US 12,013,493 B2
Lidar system including light emitter for multiple receiving units
Elliot Smith, Ventura, CA (US); Jürgen Brugger, Neukirch (DE); Heiko Leppin, Hergensweiler (DE); and Jan Michael Masur, Santa Barbara (CA)
Assigned to Continental Autonomous Mobility US, LLC, Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by Continental Automotive Systems, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 26, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/395,558.
Prior Publication US 2020/0341116 A1, Oct. 29, 2020
Int. Cl. G01S 7/484 (2006.01); G01S 17/42 (2006.01); G01S 17/89 (2020.01); G02B 26/08 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 7/484 (2013.01) [G01S 17/42 (2013.01); G01S 17/89 (2013.01); G02B 26/0833 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a first photodetector having a first field of view and a second photodetector having a second field of view, wherein the second field of view is longer than the first field of view;
a first reflector aimed at the first field of view;
a second reflector aimed at the second field of view;
a beam-steering device movable from a first position aimed at the first reflector and a second position aimed at the second reflector;
a light emitter aimed at the beam-steering device;
a controller programmed to switch the beam-steering device between the first position and the second position and to reflect light from the light emitter in the first position and the second position and to vertically adjust the first and second fields of view and to vertically adjust the first and second positions of the beam-steering device; and
a casing and a housing pivotally supported about a horizontal axis by the casing, the housing supporting the first and second photodetectors;
wherein the light emitter is stationary relative to the casing; and
wherein the first reflector and the second reflector are stationary relative to the housing.