US 12,259,477 B2
LIDAR with switchable local oscillator signals
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. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/160,817.
Application 18/160,817 is a continuation of application No. 17/750,247, filed on May 20, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0375714 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01S 17/931 (2020.01); G01S 7/484 (2006.01); G01S 7/4863 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 17/931 (2020.01) [G01S 7/484 (2013.01); G01S 7/4863 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor comprising:
a light source configured to emit a light beam;
a splitter configured to split the light beam into a transmit beam and a local oscillator signal;
a plurality of emitters;
a switching device configured to receive the transmit beam, the switching device comprising a plurality of optical switches arranged in a multi-tiered configuration operable to sequentially deliver the light beam to the plurality of emitters; and
a local oscillator module coupled to the plurality of emitters, the local oscillator module configured to receive a first local oscillator (LOS) signal and a second local oscillator (LOP) signal, the local oscillator module comprising a plurality of alternating output ports corresponding to the LOS and LOP signals, wherein a pair of adjacent LOS and LOP output ports is respectively coupled to an emitter of the plurality of emitters.