公开(公告)号：US12222448B1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-11

申请号：US18516671

申请日：2023-11-21

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Ashish Bhardwaj ,  Sen Lin ,  Dong Liu ,  Xue Liu ,  Andrew Steil Michaels

IPC: G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/931 ,  H01L31/0352

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system for a vehicle can include: a light source configured to output a beam; a photonics integrated circuit (PIC) including a semiconductor die, the semiconductor die including a substrate having two or more semiconductor stacks respectively associated with two or more semiconductor devices formed on the substrate, the two or more semiconductor devices respectively configured to receive the beam from the light source and modify one or more features of the beam; a transmitter configured to receive the beam from the semiconductor die; and one or more optics configured to receive the beam from the transmitter and emit the beam towards an object.

公开(公告)号：US12199411B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-14

申请号：US18486208

申请日：2023-10-13

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Andrew Steil Michaels ,  Lei Wang ,  Sen Lin

IPC: H01S5/40 ,  B60R16/02 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/08 ,  G01S17/32 ,  G02B6/12 ,  G02B6/42 ,  H01S3/08 ,  H01S5/026

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) assembly comprising a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) array and a U-turn chip. The SOA array includes an input SOA and a plurality of SOAs. The input SOA and the plurality of SOAs are arranged parallel to one another. The U-turn chip includes an optical splitter and a waveguide assembly. The optical splitter is configured to receive amplified input light propagating in a first direction from the input SOA, and divide the amplified light into beams. The waveguide assembly guides the beams to a corresponding SOA of the plurality of SOAs, and adjusts a direction of prorogation of each of the guided beams to be substantially parallel to a second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction.

公开(公告)号：US12199401B1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-14

申请号：US18511387

申请日：2023-11-16

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： James Ferrara ,  Pruthvi Jujjavarapu ,  Sen Lin ,  Xue Liu ,  Andrew Steil Michaels ,  Parth Panchal ,  Zhizhong Tang

IPC: G01S17/88 ,  G02B6/122 ,  H01S5/00 ,  G02B6/12

Abstract: A LIDAR sensor system for a vehicle includes a silicon photonics substrate. The silicon photonics substrate includes: a semiconductor wafer; one or more surface features on a first surface of the semiconductor wafer; and a photoresist layer formed on the first surface of the semiconductor wafer, wherein the photoresist layer includes a laminated dry film. The silicon photonics substrate can be manufactured by obtaining a semiconductor wafer having one or more surface features; applying a dry film photoresist layer to a first surface of the semiconductor wafer; performing an adhesion bake process on the semiconductor wafer; developing the dry film photoresist layer to produce one or more developed regions in the dry film photoresist layer; and forming one or more solder bumps in the one or more developed regions.

公开(公告)号：US12181606B2

公开(公告)日：2024-12-31

申请号：US17870493

申请日：2022-07-21

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Andrew Steil Michaels ,  Sen Lin

IPC: G01S7/481 ,  B60W60/00 ,  G01S7/4911 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G02F1/01

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) pixel includes a splitter, a grating coupler, and a phase shifter. The grating coupler is configured to emit a transmit beam that is based on a combination of a first portion of light and a second portion of light received from a laser. One or more first interconnects and one or more second interconnects couple the splitter to the grating coupler. The phase shifter is coupled to the one or more first interconnects and configured to vary a phase of the first portion of the light relative to a phase of the second portion of the light.

公开(公告)号：US11927702B2

公开(公告)日：2024-03-12

申请号：US18099170

申请日：2023-01-19

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Sen Lin ,  Andrew Steil Michaels

IPC: G01S7/499 ,  G01S7/48 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S17/931

CPC classification number: G01S7/499 ,  G01S7/4816 ,  G01S7/4863 ,  G01S17/931

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system for a vehicle includes one or more LIDAR pixels. At least one of the one or more LIDAR pixels includes a dual-polarization optical antenna, a second optical antenna, and one or more receivers. The dual-polarization optical antenna is configured to emit a transmit beam having a first polarization orientation, and detect a return beam having a second polarization orientation. The second optical antenna is offset from the dual-polarization optical antenna by a particular distance, and is configured to detect the return beam having the second polarization orientation. The one or more receivers are configured to generate one or more signals in response to detecting the second polarization orientation of the return beam.

