Samsung patents LiDAR that switches laser colors to scan wider angles
Samsung describes a LiDAR system that uses two different laser sources instead of just one. A processor switches between these lasers and adjusts their light color based on the angle the device is scanning.
In the filing’s own words
A LIDAR apparatus includes a light source module configured to generate light, an optical transmitter configured to transmit the light generated by the light source module to outside, an optical receiver configured to receive light coming from the outside, an optical detector configured to detect the light received by the optical receiver, and a processor configured to control the operation of each of the light source module and the optical transmitter, wherein the light source module includes a first tunable laser light source configured to emit light in a first wavelength band, a second tunable laser light source configured to emit light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band, and a light selection element configured to select and output one of the lights emitted by the first tunable laser light source and the second tunable laser light source.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A LiDAR apparatus comprising: a light source module configured to generate light; an optical transmitter configured to emit the light generated by the light source module to outside the LiDAR apparatus; an optical receiver configured to receive light from outside the LiDAR apparatus; an optical detector configured to detect the light received by the optical receiver; and a processor configured to control an operation of each of the light source module and the optical transmitter, wherein the light source module comprises: a first tunable laser light source configured to emit first light in a first wavelength band; a second tunable laser light source configured to emit second light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band; and a light selection element configured to select and output one of the first light and the second light, wherein the processor is further configured to turn on one of the first tunable laser light source and the second tunable laser light source, and control an emission wavelength of the turned-on tunable laser light source according to an elevation angle of a scanning light.
Facts
- Company
- Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
- Official title
- LiDAR apparatus having wide scanning angle range
- Patent number
- US12768955B2
- Application number
- 18216114
- Filed
- Jun 29, 2023
- Granted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Inventors
- 5
- Claims
- 19
Classified under
G01S 7/4817 Physics & computingG01S 7/4911 Physics & computingG01S 7/4918 Physics & computingMore from Samsung 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.