IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,241,618
Granted Patent B2
US 12,241,618 · App. 18/413,494 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Infrared light module uniformity rotational test module

Inventors: Choon Ping Chng (Los Altos, CA); Cheng-Han Wu (Sunnyvale, CA); Lucian Ion (Santa Clara, CA); Giulia Guidi (Mountain View, CA)
Assignee: Waymo LLC
F21V21/30B60K35/00B60Q3/51G01J1/00B60K2360/21B60K2360/332
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,241,618
App. No.
18/413,494
Granted
Mar 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example embodiments described herein involve a system for testing a light-emitting module. The light-emitting module may include a mounting platform configured to hold a light-emitting module for a camera. The mounting platform may also be configured to rotate. The system may further include a housing holding a plurality of photodiodes arranged in an array over at least a 90 degree arc of a hemisphere. The system may also include a controller configured to control the photodiodes and the rotation of the mounting platform.

Claims (26)

1. A method for testing a light-emitting module comprising:

emitting light from a light-emitting module while rotating the light-emitting module around an axis, wherein the light-emitting module is in a housing configured to block external light;

sensing, with a plurality of photodiodes in the housing, a plurality of directional light intensities of the light emitted from the light-emitting module; and

outputting a light distribution map based on the directional light intensities.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the light-emitting module in the housing, wherein the light-emitting module is a light-emitting module for a camera.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein positioning the light-emitting module in the housing comprises positioning the light-emitting module at a center of an arc on which the photodiodes are arranged.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the axis intersects the arc on which the photodiodes are arranged.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the photodiodes are positioned in an array on the arc within the housing.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting module faces the plurality 6 , of photodiodes.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein rotating the light-emitting module around the axis comprises rotating the light-emitting module through an angular range around the axis, wherein the angular range is between 0 degrees and 360 degrees.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the light-emitting module rotates at predefined increments.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein as the light-emitting module rotates around the axis, the plurality of photodiodes sense the directional light intensities simultaneously at predefined positions during a plurality of rotations of the light-emitting module.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein outputting the light distribution map based on the directional light intensities comprises compiling the plurality of directional light intensities into a light pattern.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the light distribution map covers at least a portion of a three-dimensional hemisphere.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to block external light from reaching the light-emitting module.

13. A method for calibrating a light-emitting module tester comprising:

emitting light from a control light source while rotating the control light source around an axis, wherein the control light source is in a housing configured to block external light;

sensing, with a plurality of photodiodes in the housing, a plurality of directional light intensities of the control light source; and

outputting a light distribution map based on the directional light intensities.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising positioning the control light source in the housing.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the housing is configured to block external light from reaching the control light source.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of photodiodes are in an array on an arc within the housing.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the control light source faces the plurality of photodiodes.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of photodiodes include a plurality of bandpass filters configured to reduce a range of light intensity that the plurality of photodiodes sense.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising comparing an intensity of the control light source to the plurality of directional light intensities sensed with the photodiodes.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising determining there is an error in photodiode operation based on a difference in the comparison of the intensity of the control light source to the plurality of directional light intensities sensed with the photodiodes.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2024
From: CHNG, CHOON PING; WU, CHENG-HAN; ION, LUCIAN; GUIDI, GIULIA
To: WAYMO LLC
Reel/Frame 066144/0670 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 18154361 · Jan 13, 2023
Continuation 17657554 · Mar 31, 2022
Division 17084335 · Oct 29, 2020
Related Publication 20240183519A1 · Jun 6, 2024
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