Mounting apparatuses for optical components in a scanning lidar system
A scanning lidar system includes a first lens having a first lens center and characterized by a first optical axis and a first surface of best focus, a second lens having a second lens center and characterized by a second optical axis, a platform separated from the first lens and the second lens along the first optical axis, and an array of laser sources mounted on the platform. Each laser source of the array of laser sources has an emission surface lying substantially at the first surface of best focus of the first lens and positioned at a respective laser position. The scanning lidar system further includes an array of photodetectors mounted on the platform. Each photodetector of the array of photodetectors is positioned at a respective photodetector position that is optically conjugate with a respective laser position of a corresponding laser source.
1. A scanning lidar system comprising:
a first lens having a first lens center and characterized by a first optical axis and a first surface of best focus;
a second lens having a second lens center and characterized by a second optical axis substantially parallel to the first optical axis;
a platform separated from the first lens and the second lens along the first optical axis;
an array of laser sources mounted on the platform, wherein each laser source of the array of laser sources has an emission surface lying substantially at the first surface of best focus of the first lens and positioned at a respective laser position; and
an array of photodetectors mounted on the platform, wherein each photodetector of the array of photodetectors positioned at a respective photodetector position that is optically conjugate with a respective laser position of a corresponding laser source;
wherein the platform is configured to be translated in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first optical axis, thereby translating the array of laser sources and the array of photodetectors relative to the first lens and the second lens, respectfully.
2. The scanning lidar system of claim 1 wherein the second lens is characterized by a second surface of best focus, and each photodetector of the array of photodetectors has a detection surface lying substantially at the second surface of best focus of the second lens.
3. The scanning lidar system of claim 2 wherein a normal of the emission surface of each respective laser source points substantially toward the first lens center of the first lens, and a normal of the detection surface of each respective photodetectors points substantially toward the second lens center of the second lens.
4. The scanning lidar system of claim 1 wherein each of the array of laser sources comprises a surface-emitting laser source, and the array of laser sources are mounted on a curved surface of the platform so that the emission surface of each laser sources lies substantially at the first surface of best focus of the first lens.
5. The scanning lidar system of claim 1 wherein each of the array of laser sources comprises an edge-emitting laser source, and the array of laser sources are mounted on a planar surface of the platform so that the emission surface of each laser sources lies substantially at the first surface of best focus of the first lens.
6. The scanning lidar system of claim 5 wherein the second lens is characterized by a second surface of best focus, and the array of photodetectors are mounted on a curved edge surface of the platform so that a detection surface of each photodetector lies substantially at the second surface of best focus of the second lens.
7. A scanning lidar system comprising:
a first lens having a first lens center and characterized by a first optical axis and a first surface of best focus;
a platform separated from the first lens along the first optical axis;
an array of laser sources mounted on the platform, wherein each laser source of the array of laser sources has an emission surface lying substantially at the first surface of best focus of the first lens and positioned at a respective laser position; and
an array of photodetectors mounted on the platform, wherein each photodetector of the array of photodetectors is positioned at a respective photodetector position that is optically conjugate with a respective laser position of a corresponding laser source;
wherein the platform is configured to be translated in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first optical axis, thereby translating the array of laser sources and the array of photodetectors relative to the first lens.
8. The scanning lidar system of claim 7 wherein a normal of the emission surface of each laser source points substantially toward the first lens center of the first lens.
9. The scanning lidar system of claim 7 wherein each photodetector of the array of photodetectors has a detection surface lying substantially at the first surface of best focus of the first lens.
10. The scanning lidar system of claim 9 wherein a normal of the detection surface of each photodetector points substantially toward the first lens center of the first lens.
11. The scanning lidar system of claim 7 wherein each laser source of the array of laser sources comprises a surface-emitting laser source, and the array of laser sources are mounted on a curved surface of the platform so that the emission surface of each laser source lies substantially at the first surface of best focus of the first lens.
12. The scanning lidar system of claim 11 wherein the array of photodetectors are mounted on the curved surface of the platform so that a detection surface of each photodetector lies substantially at the first surface of best focus of the first lens.
13. A scanning lidar system comprising:
a lens characterized by a lens center, a surface of best focus, and an optical axis;
a substantially planar platform separated from the lens along the optical axis;
an array of laser sources mounted on the platform, wherein:
each respective laser source of the array of laser sources is positioned at a respective laser position; and
each respective laser source comprises a laser chip surface-mounted on a surface of a chip base, wherein the surface of the chip base has a slanting angle that depends on the respective laser position of the respective laser source with respect to the optical axis of the lens so that a normal of an emission surface of each respective laser source points substantially toward the lens center; and
an array of photodetectors mounted on the platform, wherein each respective photodetector of the array of photodetectors is positioned at a respective photodetector position that is optically conjugate with a respective laser position of a corresponding laser source.
14. The scanning lidar system of claim 13 wherein the lens is characterized by a focal plane, and the emission surface of each laser source lies substantially at the focal plane.
15. The scanning lidar system of claim 13 wherein a normal of a detection surface of each photodetector points substantially toward the lens center.
16. The scanning lidar system of claim 13 wherein the lens is characterized by a surface of best focus, and the emission surface of each laser source lies substantially at the surface of best focus.
17. The scanning lidar system of claim 16 , wherein the chip base has a height that depends on the respective laser position of the respective laser source with respect to the optical axis of the lens.