PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11852852-B2
Application Number: US-202217976801-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Patterned mirror edge for stray beam and interference mitigation

Abstract:
A method for optical sensing includes providing a mirror comprising a central reflective region surrounded by a peripheral glare-suppressing region. A beam of light from a laser light source is directed to reflect from the central region so as to pass through an output optic along an axis toward a target scene. The light returned from the target scene through the output optic is focused onto an optical sensor, via collection optics having a collection aperture surrounding the mirror.

Claims:
The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An optoelectronic device, comprising:
 an output optic, having one or more optical surfaces; 
 a light source configured to emit a beam of light; 
 a mirror comprising:
 a central reflective region positioned to reflect the beam from the light source through the output optic along an axis toward a target scene; and 
 a peripheral region having a width of at least 1 mm surrounding the central reflective region, and having an optical density that decreases in a radial direction over the width; 
 
 an optical sensor; and 
 light collection optics, which are positioned to receive the light returned from the target scene through the output optic and transmitted through a collection aperture surrounding the mirror and to focus the collected light along the axis onto the optical sensor. 
 
     
     
       2. The optoelectronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical density of the peripheral region is equal to the optical density of the central region at an inner edge of the peripheral region and decreases to full transparency at an outer edge of the peripheral region. 
     
     
       3. The optoelectronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the width and optical density of the peripheral region are selected so that the light that is reflected back by the one or more optical surfaces of the output optic toward the mirror and is incident on the peripheral region is attenuated and not diffracted. 
     
     
       4. The optoelectronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the output optic comprises a beam steering device configured to scan the beam reflected by the central region across the target scene. 
     
     
       5. The optoelectronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the output optic comprises a window. 
     
     
       6. A method for optical sensing, comprising:
 providing a mirror comprising a central reflective region surrounded by a peripheral glare-suppressing region, which comprises a peripheral region having a width of at least 1 mm surrounding the central reflective region, and having an optical density that decreases in a radial direction over the width; 
 directing a beam of light from a laser light source to reflect from the central reflective region so as to pass through an output optic along an axis toward a target scene; and 
 focusing the light returned from the target scene through the output optic and through a collection aperture surrounding the mirror via collection optics onto an optical sensor. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the optical density of the peripheral region is equal to the optical density of the central reflective region at an inner edge of the peripheral region and decreases to full transparency at an outer edge of the peripheral region. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the width and optical density of the peripheral region are selected so that the light that is reflected back by one or more optical surfaces of the output optic toward the mirror and is incident on the peripheral region is attenuated and not diffracted. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 6 , and comprising scanning the beam reflected by the central reflective region across the target scene. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the output optic comprises a window.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/404,771, filed May 7, 2019, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/682,943, filed on Jun. 10, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/802,223, filed Feb. 7, 2019. Both of these related applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to optoelectronic sensing devices, and particularly to methods and components for mitigation of stray light in such devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Existing and emerging consumer applications have created an increasing need for real-time three-dimensional imagers. These imaging devices, also commonly known as light detection and ranging (LiDAR) devices, enable the remote measurement of distance (and often intensity) of each point on a target scene—so-called target scene depth—by illuminating the target scene with an optical beam and analyzing the reflected optical signal. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present invention that are described hereinbelow provide improved devices and methods for optical sensing. 
     There is therefore provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an optoelectronic device, including an output optic, having one or more optical surfaces, and a laser light source configured to emit a beam of light. A mirror includes a central region configured to reflect the beam from the laser light source through the output optic along an axis toward a target scene and a diffractive structure, which is disposed along an outer edge of the central region and is configured to diffract the light that is reflected back by the one or more optical surfaces of the output optic toward the mirror and is incident on the diffractive structure so that the incident light that is diffracted by the structure is deflected away from the axis. Collection optics are configured to receive the light returned from the target scene through the output optic via a collection aperture surrounding the mirror and to focus the collected light along the axis onto an optical sensor. 