公开(公告)号：US11415673B1

公开(公告)日：2022-08-16

申请号：US17535013

申请日：2021-11-24

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Sen Lin ,  Andrew Steil Michaels

IPC: G01S7/48 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/931

Abstract: A structure of a silicon photonics device for LIDAR includes a first insulating structure and a second insulating structure disposed above one or more etched silicon structures overlying a substrate member. A metal layer is disposed above the first insulating structure without a prior deposition of a diffusion barrier and adhesion layer. A thin insulating structure is disposed above the second insulating structure. A first configuration of the metal layer, the first insulating structure and the one or more etched silicon structures forms a free-space coupler. A second configuration of the thin insulating structure above the second insulating structure forms an edge coupler.

公开(公告)号：US20240410989A1

公开(公告)日：2024-12-12

申请号：US18411106

申请日：2024-01-12

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Sen Lin ,  Andrew Steil Michaels

IPC: G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/34 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G02B6/02

Abstract: A LIDAR device for a vehicle includes an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a substrate layer, a cladding layer, a waveguide, a scattering array, and a reflector layer. The cladding layer is disposed on the substrate layer to form an interface with the substrate layer. The waveguide is disposed within the cladding layer and configured to route an infrared optical field. The scattering array is disposed within the cladding layer between the waveguide and the interface and perturbs the infrared optical field and scatters the infrared optical field into a first beam propagating toward a surface of the cladding layer and into a second beam propagating towards the interface. The reflector layer is disposed within the cladding layer between the waveguide and the surface of the cladding layer to reflect the first beam towards the interface.

公开(公告)号：US20240111032A1

公开(公告)日：2024-04-04

申请号：US18538718

申请日：2023-12-13

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Amir Hosseini ,  Sen Lin ,  Andrew Steil Michaels

IPC: G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/491 ,  G01S17/931

CPC classification number: G01S7/4818 ,  G01S7/4811 ,  G01S7/491 ,  G01S17/931

Abstract: A LIDAR transceiver includes a source input, coherent cells, and an optical switch. The optical switch is configured to switchably couple the source input to the coherent cells. At least one of the coherent cells includes an input port, an optical antenna, and a splitter. The input port is coupled to the optical switch and the splitter is coupled between the input port and the optical antenna. The splitter is configured to split a received portion of a laser signal into a local oscillator signal and a transmit signal, where the transmit signal is emitted through the optical antenna. A reflection of the transmit signal is received through the optical antenna as a reflected signal, where the splitter is further configured to output a return signal that is a portion of the reflected signal.

公开(公告)号：US20240061178A1

公开(公告)日：2024-02-22

申请号：US18497717

申请日：2023-10-30

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Sen Lin ,  Andrew Steil Michaels

IPC: G02B6/136 ,  G01S7/481

CPC classification number: G02B6/136 ,  G01S7/4816 ,  G02B2006/12107

Abstract: A structure of a silicon photonics device for LIDAR includes a first insulating structure and a second insulating structure disposed above one or more etched silicon structures overlying a substrate member. A metal layer is disposed above the first insulating structure without a prior deposition of a diffusion barrier and adhesion layer. A thin insulating structure is disposed above the second insulating structure. A first configuration of the metal layer, the first insulating structure and the one or more etched silicon structures forms a free-space coupler. A second configuration of the thin insulating structure above the second insulating structure forms an edge coupler.

公开(公告)号：US11880000B2

公开(公告)日：2024-01-23

申请号：US17889202

申请日：2022-08-16

Applicant: Aurora Operations, Inc.

Inventor： Amir Hosseini ,  Sen Lin ,  Andrew Steil Michaels

IPC: G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G01S7/491

CPC classification number: G01S7/4818 ,  G01S7/4811 ,  G01S7/491 ,  G01S17/931

Abstract: A LIDAR transceiver includes a source input, coherent cells, and an optical switch. The optical switch is configured to switchably couple the source input to the coherent cells. At least one of the coherent cells includes an input port, an optical antenna, and a splitter. The input port is coupled to the optical switch and the splitter is coupled between the input port and the optical antenna. The splitter is configured to split a received portion of a laser signal into a local oscillator signal and a transmit signal, where the transmit signal is emitted through the optical antenna. A reflection of the transmit signal is received through the optical antenna as a reflected signal, where the splitter is further configured to output a return signal that is a portion of the reflected signal.