Velodyne Lidar, Inc.
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR SAFE PULSED LASER OPERATION

Abstract:

An apparatus may include an energy rate limiter, an electro-optical transmitter, and an energy monitor. The energy rate limiter limits energy transfer, based on an energy control signal, from a power supply to the energy storage module. The energy storage module is charged based on the energy transfer from the power supply. The electro-optical transmitter includes lasers coupled to local energy storage module. Laser firings of the lasers are based on an electrical potential of the energy storage module and laser enable signals corresponding to the lasers. The energy monitor is coupled to the energy storage module and triggers a safety alarm signal if a voltage provided by the energy storage module violates a safety condition related to a threshold voltage. The energy rate limiter terminates the energy transfer from the power supply to the local energy storage module after the safety condition is violated.