     In some embodiments, the diffractive structure includes an array of radial protrusions protruding from the central region. In a disclosed embodiment, a shape of the radial protrusions is defined by a cosine curve. 
     Alternatively, the diffractive structure includes a periodic array of circles, disposed concentrically around the central region. 
     In some embodiments, the diffractive structure is configured to diffract the light that is reflected back by the one or more optical surfaces of the output optic into diffraction lobes that are directed away from the optical sensor in a focal plane of the collection optics. Alternatively or additionally, the diffractive structure is configured to diffract the light that is reflected back by the one or more optical surfaces of the output optic into multiple diffraction orders, which are spaced apart in a focal plane of the collection optics so that none of the diffraction orders is incident on the optical sensor. 
     In a disclosed embodiment, the output optic includes a beam steering device, which is configured to scan the beam reflected by the central region across the target scene. Additionally or alternatively, the output optic includes a window. 
     There is also provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an optoelectronic device, including an output optic, having one or more optical surfaces, and a light source configured to emit a beam of light. A mirror includes a central region configured to reflect the beam from the light source through the output optic along an axis toward a target scene and a peripheral region having a width of at least 1 mm surrounding the central region, and having an optical density that decreases smoothly in a radial direction over the width. Light collection optics are configured to receive the light returned from the target scene through the output optic via a collection aperture surrounding the mirror and to focus the collected light along the axis onto an optical sensor. 
     In a disclosed embodiment, the optical density of the peripheral region is equal to the optical density of the central region at an inner edge of the peripheral region and decreases to full transparency at an outer edge of the peripheral region. Typically, the width and optical density of the peripheral region are selected so that the light that is reflected back by the one or more optical surfaces of the output optic toward the mirror and is incident on the peripheral region is attenuated and not diffracted. 
     There is additionally provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a method for optical sensing, which includes providing a mirror including a central reflective region surrounded by a peripheral glare-suppressing region. A beam of light from a laser light source is directed to reflect from the central region so as to pass through an output optic along an axis toward a target scene. The light returned from the target scene through the output optic is focused onto an optical sensor, via collection optics having a collection aperture surrounding the mirror. 
     In one embodiment, the glare-suppressing region includes a diffractive structure, which is disposed along an outer edge of the central region and is configured to diffract the light that is reflected back by one or more optical surfaces of the output optic toward the mirror and is incident on the diffractive structure so that the incident light that is diffracted by the structure is deflected away from the axis. 
     Alternatively, the glare-suppressing region includes a peripheral region having a width of at least 1 mm surrounding the central region, and having an optical density that decreases smoothly in a radial direction over the width. 
     The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the embodiments thereof, taken together with the drawings in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic side view of a LiDAR device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are schematic frontal views of a mirror and a sensor, respectively, with an incident glare beam, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic illustration of a diffractive structure on the mirror of  FIG.  2 A , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  are schematic detail views of diffractive structures on the mirror of  FIG.  2 A , in accordance with further embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  are images that schematically represent results of a diffraction simulation, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  6    is an image showing an experimentally recorded glare beam at the focal plane of the sensor of  FIG.  2 B , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS.  7 A and  7 B  are schematic frontal views of a mirror and a sensor, respectively, with an incident glare beam, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic side view of a LiDAR device, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIGS.  9 A and  9 B  are schematic frontal views of a mirror and a sensor, respectively, with an incident glare beam, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Overview 
     LiDAR devices comprise a light source, typically a laser emitting a beam (or several beams) of light. (The terms “optical radiation” and “light” as used in the present description and in the claims refer generally to any and all of visible, infrared, and ultraviolet radiation.) In some LiDAR devices, the emitted beam is scanned across a target scene by a beam steering device, comprising, for example, one or more scanning mirrors. The light reflected from the scene is collected by light collection optics and focused onto an optical sensor. 
