Patent ID: 11956410
Assignee: OUSTER, INC.
Field: Audio-visual technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  G | IPC G  H

Claim 9:
10. An optical system for collecting distance information, the optical system comprising:
a bulk transmitting optic;
an emitter array including a plurality of optical emitters arranged in a plurality of emitter groupings with each emitter grouping including a set of X optical emitters from the plurality of optical emitters, where X is an integer greater than 1, and wherein each optical emitter in the plurality of optical emitters is configured to output an illuminating beam of an operating wavelength through the bulk transmitting optic towards a discrete spot in a field external to the optical system that is non-overlapping with the illuminating beams from the other optical emitters in the plurality of optical emitters;
a bulk imaging optic;
a detector array comprising a plurality of pixels arranged behind the bulk imaging optic and operable to detect photons emitted from the emitter array and received through the bulk imaging optic after being reflected from surfaces within the field, wherein each pixel in the plurality of pixels corresponds with one emitter grouping in the plurality of emitter groupings such that each pixel can detect light rays emitted from each of the X optical emitters in the corresponding emitter grouping and wherein each pixel in the plurality of pixels comprises a set of subpixels spread across a sensing area of the pixel;
a plurality of lens tubes positioned between the bulk imaging optic and the detector array and arranged in a plurality of lens tube groupings having a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of emitter groupings and the plurality of pixels, wherein each lens tube grouping in the plurality of lens tube groupings includes a set of X lens tubes with each individual lens tube in the set: (i) having a field of view that is aligned with a field of view of one optical emitter in the emitter grouping corresponding to the lens tube grouping that includes the individual lens tube, and (ii) being configured to configured to pass light rays reflected into the bulk imaging optic from its field of view to its corresponding pixel while absorbing incident light rays reflected into the bulk imaging optic from regions in the field outside its field of view from reaching its corresponding pixel;
a plurality of independently operable shutters disposed between the plurality of lens tubes and the plurality of pixels, wherein each shutter in the plurality of shutters is aligned with a corresponding lens tube in the plurality of lens tubes and is configured to open and close in conjunction with activation and deactivation of an optical emitter in the plurality of optical emitters that projects light into the field of view of the corresponding lens tube; and
an optical filter disposed in an optical path of the plurality of pixels and operable to allow a set of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, including the operating wavelength, to pass through the optical filter while blocking electromagnetic radiation outside the set of wavelengths from reaching the plurality of pixels; and
a diffuser interposed between each lens tube and the detector array, wherein the diffuser is configured to spread collimated light from each lens tube grouping in the plurality of lens tube groupings across the set of subpixels of the pixel in the plurality of pixels corresponding to the lens tube grouping.