Abstract: A laser array includes a plurality of laser emitters arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns on a substrate that is non-native to the plurality of laser emitters, and a plurality of driver transistors on the substrate adjacent one or more of the laser diodes. A subset of the plurality of laser emitters includes a string of laser emitters that are connected such that an anode of at least one laser emitter of the subset is connected to a cathode of an adjacent laser emitter of the subset. A driver transistor of the plurality of driver transistors is configured to control a current flowing through the string.

Abstract: A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes one or more optical elements configured to direct incident light in one or more directions, and a detector array including a plurality of detector pixels configured to output detection signals responsive to light provided thereto by the one or more optical elements. The light includes scattered light that is redirected relative to the one or more directions. A circuit is configured to receive the detection signals and generate corrected image data based on the detection signals and an expected spread function for the light. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.

Abstract: A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes a detector having a first pixel and a second pixel configured to output respective detection signals responsive to light incident thereon, and receiver optics configured to collect the light over a field of view and direct first and second portions of the light to the first and second pixels, respectively. The first pixel includes one or more time of flight (ToF) sensors, and the second pixel includes one or more image sensors. At least one of the receiver optics or arrangement of the first and second pixels in the detector is configured to correlate the first and second pixels such that depth information indicated by the respective detection signals output from the first pixel is correlated with image information indicated by the respective detection signals output from the second pixel. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.

Abstract: A laser diode includes a semiconductor structure of a lower Bragg reflector layer, an active region, and an upper Bragg reflector layer. The upper Bragg reflector layer includes a lasing aperture having an optical axis oriented perpendicular to a surface of the active region. The active region includes a first material, and the lower Bragg reflector layer includes a second material, where respective lattice structures of the first and second materials are independent of one another. Related laser arrays and methods of fabrication are also discussed.

Abstract: A laser array includes a plurality of laser diodes arranged and electrically connected to one another on a surface of a non-native substrate. Respective laser diodes of the plurality of laser diodes have different orientations relative to one another on the surface of the non-native substrate. The respective laser diodes are configured to provide coherent light emission in different directions, and the laser array is configured to emit an incoherent output beam comprising the coherent light emission from the respective laser diodes. The output beam may include incoherent light having a non-uniform intensity distribution over a field of view of the laser array. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A laser array includes a plurality of laser emitters arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns on a substrate that is non-native to the plurality of laser emitters, and a plurality of driver transistors on the substrate adjacent one or more of the laser diodes. A subset of the plurality of laser emitters includes a string of laser emitters that are connected such that an anode of at least one laser emitter of the subset is connected to a cathode of an adjacent laser emitter of the subset. A driver transistor of the plurality of driver transistors is configured to control a current flowing through the string.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes an emitter array configured to illuminate a field of view, a detector array configured to image the field of view, and a control circuit. The emitter array includes one or more emitter elements that are configured to emit respective optical signals responsive to respective emitter control signals. The detector array includes one or more detector elements configured to output respective detection signals responsive to light incident thereon. The control circuit is configured to generate the respective emitter control signals based on the respective detection signals and respective spatial correlations of the one or more emitter elements and the one or more detector elements with respect to the field of view. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.

Abstract: A concentrator-type photovoltaic module includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells having respective surface areas of less than about 4 square millimeters (mm) electrically interconnected in series and/or parallel on a backplane surface, and an array of concentrating optical elements having respective aperture dimensions of less than about 30 mm and respective focal lengths of less than about 50 mm. The array of concentrating optical elements is positioned over the photovoltaic cells based on the respective focal lengths to concentrate incident light on the photovoltaic cells, and is integrated on the backplane surface by at least one spacer structure on the backplane surface. Related devices, operations, and fabrication methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes a pulsed light source to emit optical signals, a detector array comprising single-photon detectors to output respective detection signals indicating times of arrival of a plurality of photons incident thereon, and processing circuitry to receive the respective detection signals.

Abstract: A relief valve comprises a valve body, a pallet assembly, a relief pallet seat, a pilot pallet seat and a force element. The valve body has an interior in fluid communication with a container having a container pressure and the valve body having an exterior exposed to an atmosphere. The pallet assembly has a relief pallet having a relief pressure bearing area, a pilot pallet having a pilot pressure bearing area, and a shaft connects the pilot pallet and relief pallet to space the pilot pallet from the relief pallet. The relief pallet seat extends from the valve body towards the interior of the valve body and is configured to seal against the relief pallet to seal the valve body. The pilot pallet seat extending from the valve body and away from the interior of the valve body and is configured to seal against the pilot pallet to form a reservoir between the pilot pallet, the pilot pallet seat and the valve body.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a detector structure. The detector structure includes an integrated circuit on a substrate, and a photo detector on an upper surface of the integrated circuit that is opposite the substrate, where the substrate is non-native to the photo detector. A System-on-Chip apparatus includes at least one laser emitter on a non-native substrate, at least one photo detector on the non-native substrate, and an input/output circuit. The at least one photo detector of the second plurality of photo detectors is disposed on an integrated circuit between the at least one photo detector and the non-native substrate to form a detector structure.