     In some devices of this sort, the light source and the light collection optics are brought into a coaxial configuration by the use of a small folding mirror, commonly at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the emitted laser beam. The laser beam reflected by the mirror is received by the beam steering device and scanned across the target scene. In some configurations, the collection optics are positioned on the opposite side of the mirror from the beam steering device, in coaxial alignment with the beam reflected by the mirror. The aperture of the collection optics is sufficiently large so that the optics can collect the part of the light reflected by the target scene that bypasses the mirror. 
     Typically an enclosure protects the components of the LiDAR, with an output optic, such as a transparent window of the enclosure, transmitting the emitted and scanned beam toward the target scene, as well as receiving the beam reflected from the scene into the collection optics. A small fraction of the emitted and scanned beam, however, may be reflected by one or more of the optical surfaces of the output optic back into the LiDAR device as glare. This fraction is small, typically between a few tenths of a percent and a few percent (assuming the output surfaces to be coated with an anti-reflective coating). However, the intensity of the glare may still be comparable to that of the beam that is reflected back from a distant target scene. If the glare beam impinges on the edge of the folding mirror, it may diffract from the edge into the optical sensor and thereby interfere with detection of the return signal from the target scene. 
     The embodiments of the present invention that are described herein reduce or eliminate the amount of glare impinging on the optical sensor and thus enable the fabrication and operation of high-quality optical sensing devices with improved signal/noise ratio. Although these embodiments refer specifically to glare from the window of a LiDAR device, they may be similarly applied to mitigation of glare from other optical surfaces and may be applied in other devices that combine optical irradiation of a target and sensing of the radiation reflected from the target. These embodiments may also be applied to mitigation of stray beams originating in other optical devices. 
     In the disclosed embodiments, a peripheral region of the mirror, around the central reflecting region, is modified for reduction of glare on the optical sensor. In some embodiments, a diffractive structure disposed along the outer edge of the central region diffracts the glare that is reflected back toward the mirror and is incident on the diffractive structure, so that the incident light that is diffracted by the structure is deflected away from the axis of the device and thus away from the optical sensor. In one such embodiment, the diffractive structure comprises radial protrusions, which may have the form of teeth. In an alternative embodiment, the diffractive structure comprises an array of concentric rings, causing the glare beam to diffract into discrete orders. The rings are designed so that none of these orders impinge on the optical sensor. 
     In another embodiment, the optical density of the peripheral region decreases smoothly in the radial direction from the central reflecting area to the outer edge of the peripheral region. Typically (although not necessarily), the optical density drops to zero, or nearly zero, outside the peripheral region. The width of the peripheral region is sufficient so that the light that is reflected back by the optical surfaces of the output optic toward the mirror as a glare beam and is incident on the peripheral region is attenuated and not diffracted, thus preventing diffraction of the glare beam onto the optical sensor. Thus, in example embodiments, the width of the peripheral region is at least equal to the diameter of a typical glare beam, for example, at least 1 mm or at least 3 mm, 
     Glare Mitigation Using Diffractive Structures 
       FIG.  1    is a schematic illustration of a LiDAR device  20 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Certain specific features of device  20  are shown in the figures and described hereinbelow for the sake of concreteness and clarity in illustrating the principles of glare mitigation that are provided by embodiments of the present invention. Alternative implementations of these principles, in other sorts of optoelectronic devices and systems, will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the present description and are considered to be within the scope of the invention. 
     Device  20  comprises an output optic  21 , a laser light source  22 , a mirror  24 , light collection optics  30 , and an optical sensor  32 . Output optic  21  comprises a beam steering device  26  and a window  28 . Device  20  further comprises a controller  34 , which is coupled to laser  22 , to beam steering device  26 , and to optical sensor  32 . Mirror  24  in the present embodiment comprises a reflective coating deposited over a transparent substrate  36 , but it may alternatively be a self-supporting mirror. The reflective coating may comprise a metal layer on the surface of substrate  36 , or it may alternatively comprise a multi-layer structure, such as a polarization-selective reflector. Mirror  24  comprises a central reflective region  37  surrounded by a diffractive structure  38  along the outer edge of the central region, as will be described in further detail below. 
