US 12,092,744 B2
Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) assembly having a switchable mirror
Michael Bryan Borden, San Francisco, CA (US); and James Allen Haslim, Dublin, CA (US)
Assigned to AURORA OPERATIONS, INC., Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed by UATC, LLC, San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/129,961.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/123,074, filed on Dec. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0179091 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. G01S 17/931 (2020.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 17/894 (2020.01); G02B 26/08 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 17/931 (2020.01) [G01S 7/481 (2013.01); G01S 17/894 (2020.01); G02B 26/0833 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) assembly comprising:
a LIDAR unit comprising a housing defining a cavity, the LIDAR unit further comprising a plurality of emitters disposed within the cavity, each of the plurality of emitters configured to emit a laser beam;
a switchable mirror positioned relative to the LIDAR unit such that the switchable mirror receives a plurality of laser beams exiting the housing of the LIDAR unit, the switchable mirror configurable in at least a reflective state with a material on the switchable mirror configured in an opaque state to reflect the plurality of laser beams and to direct the plurality of laser beams along a first path and a transmissive state with the material on the switchable mirror configured in a translucent state to allow the plurality of laser beams to pass through the switchable mirror;
a stationary mirror coupled to the switchable mirror and configured to receive the plurality of laser beams that pass through the switchable mirror operating in the transmissive state and to direct the plurality of laser beams along a second path that is different than the first path to widen a field of view of the LIDAR unit along a first axis.