US 11,927,702 B2
LIDAR sensor system including a dual-polarization transmit and receive optical antenna
Sen Lin, Santa Clara, CA (US); and Andrew Steil Michaels, Santa Clara, CA (US)
Assigned to AURORA OPERATIONS, INC., Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed by Aurora Operations, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed on Jan. 19, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/099,170.
Application 18/099,170 is a continuation of application No. 17/848,167, filed on Jun. 23, 2022, granted, now 11,592,540.
Prior Publication US 2023/0417886 A1, Dec. 28, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01S 7/499 (2006.01); G01S 7/48 (2006.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 7/4863 (2020.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 7/499 (2013.01) [G01S 7/4816 (2013.01); G01S 7/4863 (2013.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system for a vehicle, the LIDAR sensor system comprising:
one or more LIDAR pixels, wherein at least one of the one or more LIDAR pixels includes:
a dual-polarization optical antenna configured to: (i) emit a transmit beam having a first polarization orientation, and (ii) detect a return beam having a second polarization orientation;
a second optical antenna offset from the dual-polarization optical antenna by a particular distance, wherein the second optical antenna is configured to detect the return beam having the second polarization orientation; and
one or more receivers configured to generate one or more signals in response to detecting the second polarization orientation of the return beam.