Patent ID: 11874376
Assignee: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  B | IPC B  G

Claim 11:
12. An autonomous vehicle control system, comprising:
a LIDAR sensor system, comprising:
a first grating coupler configured to output a transmit beam;
a second grating coupler spaced apart from the first grating coupler;
a third grating coupler spaced apart from the first grating coupler;
a scanner configured to receive the transmit beam from the transmitter, direct the transmit beam to an environment, receive a return beam from reflection of the transmit beam by an object located in the environment, and direct the return beam to the second grating coupler;
a collimator between the first grating coupler and the scanner, the collimator configured to collimate the transmit beam;
a circulator between (i) the collimator and (ii) the second grating coupler and the third grating coupler, the second grating coupler and the third grating coupler configured to receive a respective component of the return beam from free space from the circulator;

a first mixer and a second mixer respectively coupled with one of the second grating coupler or the third grating coupler; and
a local oscillator configured to switch a reference signal between the first mixer and the second mixer; and

one or more processors configured to:
determine at least one of a range to the object or a velocity of the object based on the return beam; and
control operation of an autonomous vehicle responsive to the at least one of the range or the velocity.