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

Claim 0:
1. An optical system for collecting distance information, the optical system comprising:
a bulk transmitting optic;
an emitter array including a plurality of optical emitters having an operating wavelength, each optical emitter in the plurality of optical emitters configured to output an illuminating beam of the 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;
a plurality of lens tubes positioned between the bulk imaging optic and the detector array, wherein each lens tube in the plurality of lens tubes is aligned with a corresponding pixel in the plurality of pixels and is configured to pass light rays reflected into the bulk imaging optic from a discrete spot in the field to its corresponding pixel while absorbing incident light rays reflected into the bulk imaging optic from regions in the field outside the discrete spot;
a plurality of 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 pixel in the plurality of pixels 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 pixel; and

one or more optical filters 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.