US 11,953,628 B2
Heat dissipation in an optical device
James Ferrara, Santa Clara, CA (US); and Sen Lin, Santa Clara, CA (US)
Assigned to AURORA OPERATIONS, INC., Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed by Aurora Operations, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed on Sep. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/943,969.
Application 17/943,969 is a continuation of application No. 17/542,459, filed on Dec. 5, 2021, granted, now 11,460,555.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/122,146, filed on Dec. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0003848 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 7/4911 (2020.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01); G02B 6/42 (2006.01); G02F 1/01 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 7/4818 (2013.01) [G01S 7/4911 (2013.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01); G02B 6/4269 (2013.01); G02B 6/4272 (2013.01); G02B 6/4273 (2013.01); G02F 1/0147 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system for a vehicle, the LIDAR system comprising:
a light emitter configured to generate a light signal; and
a phase shifter configured to receive the light signal, wherein the phase shifter includes:
a waveguide configured to receive the light signal;
a substrate layer, wherein the substrate layer includes a cavity configured to thermally isolate the waveguide from the substrate layer;
a plurality of arms configured to hold the waveguide with reference to the substrate layer;
a heating element configured to selectively heat the waveguide to modulate one or more properties of the light signal; and
a plurality of thermally conductive strips configured to disperse heat from the waveguide,
wherein one or more of the plurality of thermally conductive strips extend from the waveguide and a portion of the one or more of the plurality of thermally conductive strips overlaps with at least one of the plurality of arms in a first direction.