     Beam steering device  26  comprises two scanning mirrors  40 , with mutually orthogonal axes of rotation, although other types and configurations of beam steering devices may alternatively be used. In order to simplify the figure, scanning mirrors  40  are shown in an unfolded (“in-line”) configuration. Mirrors  40  and window  28  in this example have a total of four optical surfaces in output optic  21  (one for each mirror and two for the window). 
     Controller  34  typically comprises a programmable processor, which is programmed in software and/or firmware to carry out the functions that are described herein. Additionally or alternatively, at least some of the functions of controller  34  may be carried out by hardware logic circuits, which may be hard-wired or programmable. In either case, controller  34  has suitable interfaces for receiving and transmitting data and instructions to and from other elements of device  20 . 
     Laser  22  emits a beam  50 , which central region  37  of mirror  24  receives and reflects into a beam  54 . Beam  54  is scanned by beam steering device  26  through window  28  onto a target scene  58 . Target scene  58  is shown schematically as being very close to device  20 , although in reality it is located at a distance that is much larger than a typical dimension of the device. Beam  54  is scanned across scene  58 , and returns from there as a reflected beam  60 . 
     Beam  60  is collected and focused by light collection optics  30  along an optical axis  56  through a collection aperture onto optical sensor  32 , which is located at a focal plane  66  of optics  30 . The term “optical axis” is used in the present description and in the claims to denote the axis of symmetry of the optics. The collection aperture (as shown in  FIGS.  2 A,  5 A,  7 A and  9 A ) in this case is an annular aperture, wherein mirror  24  defines its inner circumference and the apertures of output optic  21  and of light collection optics  30  define its outer circumference. Optical sensor  32 , may comprise any suitable sort of detector or array of detectors, which convert the light from beam  60  into signals that are received by controller  34 . For example, in a time-of-flight based LiDAR device, sensor  32  may comprise one or more avalanche photodiodes or single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). Controller  34  converts these signals into a depth map of target scene  58 , using techniques that are known in the art. 
     As beam  54  exits from device  20  through window  28 , part of the beam is reflected from optical surfaces  61  and  63  of the window back into the device as a glare beam  62 . Optical surfaces  61  and  63  are commonly coated by an anti-reflective coating in order to lower the reflectance of beam  54  to between a few tenths of a percent and a few percent. However, the optical flux received from target scene  58  as beam  60  may be low due both to a long distance to the target scene and to low reflectance of objects in the scene. Consequently, the flux of glare beam  62  may be significant in its magnitude as compared to that of beam  60 . 
     Depending on the scan angle imposed on beam  54  by beam steering device  26 , glare beam  62  may impinge on the edge of reflective central region  37  of mirror  24 . In the absence of diffractive structure  38 , a part of the diffracted flux of glare beam  62  could be diffracted at the edge of the mirror and impinge on optical sensor  32  after passing through light collection optics  30 . To mitigate this potential problem, diffractive structure  38  is designed, as further detailed in the figures that follow, so as to shape any diffraction pattern around glare beam  62  to be directed away from optical sensor  32 . 
       FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are schematic illustrations of glare beam  62  at mirror  24  and at focal plane  66  of device  20  ( FIG.  1   ), respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG.  2 A  shows mirror  24  with central region  37  and with diffractive structure  38  comprising an array of tooth-like radial protrusions  70 , with further details and examples of such protrusions shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4 A -B.  FIG.  2 A  also shows a collection aperture  39 , through which light is focused onto sensor  32 , bounded by mirror  24  and by an outer circumference  42 . Glare beam  62  impinges on diffractive structure  38 , and diffracts from protrusions  70 . As shown in  FIG.  2 B , glare beam  62  on focal plane  66  has the form of a central, un-diffracted spot  72  and diffraction lobes having the form of “wings”  74 . Due to the design of diffractive structure  38 , wings  74  are deflected away from axis  56  ( FIG.  1   ) and thus point away from optical sensor  32 , rather than into the sensor. 
       FIG.  3    is a schematic detail view of diffractive structure  38  comprising radial protrusions  70  following the shape of a cosine-curve, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The same labels are used as in  FIG.  1   . 
