US 12,326,522 B2
Switchable coherent pixel array for frequency modulated continuous wave light detection and ranging
Amir Hosseini, San Jose, CA (US); Sen Lin, Santa Clara, CA (US); and Andrew Steil Michaels, Santa Clara, CA (US)
Assigned to AURORA OPEATIONS, INC., Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed by Aurora Operations, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed on Dec. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/538,718.
Application 18/538,718 is a continuation of application No. 17/889,202, filed on Aug. 16, 2022, granted, now 11,880,000.
Application 17/889,202 is a continuation of application No. 17/486,692, filed on Sep. 27, 2021, granted, now 11,448,736.
Application 17/486,692 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2020/025042, filed on Mar. 26, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/940,790, filed on Nov. 26, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/849,807, filed on May 17, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/845,147, filed on May 8, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/845,149, filed on May 8, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/826,536, filed on Mar. 29, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/826,528, filed on Mar. 29, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0111032 A1, Apr. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 7/491 (2020.01); G01S 17/34 (2020.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 7/4818 (2013.01) [G01S 7/4811 (2013.01); G01S 7/491 (2013.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01); G01S 17/34 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system for a vehicle, the LIDAR system comprising:
a light source configured to emit a light beam;
a splitter configured to split the light beam into a transmit signal and a local oscillator signal;
a plurality of antennas configured to emit the transmit signal into an environment; and
a switching device configured to receive the transmit signal, the switching device comprising a plurality of optical switches arranged in a multi-tiered configuration and operable to sequentially deliver the transmit signal to the plurality of antennas;
wherein the transmit signal is emitted through respective ones of the plurality of antennas and a reflection of the transmit signal is received through respective ones of the plurality of antennas as a reflected signal.