Ouster, Inc.
OPTICAL IMAGING TRANSMITTER WITH BRIGHTNESS ENHANCEMENT

Abstract:

An optical system for performing distance measurements comprising: a bulk transmitter optic having a focal plane; an illumination source comprising a plurality of light emitters aligned to project discrete beams of light through the bulk transmitter optic into a field ahead of the optical system; and a micro-optic channel array disposed between the illumination source and the bulk transmitter optic, the micro-optic channel array defining a plurality of micro-optic channels, each micro-optic channel including a micro-optic lens spaced apart from a light emitter in the plurality of light emitters with the micro-optic lens positioned to receive a light cone from the light emitter and configured to generate a reduced-size spot image of the emitter at a location that is displaced from the emitter and that coincides with the focal plane of the bulk transmitter optic