     Details of diffractive structure  38  are shown in an inset  67 . An area  68  is coated with the reflective coating of mirror  24 , whereas an area  69  is transparent (without mirror coating). A border  71  separates between areas  68  and  69 , defining petal-shaped protrusions  70 . In the present embodiment, the shape of protrusions  70  is defined using a polar coordinate system  73 , wherein the r-axis is a local radius of mirror  24 , and the y-axis is perpendicular to the r-axis. In coordinate system  73 , border  71  is defined by a function y=(p/2) cos [(π/h)r], wherein p is the period of protrusions  70 , and h is their amplitude (radial length). The local r-axis is shifted around mirror  24 , with opposing phases of the cosine function on the left and right sides of each protrusion  70  so that petal-like shapes are formed. 
     For a given protrusion amplitude h, an increase in the number of protrusions  70 , i.e., decrease in period p, decreases the optical flux from diffraction wings  74  that reaches optical sensor  32 . However, the number of protrusions  70  cannot be increased without limit due to limitations of the fabrication process. Moreover, the tip of each protrusion  70  is a source of unwanted diffraction, which also places a limit on the optimal number of the protrusions. Thus, the number of protrusions  70  is determined by an optimization that takes into account parameters such as, for example, the diameter of mirror  24 , the capabilities of the fabrication process, and the amount of diffracted optical flux reaching optical sensor  32 . 
     Using a cosine-function to define a petal-like shape for protrusions  70  has the advantage of providing a smooth transition of the transmittance of diffractive structure  38  from full blockage of glare beam  62  at the base of the protrusions to full transparency at the tips of the protrusions. The smooth transition of transmittance, including a smooth transition of its derivatives, provides for minimal unwanted diffraction by comparison, for example, with triangle-shaped protrusions. 
       FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  are schematic detail views of diffractive structures  38  along the outer edge of central region  37  of mirror, in accordance with further embodiments of the invention. The same labels are used as in  FIGS.  1 ,  2 A -B, and  3 . Structures  38  have petal-shaped protrusions  70  following the cosine-shaped construction described above. Structures  38  in  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  differ in terms of amplitude h and period p of protrusions  70 . 
       FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  are images that schematically represent results of a diffraction simulation, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The same labels are used as in  FIGS.  2 A-B , but  FIGS.  5 A-B  are rotated by 90 degrees relative to  FIGS.  2 A-B . 
       FIG.  5 A  shows glare beam  62 , which is assumed to have a Gaussian profile, impinging on diffractive structure  38  with petal-like protrusions  70  of the type shown in  FIG.  3   . The resulting diffraction pattern is shown in  FIG.  5 B . Diffractive structure  38  has diffracted glare beam  62  so strongly that nearly all the flux has been spread into wings  74 , which are directed away from optical sensor  32 . 
       FIG.  6    is an image showing an experimentally recorded glare beam  62  at focal plane  66 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In addition to glare beam  62 ,  FIG.  6    also shows schematically the location of optical sensor  32  and a projection of diffractive structure  38 . The rays emanating out of beam  62  illustrate the actual directions of wings  74 . 
       FIGS.  7 A and  7 B  are schematic frontal views of mirror  24  and sensor  32 , respectively, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. This embodiment differs from that described above in that central region  37  of mirror  24  is surrounded by a different sort of diffractive structure  41 .  FIGS.  7 A and  7 B  also include illustrations of distributions of glare beam  62  at mirror  24  and at focal plane  66 , respectively. 
       FIG.  7 A  shows mirror  24  with central region  37  and with diffractive structure  41  comprising a periodic array of alternating transparent and opaque circles  80 , disposed concentrically around central region  37 . Glare beam  62  impinges on diffractive structure  41 , which diffracts beam into one or more orders along a radial direction. As shown in  FIG.  7 B , a resulting linear array  81  of spots impinge on focal plane  66 . These spots comprise glare beam  62 , which is the zeroth order of diffraction from diffractive structure  41 , and spots  82  and  84 , which are the first and second diffracted orders, respectively, from the diffractive structure. Glare beam  62  may diffract into a larger number of orders, as well as into orders on the opposite side of glare beam  62  (negative diffraction orders), but the resulting spots have been omitted for the sake of clarity, as they would be even further away from optical sensor  32  than the shown orders. 
