Patent attributes
A LIDAR scanning system. The LIDAR system comprises a laser configured to transmit laser light. An optical switch is optically coupled to the laser to receive laser light via an input port. The optical switch includes a plurality of output ports for transmitting received laser light to an environment to be scanned. Each of the plurality of output ports is oriented in a different direction. A detector subsystem is positioned to receive reflected laser light. A processor is coupled to the detector subsystem. The processor is configured to receive data signals from the detector subsystem. The processor is also configured to determine a distance from the LIDAR scanning system to one or more objects in an environment of the LIDAR scanning system based on a time between a transmission of beams of laser light and a reception of a reflection of the beams of laser light.
