Array of Light Detectors with Corresponding Array of Optical Elements

Abstract

Example embodiments relate to arrays of light detectors with a corresponding array of optical elements. An example embodiment includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system. The LIDAR system includes an array of light detectors. The LIDAR system also includes a shared imaging optic. Further, the LIDAR system includes an array of optical elements positioned between the shared imaging optic and the array of light detectors. Each light detector in the array of light detectors is configured to detect a respective light signal from a respective region of a scene. Each respective light signal is transmitted via the shared imaging optic and modified by a respective optical element in the array of optical elements based on at least one aspect of the scene.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system comprising:
 a shared imaging optic;   an array of light detectors;   an array of light emitters, wherein each light emitter is configured to emit a light signal toward a respective region of a scene through the shared imaging optic, wherein each light detector of the array of light detectors is configured to detect a reflection of one of the emitted light signals from the corresponding respective region of the scene, and wherein the light emitters in the array of light emitters are configured to emit the light signals such that light signals intended for light detectors positioned adjacent to one another have different polarizations; and   an array of polarization filters positioned between the shared imaging optic and the array of light detectors, wherein each reflected light signal is received by a corresponding light detector within the array of light detectors via the shared imaging optic and a respective polarization filter in the array of polarization filters, and wherein the polarization filters within the array are configured to eliminate polarizations other than the polarization of the light signal intended for the light detector corresponding to the respective polarization filter.   
     
     
         2 . The LIDAR system of  claim 1 , further comprising an array of optical elements positioned between the array of polarization filters and the shared imaging optic, wherein each optical element in the array of optical elements is configured to modify one of the respective light signals based on at least one aspect of the scene. 
     
     
         3 . The LIDAR system of  claim 2 , wherein the array of optical elements comprises a liquid-crystal array. 
     
     
         4 . The LIDAR system of  claim 2 , wherein the array of optical elements is telecentric. 
     
     
         5 . The LIDAR system of  claim 2 , wherein the array of optical elements comprises one or more filters. 
     
     
         6 . The LIDAR system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more filters comprise polarization filters. 
     
     
         7 . The LIDAR system of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the polarization filters is tunable based on an expected polarization of light reflected from a target region of the scene. 
     
     
         8 . The LIDAR system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more filters comprise chromatic filters. 
     
     
         9 . The LIDAR system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the chromatic filters is tunable based on a wavelength of light of a transmitter of the LIDAR system. 
     
     
         10 . The LIDAR system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more filters comprise neutral-density filters. 
     
     
         11 . The LIDAR system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the neutral-density filters is tunable based on a reflectivity of a target region of the scene. 
     
     
         12 . The LIDAR system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the neutral-density filters is tuned to have a predetermined transmittance in response to a determination that the target region of the scene contains a retroreflective object, wherein the predetermined transmittance is less than 50.0%. 
     
     
         13 . The LIDAR system of  claim 2 , wherein the array of optical elements is tunable based on a desired optical characteristic. 
     
     
         14 . The LIDAR system of  claim 13 , wherein the desired optical characteristic is based on a geographical location of the LIDAR system or an orientation of a LIDAR system relative to one or more objects in the scene. 
     
     
         15 . The LIDAR system of  claim 13 , wherein the desired optical characteristic is based on a previous light detection by one or more of the light detectors. 
     
     
         16 . The LIDAR system of  claim 15 , wherein the previous light detection indicates that the scene contains a retroreflective object. 
     
     
         17 . The LIDAR system of  claim 15 , wherein the previous light detection indicates that the scene contains an object in motion relative to a background of the scene. 
     
     
         18 . The LIDAR system of  claim 15 , wherein the previous light detection indicates a relative distance between the array of light detectors and one or more portions of the scene. 
     
     
         19 . The LIDAR system of  claim 2 , wherein the array of optical elements comprises a microlens array. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 emitting, by an array of light emitters, a plurality of light signals toward respective regions of a scene through a shared imaging optic, wherein the plurality of light signals are emitted such that light signals intended for light detectors positioned adjacent to one another within an array of light detectors have different polarizations;   receiving, at the shared imaging optic, a plurality of reflected light signals corresponding to reflections of the plurality of emitted light signals from the corresponding respective regions of the scene;   transmitting, by the shared imaging optic, the plurality of reflected light signals to a corresponding array of polarization filters positioned between the shared imaging optic and the array of light detectors;   eliminating, by each polarization filter within the array of polarization filters, polarizations from the reflected light signals other than the polarization of the light signal intended for a light detector within the array of light detectors that corresponds to the respective polarization filter; and   receiving, by each light detector in the array of light detectors, the respective reflected light signal from the respective polarization filter in the array of polarization filters.