US Patent 11016178 Eye-safe scanning LIDAR system

A LIDAR illuminator includes a plurality of laser sources, each comprising an electrical input that receives a modulation drive signal that causes each of the plurality of laser sources to generate an optical beam. A controller having a plurality of electrical outputs, where a respective one of the plurality of electrical outputs is connected to an electrical input of a respective one of the plurality of laser sources, generates a plurality of modulation drive signals that cause the plurality of laser sources to generate a plurality of optical beams that form a combined optical beam. A peak optical energy of the combined optical beam in a measurement aperture at a measurement distance is less than a desired value.