Waymo patents lidar sensors using hexagonal laser arrays
This patent describes a lidar system that uses a grid of small lasers called VCSELs to scan the environment. The lasers are arranged in a hexagonal pattern and fired selectively to create light pulses that bounce off objects. Detectors then measure these reflections to map the surroundings.
In the filing’s own words
Example embodiments relate to light detection and ranging (lidar) devices having vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) emitters. An example lidar device includes an array of individually addressable VCSELs configured to emit light pulses into an environment surrounding the lidar device. The lidar device also includes a firing circuit configured to selectively fire the individually addressable VCSELs in the array. In addition, the lidar device includes a controller configured to control the firing circuit using a control signal. Further, the lidar device includes a plurality of detectors. Each detector in the plurality of detectors is configured to detect reflections of light pulses that are emitted by one or more individually addressable VCSELs in the array and reflected by one or more objects in the environment surrounding the lidar device.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A system comprising: a mounting structure; a driver affixed to the mounting structure; an array of vertical-cavity service-emitting lasers (VCSELs) connected to an anode fanout and a cathode fanout, wherein the driver comprises a firing circuit configured to cause one or more of the VCSELs to emit light using the anode fanout and the cathode fanout, wherein the VCSELs of the array of VCSELs are arranged in a hexagonal pattern, and wherein the hexagonal pattern is sparse in comparison to sizes of emission surfaces of the VCSELs; one or more capacitors adhered to the mounting structure and connected to the cathode fanout or the anode fanout, wherein the one or more capacitors are configured to provide energy to the array of VCSELs; and an epoxy structure that encapsulates (i) the mounting structure and (ii) the array of VCSELs, the driver, or the one or more capacitors.
Facts
- Company
- Google (Waymo LLC)
- Official title
- Light detection and ranging (lidar) devices having vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) emitters
- Patent number
- US12769005B2
- Application number
- 18731976
- Filed
- Jun 3, 2024
- Granted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G01S 17/931 Physics & computingG01S 7/4815 Physics & computingH01S 5/183 Electricity & electronicsH01S 5/423 Electricity & electronicsMore from Google in Cars & transport
- Waymo patents system to detect cyclists losing control before they fall Sep 8, 2026
- Waymo patents self-driving cars that hear sirens and pull over Sep 8, 2026
- Waymo patents AI that moves self-driving cars out of traffic jams Sep 29, 2026
- Waymo patents AI that predicts driving scenes from sensor data Oct 1, 2026
- Waymo patents method for self-driving cars to predict when they can see hidden hazards Sep 8, 2026
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.