Apple patents laser system that measures distance using multiple light beams
Apple describes a device that uses an array of lasers to measure how far away objects are. It splits each laser beam into two parts: one shoots at the target, and the other stays inside the device to compare against the light that bounces back. By timing these pulses, the system calculates the distance to specific spots on an object.
In the filing’s own words
Range sensing apparatus includes a transmitter including an array of emitters configured to emit respective beams of coherent optical radiation and switching circuitry coupled to the emitters. An optical assembly is configured to divide each beam of the coherent optical radiation into a transmitted beam and a local beam, to project the local beam toward an optical detector, to project the transmitted beam toward a respective location on a target, and to direct optical radiation reflected from the respective location onto the optical detector so as to interfere optically with the local beam. A controller is coupled to apply amplitude-chirped electrical drive pulses to the transmitter while controlling the switching circuitry to temporally multiplex the electrical drive pulses among the emitters, and to receive and process electrical beat signals output by the optical detector in response to interference between the reflected optical radiation and the local beam.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. Range sensing apparatus, comprising: a transmitter comprising an array of emitters configured to emit respective beams of coherent optical radiation and switching circuitry coupled to the emitters; an optical detector; an optical assembly, which is configured to divide each beam of the coherent optical radiation into a transmitted beam and a local beam, to project the local beam toward the optical detector, to project the transmitted beam toward a respective location on a target, and to direct optical radiation reflected from the respective location onto the optical detector so as to interfere optically with the local beam; and a controller coupled to apply amplitude-chirped electrical drive pulses to the transmitter while controlling the switching circuitry to temporally multiplex the electrical drive pulses among the emitters, and to receive and process electrical beat signals output by the optical detector in response to interference between the reflected optical radiation and the local beam.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Depth sensing using multiple coherent emitters
- Patent number
- US12754290B2
- Application number
- 18113104
- Filed
- Feb 23, 2023
- Granted
- Oct 6, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G01S 7/4812 Physics & computingG01S 7/4815 Physics & computingG01S 7/4913 Physics & computingG01S 17/34 Physics & computingMore from Apple in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.