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

Claim 0:
1. A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor, comprising:
a first optical component and a second optical component of the LiDAR sensor, both coupled to a third component of the LiDAR sensor, wherein when the first optical component is enabled, the first optical component is to provide a first input to the third component, or to receive a second input from the third component, and wherein the LiDAR sensor is a LiDAR sensor of a LiDAR system that includes a plurality of LiDAR sensors; and
a fourth optical component 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 fourth optical component is enabled, the fourth optical component 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;
wherein when the second optical component is enabled, the second optical component is to provide the first input to the third component, or to receive the second input from the third component, wherein the first optical component or the second optical component are redundant components of the LiDAR sensor, the first optical component is arranged to perform a first function, the second optical component is arranged to perform the first function, and wherein only one of the first optical component or the second optical component is enabled at a time;
wherein, when the fifth optical component is enabled, the fifth optical component is to provide the third input to the third component or the sixth component, or to receive the fourth input from the third component or the sixth component, wherein the fourth optical component or the fifth optical component are redundant components of the LiDAR sensor, the fourth optical component is arranged to perform a second function, the fifth optical component is arranged to perform the second function, and wherein only one of the fourth optical component and the fifth optical component is enabled at a time;
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;
wherein 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.