US 12,085,673 B2
Distributed LiDAR systems
Rui Zhang, Los Altos, CA (US); Jim Li, Los Altos, CA (US); Yufeng Li, Los Altos, CA (US); Yimin Li, Los Altos, CA (US); and Junwei Bao, Los Altos, CA (US)
Assigned to Seyond, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed by Innovusion Ireland Limited, Los Altos, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 21, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/282,000.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/634,593, filed on Feb. 23, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2019/0265339 A1, Aug. 29, 2019
Int. Cl. G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 17/08 (2006.01); H01S 3/08 (2023.01); H01S 3/10 (2006.01); H01S 3/102 (2006.01); H01S 3/23 (2006.01); H01S 3/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 7/4814 (2013.01) [G01S 7/4813 (2013.01); G01S 7/4817 (2013.01); G01S 7/4818 (2013.01); G01S 17/08 (2013.01); H01S 3/08013 (2013.01); H01S 3/10023 (2013.01); H01S 3/1024 (2013.01); H01S 3/2316 (2013.01); H01S 3/04 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system comprising:
a control system housing;
a first LiDAR head housing separate and distinct from the control system housing;
a light source within the control system housing, the light source configured to produce a first pulse signal and a first continuous wave (CW) signal;
a first pulse steering system within the first LiDAR head housing, the first pulse steering system configured to direct the first pulse signal in a first direction to an external environment;
a light detector within the control system housing configured to detect a first returned pulse signal associated with the first pulse signal and received from the external environment;
a first fiber comprising a first pulse signal output fiber and a first fiber connector, the first pulse signal output fiber being coupled to the light source and the first fiber connector, wherein the first fiber connector is coupled to the first pulse steering system, the first fiber configured to carry the first pulse signal from the light source to the first pulse steering system;
a first CW fiber comprising a first CW output fiber and a first CW fiber connector, the first CW fiber being coupled to the light source and the first CW fiber connector, wherein the first CW output fiber comprises a multimode fiber and the first CW fiber connector is coupled to the first pulse steering system, the first CW fiber configured to carry the first CW signal from the light source to the first pulse steering system; and
a second fiber comprising a first pulse signal return fiber and a second fiber connector, the first pulse signal return fiber being coupled to the light detector and the second fiber connector, wherein the second fiber connector is coupled to the first pulse steering system, the second fiber configured to carry the first returned pulse signal from the first LiDAR head housing to the light detector,
wherein at least one of the first pulse signal and the first returned pulse signal is at a power no higher than 300 mW and at least one of the first fiber and the second fiber comprises a single mode fiber.