	US 12,078,798 B2
	Ladar transmitter with ellipsoidal reimager
Luis Carlos Dussan, Dublin, CA (US); David R. Demmer, Dublin, CA (US); John Stockton, Dublin, CA (US); Allan Steinhardt, Dublin, CA (US); and David Cook, Dublin, CA (US)
Assigned to Aeye, Inc., Dublin, CA (US)
Filed by AEYE, Inc., Dublin, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/233,033.
Application 18/233,033 is a continuation of application No. 17/715,252, filed on Apr. 7, 2022, granted, now 11,726,315.
Application 17/715,252 is a continuation of application No. 16/865,687, filed on May 4, 2020, granted, now 11,300,779, issued on Apr. 12, 2022.
Application 16/865,687 is a continuation of application No. 16/051,707, filed on Aug. 1, 2018, granted, now 10,642,029, issued on May 5, 2020.
Application 16/051,707 is a continuation of application No. 15/644,242, filed on Jul. 7, 2017, granted, now 10,042,159, issued on Aug. 7, 2018.
Application 15/644,242 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/431,096, filed on Feb. 13, 2017, abandoned.
Application 15/644,242 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/431,065, filed on Feb. 13, 2017, granted, now 10,908,262, issued on Feb. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/439,378, filed on Dec. 27, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/297,126, filed on Feb. 18, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0400680 A1, Dec. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 26/10 (2006.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 17/42 (2006.01); G02B 26/08 (2006.01); G02B 27/12 (2006.01); G02B 27/14 (2006.01); G01S 7/497 (2006.01)

CPC G02B 26/101 (2013.01) [G01S 7/4814 (2013.01); G01S 7/4817 (2013.01); G01S 17/42 (2013.01); G02B 26/0833 (2013.01); G02B 27/126 (2013.01); G02B 27/14 (2013.01); G02B 27/141 (2013.01); G01S 7/497 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. A ladar scanning system comprising:

a light source; and

an elliptical conjugate reflector (ECR) assembly that scans light from the light source into a scan area; and

wherein the ECR assembly comprises a first scan mirror, a second scan mirror, and an ellipsoidal mirror;

wherein the first scan mirror is rotatable about a first rotation axis;

wherein the second scan mirror is rotatable about a second rotation axis;

wherein the ellipsoidal mirror reimages light from the first scan mirror onto the second scan mirror;

wherein the ellipsoidal mirror has a reflective face that is shaped as a section of a hollow ellipsoid, wherein the hollow ellipsoid is rotationally symmetric about a symmetry axis, wherein the hollow ellipsoid defines an ellipse that lies in a plane that includes the symmetry axis, and wherein the ellipse exhibits a first focus and a second focus that lie on the symmetry axis;

wherein the light source is positioned to emit light onto the first focus, wherein the first rotation axis passes through the first focus, and wherein the second rotation axis passes through the second focus;

wherein the first scan mirror is positioned to receive and reflect the emitted light from the light source to scan light toward the reflective face of the ellipsoidal mirror as the first scan mirror rotates about the first rotation axis;

wherein the reflective face of the ellipsoidal mirror is positioned as an offset ellipsoidal reimager over the second scan mirror so that the reflective face of the ellipsoidal mirror receives and reflects the scanned light from the first scan mirror toward the second focus;

wherein the second scan mirror is positioned to receive and reflect the scanned light from the reflective face of the ellipsoidal mirror as the second scan mirror rotates about the second rotation axis; and

wherein the first and second rotation axes are arranged to produce scanning by the ECR assembly of the emitted light from the light source through different azimuths and elevations in the scan area in response to rotations of the first and second scan mirrors about the first and second rotation axes respectively.