Patent ID: 11940559
Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 8:
9. A machine-implemented method for operating a LIDAR device of an autonomous driving vehicle, the method comprising:
providing an array of light transmitting and receiving (TX/RX) units to sense a physical range associated with a target; and
for each of the light TX/RX units,
providing a mounting board having a light pass-through opening,
emitting a light beam using a light emitter mounted on the mounting board adjacent to the light pass-through opening, wherein the mounting board is a printed circuit board (PCB) including a circuitry coupling the light emitter to a LIDAR controller, wherein the light emitter is configured to emit the light beam towards the target according to a light transmitting path, and
receiving using a light detector positioned behind the mounting board at least a portion of the light beam reflected from the target through the light pass-through opening according to a light receiving path, wherein the light transmitting path and the light receiving path are substantially in parallel and close to each other, wherein each TX/RX unit further comprises:
a first collimating lens to diverge the light beam from the light emitter towards to the target, and to receive and focus a reflected light beam to pass through the light pass-through opening,
a second collimating lens, and
a third collimating lens, wherein the first collimating lens disposed between the mounting board and the target, wherein the mounting board is positioned behind the first collimating lens, and wherein the second collimating lens is positioned behind the mounting board, wherein the third collimating lens is positioned behind the second collimating lens, and wherein the light detector is positioned behind the third collimating lens.