US 12,292,534 B2
LiDAR systems for near-field and far-field detection, and related methods and apparatus
Nathan Wilkerson, San Jose, CA (US); and Mathew Noel Rekow, Alameda, CA (US)
Assigned to Velodyne Lidar USA, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by VELODYNE LIDAR USA, INC., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on May 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/306,885.
Prior Publication US 2022/0350000 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. G01S 7/48 (2006.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 7/4865 (2020.01); G01S 17/10 (2020.01); G02B 26/08 (2006.01); G02B 26/10 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 7/4815 (2013.01) [G01S 7/4817 (2013.01); G01S 7/4865 (2013.01); G01S 17/10 (2013.01); G02B 26/0816 (2013.01); G02B 26/10 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system comprising:
a first transmitter adapted to generate and emit a first light illumination signal into a long-range scan area at a first degree of divergence;
a second transmitter adapted to generate and emit a second light illumination signal into a short-range scan area at a second degree of divergence greater than the first degree of divergence;
a receiver comprising an optical detector adapted to receive first return signals corresponding to light from the first light illumination signal reflected from surfaces within the long-range scan area and to receive second return signals corresponding to light from the second light illumination signal reflected off surfaces within the short-range scan area; and
circuitry configured to: (i) during a first time period, fire the first transmitter to generate the first light illumination signal and receive and detect the first return signals by the optical detector, and (ii) during a second time period, fire the second transmitter to generate the second illumination signal and receive and detect the second return signals by the optical detector, wherein the first and second time periods are non-overlapping.