US 11,726,315 B2
Ladar transmitter with ellipsoidal reimager
Luis Carlos Dussan, Dublin, CA (US); David R. Demmer, Dublin, CA (US); John Stockton, Dublin, CA (US); Allan Steinhardt, Dublin, CA (US); and David Cook, Dublin, CA (US)
Assigned to AEYE, Inc., Dublin, CA (US)
Filed by AEYE, Inc., Dublin, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/715,252.
Application 17/715,252 is a continuation of application No. 16/865,687, filed on May 4, 2020, granted, now 11,300,779.
Application 16/865,687 is a continuation of application No. 16/051,707, filed on Aug. 1, 2018, granted, now 10,642,029, issued on May 5, 2020.
Application 16/051,707 is a continuation of application No. 15/644,242, filed on Jul. 7, 2017, granted, now 10,042,159, issued on Aug. 7, 2018.
Application 15/644,242 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/431,096, filed on Feb. 13, 2017, abandoned.
Application 15/431,096 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/431,065, filed on Feb. 13, 2017, granted, now 10,908,262, issued on Feb. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/439,378, filed on Dec. 27, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/297,126, filed on Feb. 18, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0229288 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G02B 26/10 (2006.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G02B 26/08 (2006.01); G02B 27/12 (2006.01); G01S 17/42 (2006.01); G02B 27/14 (2006.01); G01S 7/497 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 26/101 (2013.01) [G01S 7/4814 (2013.01); G01S 7/4817 (2013.01); G01S 17/42 (2013.01); G02B 26/0833 (2013.01); G02B 27/126 (2013.01); G02B 27/14 (2013.01); G02B 27/141 (2013.01); G01S 7/497 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ladar scanning system comprising:
a light source; and
an elliptical conjugate reflector (ECR) assembly that scans light from the light source into a scan area; and
wherein the ECR assembly comprises:
a first scannable mirror;
a second scannable mirror; and
an ellipsoidal mirror that is positioned optically between the first scannable mirror and the second scannable mirror;
wherein the ellipsoidal mirror reimages light from the first scannable mirror onto the second scannable mirror, wherein the ellipsoidal mirror has a reflective face that is shaped as a section of a hollow ellipsoid, wherein the hollow ellipsoid is rotationally symmetric about a symmetry axis, wherein the hollow ellipsoid defines an ellipse that lies in a plane that includes the symmetry axis, and wherein the ellipse exhibits a first focus and a second focus that lie on the symmetry axis;
wherein the first scannable mirror has a central region that is located at the first focus, wherein the first scannable mirror is rotatable about a first mirror rotation axis, and wherein the first mirror rotation axis passes through the first focus;
wherein the second scannable mirror has a central region that is located at the second focus, wherein the second scannable mirror is rotatable about a second mirror rotation axis, and wherein the second mirror rotation axis passes through the second focus;
wherein the first and second mirror rotation axes are arranged to produce scanning by the ECR assembly of light from the light source through different azimuths and elevations in the scan area in response to rotations of the first and second scannable mirrors about the first and second mirror rotation axes respectively; and
wherein the reflective face of the ellipsoidal mirror is positioned as an offset ellipsoidal reimager so that the reflective face of the ellipsoidal mirror (1) is centered at a location on the hollow ellipsoid that intersects with a line that is perpendicular to the symmetry axis and passes through the second focus, (2) extends along a portion of the hollow ellipsoid in a plane that is perpendicular to the first mirror rotation axis, and (3) receives the scanned incident light from the first scannable mirror.