Patent ID: 11899139
Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 8:
9. An apparatus for controlling a LiDAR sensor, comprising:
a monitor unit to monitor one or more operational parameters of one or more optical components of the LiDAR. sensor, wherein the LiDAR sensor includes:
a first optical component of the LiDAR sensor and a second optical component of the LiDAR sensor, both coupled to a third component of the LiDAR sensor; and
a fourth optical component of the LiDAR sensor and a fifth optical component of the LiDAR sensor, both coupled to the third component or a sixth component of the LiDAR sensor;

wherein:
when the first optical component or the second optical component is enabled, the enabled one of the first and second optical components is to provide a first input to the third component, or to receive a second input from the third component;
when the fourth optical component or the fifth optical component is enabled, the enabled one of the fourth and fifth optical components is to provide a third input to the third component or the sixth component, or to receive a fourth input from the third component or the sixth component;
the first optical component or the second optical component are redundant optical components of one another, the first optical component is arranged to perform a first function, the second optical component is arranged to perform the first function, wherein only one of the first optical component and the second optical component is enabled at a time;
the fourth optical component or the fifth optical component are redundant optical components of one another, the fourth optical component is arranged to perform a second function, the fifth optical component is arranged to perform the second function, wherein only one of the fourth optical component and the fifth optical component is enabled at a time; and
wherein the LiDAR sensor is a LiDAR sensor of a LiDAR system that includes a plurality of LiDAR sensors; and

a control unit to control operations of the first optical component, the second optical component, the fourth optical component, or the fifth optical component;
wherein:
the first optical component is enabled when the second optical component fails to perform the first function, and wherein the LiDAR sensor, when the first optical component is enabled, is to operate with performance that is the same as performance of the LiDAR sensor_when the second optical component is enabled;
the fourth optical component is enabled when the fifth optical component fails to perform the second function, and wherein the LiDAR sensor, when the fourth optical component is enabled, is to operate with performance that is the same as performance of the LiDAR sensor when the fifth optical component is enabled; and
wherein the first optical component, the second optical component, the fourth optical component, or the fifth optical component includes an amplifier, an optical collimator, an optical switch, an optical discriminator, or a photo diode.