Lidar systems and methods
A Lidar system is provided. The Lidar system may comprise: a plurality of light sources configured to emit a plurality of light beams, the plurality of light sources are mounted to a first mounting apparatus comprising a cooling feature; a plurality of optical fiber elements, and each of the plurality of light sources is optically coupled to an input end of one or more optical fiber elements from the plurality of optical fiber elements; and a second mounting apparatus comprising at least one mounting unit coupled to an emitting end of the plurality of optical fiber elements, and the at least one mounting unit is configured to control an output direction of the plurality of light beams individually, and a distribution pattern of the plurality of light beams emitted from the emitting end of the plurality of optical fiber elements.
1. A Lidar system comprising:
a plurality of light sources configured to emit a plurality of light beams, wherein the plurality of light sources are mounted to a first mounting apparatus comprising a cooling feature;
a plurality of optical fiber elements, wherein each of the plurality of light sources is optically coupled to an input end of one or more optical fiber elements from the plurality of optical fiber elements; and
a second mounting apparatus comprising at least one mounting unit coupled to an emitting end of the plurality of optical fiber elements, wherein the at least one mounting unit is configured to control an output direction of the plurality of light beams individually, and a distribution pattern of the plurality of light beams emitted from the emitting end of the plurality of optical fiber elements, and wherein the at least one mounting unit comprises a set of slots arranged along a length direction of the mounting unit.
2. The Lidar system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources, the plurality of optical fiber elements, the first mounting apparatus and the second mounting apparatus are configured to rotate about a vertical axis.
3. The Lidar system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources, the plurality of optical fiber elements or the second mounting apparatus is disposed on a supporting body connected to a rotor of the Lidar system.
4. The Lidar system of claim 1 , wherein the first mounting apparatus comprises a material with high thermal conductivity.
5. The Lidar system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling feature includes at least one heat sink in direct contact with the plurality of light sources.
6. The Lidar system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling feature includes a plurality of blade features to facilitate air circulation inside the Lidar system.
7. The Lidar system of claim 1 , wherein an arrangement of the plurality of light sources mounted to the first mounting apparatus provides spacing among the plurality of light sources so as to facilitate heat dissipation.
8. The Lidar system of claim 7 , wherein the distribution pattern of the plurality of light beams emitted from the emitting end of the plurality of optical fiber elements is independent of the arrangement of the plurality of light sources.
9. The Lidar system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of light sources is optically coupled to one or more optical fiber elements using an optical coupling element.
10. The Lidar system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of light sources is optically coupled to two or more optical fiber elements using an optical coupling element.
11. The Lidar system of claim 10 , wherein the two or more optical fiber elements have different optical properties.
12. The Lidar system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mounting unit is mechanically connected to a rotor of the Lidar system with a pre-determined orientation.
13. The Lidar system of claim 1 , wherein the second mounting apparatus comprises multiple mounting units arranged in a horizontal plane with pre-determined orientations, and wherein each mounting unit comprises a set of slots arranged along a length direction of the mounting unit.
14. The Lidar system of claim 1 , wherein the set of slots are located on two opposing sides of the at least one mounting unit.
15. The Lidar system of claim 1 , wherein a subset of slots is selected from the set of slots for receiving the plurality of optical fiber elements by the emitting end.
16. The Lidar system of claim 1 , wherein each of the set of slots has a pre-determined tilt angle with respect to a horizontal direction.
17. The Lidar system of claim 15 , wherein the output direction of the plurality of light beams is individually controlled by selecting a given slot with a pre-determined tilt angle from the set of slots.
18. The Lidar system of claim 1 , wherein the set of slots are non-uniformly along the length direction of the mounting unit.
19. The Lidar system of claim 13 , wherein the distribution pattern of the plurality of light beams emitted from the emitting end of the plurality of optical fiber elements is controlled by a selection of a subset of slots from the set of slots and/or a selection of one or more mounting units from the multiple mounting units.
20. The Lidar system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light beams emitted from the emitting end of the plurality of optical fiber elements are directed to an optical element to collimate the plurality of light beams into collimated light beams to propagate in different directions.
21. The Lidar system of claim 1 , further comprising a receiving device to receive echo light beams and wherein the receiving device is disposed on a rotor of the Lidar system.
22. The Lidar system of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transmission module configured to provide electrical energy to the Lidar system.