     The direction of linear array  81  is perpendicular to the local direction of circles  80  at the glare beam, and its spatial frequency is determined by the local spatial frequency of circles  80  in the area of glare beam, as well as the distance from mirror  24  to focal plane  66 . This spatial frequency is chosen by design so that spots  62 ,  82 , and  84  will not impinge on optical sensor  32 . Each diffracted spot  62 ,  82 ,  84 , . . . , comprises wings  86  along the axis of linear array  81 , but wings  86  are sufficiently short so as not to interfere with optical sensor  32 . 
     Although the preceding figures show certain specific types of diffractive structures surrounding central region  37  of mirror  24 , other sorts of diffractive structures may alternatively be used for the purpose of directing the diffracted part of glare beam  62  away from sensor  32  and are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. 
     Glare Mitigation Using Optical Attenuation 
       FIG.  8    is a schematic illustration of a LiDAR device  100 , in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
     LiDAR device  100  is similar to LiDAR device  20  of  FIG.  1   , except that a mirror  102  replaces mirror  24 . The same labels in  FIG.  6    are used for items similar to those in  FIG.  1   . Mirror  102  comprises a central reflective region  104  and a peripheral region  106  whose optical density decreases radially away from central region  104  over the width of the peripheral region. The optical density of peripheral region  106  starts from the optical density of central region  104  at the inner edge of the peripheral region and decreases gradually, typically to full transparency at the outer edge of the peripheral region. The width of peripheral region  106  is chosen to be large enough to prevent any diffraction of glare beam  62  by mirror  102 . For this purpose, for example, peripheral region  106  typically has a width at least equal to the diameter of glare beam  62 . When reflected from a planar surface, such as one of surfaces  61  or  63  of mirror  24 , the typical diameter of glare beam  62  is approximately 1 mm. When glare beam  62  is reflected from a concave or convex surface, its diameter may be larger or smaller than 1 mm, and, in the former case, a larger width of peripheral region  106  is required, for example 3 mm. 
     LiDAR device  100  functions in a similar way to device  20  up to the point where glare beam  62  impinges on peripheral region  106 . At this point, glare beam  62  is transmitted through peripheral region  106  with an attenuation due to the local optical density. However, due to the gradual change of the optical density, glare beam  62  does not diffract but rather impinges on focal plane  66  in the form of a compact spot, as shown in  FIG.  9 B , below. 
       FIGS.  9 A and  9 B  are schematic frontal views of mirror  102  and sensor  32 , respectively, in device  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. These figures show distributions of glare beam  62  at mirror  102  and at focal plane  66 , respectively, in this embodiment. 
     Glare beam  62  impinges on peripheral region  106 , and is transmitted with a reduced intensity due to the optical density of the peripheral region. However, at focal plane  66  glare beam  62  forms a compact spot due to the fact that the smoothly varying optical density of peripheral region  106  inhibits diffraction, and thus prevents deflection of any part of the glare beam toward optical sensor  32 . 
     It will be appreciated that the embodiments described above are cited by way of example, and that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove, as well as variations and modifications thereof which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not disclosed in the prior art.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20221030
Publication Date: 20231226
Grant Date: 20231226
Priority Date: 20180610
Inventors: LIPSON, ARIEL
Afek, Itai
HAUSER, JONATHAN
REMEZ, ROEI
KRIMAN, MOSHE
MOR, ZAFRIR
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G02B5/1814", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01S7/4814", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01S7/4817", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/42", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01S17/89", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/1814", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/1814", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/4233", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/0018", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/143", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01S7/4812", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01S17/42", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01S17/89", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01S7/4814", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01S7/4817", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01S17/89", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/42", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 68764867