimate the beam.

11 . An autonomous vehicle control system, comprising:

a transmitter configured to output a beam having a linear polarization;

one or more scanning optics;

a displacer configured to displace a path of a return beam relative to a path along which the beam from the transmitter passes through the displacer;

a first wave plate configured to adjust the polarization of the beam;

a second wave plate configured to adjust the polarization of the beam;

a collimator located between the first wave plate and the second wave plate, the collimator configured to collimate the beam outputted by the first wave plate; and

a Faraday rotator located between the displacer and the first wave plate, the Faraday rotator configured to output a magnetic field to adjust the polarization of the beam;

one or more processors configured to:

determine at least one of a range to the object or a velocity of the object based on the beam; and

control operation of at least one of a steering system of an autonomous vehicle or a braking system of the autonomous vehicle responsive to the at least one of the range or the velocity.

12 . The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 11 , wherein:

the return beam configured for receipt by the receiver has the linear polarization; and

the linear polarization of the beam output by the transmitter, the linear polarization of the return beam, and arrangement of the receiver spaced from the transmitter on the integrated chip are configured to improve signal-to-noise ratio within the optical system compared with circularly polarized light.

13 . The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 11 , wherein the first wave plate and the second wave plate rotate the polarization of the beam by 45 degrees.

14 . The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 11 , wherein the receiver is a first receiver, and the optical module comprises:

a second receiver spaced from the first receiver;

a first displacer;

a wave plate;

a second displacer; and

a Faraday rotator located between the wave plate and the second displacer;

15 . The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 11 , wherein the optical module comprises a circulator configured to adjust the polarization of the beam and a collimator configured to collimate the beam.

16 . An autonomous vehicle, comprising:

a LIDAR sensor system, comprising:

a transmitter configured to output a beam having a linear polarization;

one or more scanning optics;

a displacer configured to displace a path of a return beam relative to a path along which the beam from the transmitter passes through the displacer;

a first wave plate configured to adjust the polarization of the beam;

a second wave plate configured to adjust the polarization of the beam;

a collimator located between the first wave plate and the second wave plate, the collimator configured to collimate the beam outputted by the first wave plate; and

a Faraday rotator located between the displacer and the first wave plate, the Faraday rotator configured to output a magnetic field to adjust the polarization of the beam;

one or more processors configured to:

determine at least one of a range to the object or a velocity of the object based on the beam; and

a steering system;

a braking system; and

a vehicle controller configured to:

determine, based on the return beam, at least one of a range to the object or a velocity of the object; and

control operation of at least one of the steering system or the braking system based on the at least one of the range or the velocity.

17 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the first wave plate and the second wave plate rotate the polarization of the beam by 45 degrees.

18 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the first wave plate and the second wave plate comprise a quarter wave plate configured to adjust the polarization of the beam from linear polarization to circular polarization.

19 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the scanning optics comprise a protected gold coating.

20 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the receiver is a first receiver, the LIDAR sensor system comprises a second receiver spaced from the first receiver, and the optical module comprises:

a first displacer;

a wave plate;

a second displacer; and

a Faraday rotator located between the wave plate and the second displacer;

21 . The autonomous vehicle of claim 16 , wherein:

the receiver is configured to receive a linear polarization of the return beam; and

the linear polarization of the beam output by the transmitter, the linear polarization of the return beam received by the receiver, and arrangement of the receiver spaced from the transmitter on the integrated chip are configured to improve signal-to-noise ratio of the LIDAR sensor system.