Abstract: A laser array includes a plurality of laser diodes arranged and electrically connected to one another on a surface of a non-native substrate. Respective laser diodes of the plurality of laser diodes have different orientations relative to one another on the surface of the non-native substrate. The respective laser diodes are configured to provide coherent light emission in different directions, and the laser array is configured to emit an incoherent output beam comprising the coherent light emission from the respective laser diodes. The output beam may include incoherent light having a non-uniform intensity distribution over a field of view of the laser array. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A laser diode includes a semiconductor structure of a lower Bragg reflector layer, an active region, and an upper Bragg reflector layer. The upper Bragg reflector layer includes a lasing aperture having an optical axis oriented perpendicular to a surface of the active region. The active region includes a first material, and the lower Bragg reflector layer includes a second material, where respective lattice structures of the first and second materials are independent of one another. Related laser arrays and methods of fabrication are also discussed.

Abstract: A laser array includes a plurality of laser emitters arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns on a substrate that is non-native to the plurality of laser emitters, and a plurality of driver transistors on the substrate adjacent one or more of the laser diodes. A subset of the plurality of laser emitters includes a string of laser emitters that are connected such that an anode of at least one laser emitter of the subset is connected to a cathode of an adjacent laser emitter of the subset. A driver transistor of the plurality of driver transistors is configured to control a current flowing through the string.

Abstract: A laser diode includes a semiconductor structure having an n-type layer, an active region, and a p-type layer. One of the n-type and p-type layers includes a lasing aperture thereon having an optical axis oriented perpendicular to a surface of the active region between the n-type and p-type layers. First and second contacts are electrically connected to the n-type and p-type layers, respectively. The first and/or second contacts are smaller than the lasing aperture in at least one dimension. Related arrays and methods of fabrication are also discussed.

Abstract: A relief valve comprises a valve body, a pallet assembly, a relief pallet seat, a pilot pallet seat and a force element. The valve body has an interior in fluid communication with a container having a container pressure and the valve body having an exterior exposed to an atmosphere. The pallet assembly has a relief pallet having a relief pressure bearing area, a pilot pallet having a pilot pressure bearing area, and a shaft connects the pilot pallet and relief pallet to space the pilot pallet from the relief pallet. The relief pallet seat extends from the valve body towards the interior of the valve body and is configured to seal against the relief pallet to seal the valve body. The pilot pallet seat extending from the valve body and away from the interior of the valve body and is configured to seal against the pilot pallet to form a reservoir between the pilot pallet, the pilot pallet seat and the valve body.

Abstract: An optical power transfer device includes a transmitter circuit, including a laser light source that is configured to emit coherent light responsive to operation above a lasing threshold, and is configured to emit incoherent light responsive operation below the lasing threshold. A proximity sensor circuit is coupled to the transmitter circuit and is configured to output a detection signal therefrom responsive to authentication of an optical receiver including at least one photovoltaic cell having surface area of about 4 square millimeters or less within a proximity thereof. The transmitter circuit is configured to operate the laser light source below the lasing threshold to emit the incoherent light responsive to an absence of the detection signal from the proximity sensor circuit. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.

Abstract: An light-emitting diode (LED) optical component includes a component substrate having an LED side, an opposite side opposing the LED side, and, optionally, a broken or separated component tether. An LED structure includes an LED and, optionally, a broken or separated LED tether separate from the component substrate. The LED structure is disposed on or adjacent to the LED side of the component substrate and the LED emits light when provided with electrical power. An optical element is disposed at least partly in contact with the component substrate such that at least a portion of the emitted light is incident on the optical element. A second optical element can optionally be disposed between the LED and the component substrate or on the opposite side of the component substrate. An LED optical system includes a system substrate on which one or more LED optical components are disposed. The system substrate can be or include one or more optical elements.

Abstract: A concentrator-type photovoltaic module includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells having respective surface areas of less than about 4 square millimeters (mm) electrically interconnected in series and/or parallel on a backplane surface, and an array of concentrating optical elements having respective aperture dimensions of less than about 30 mm and respective focal lengths of less than about 50 mm. The array of concentrating optical elements is positioned over the photovoltaic cells based on the respective focal lengths to concentrate incident light on the photovoltaic cells, and is integrated on the backplane surface by at least one spacer structure on the backplane surface. Related devices, operations, and fabrication methods are also discussed.

Abstract: An optical data communication and power converter device includes a receiver circuit comprising an optical receiver. The optical receiver includes a photovoltaic device and a photoconductive device arranged within an area that is configured for illumination by a modulated optical signal emitted from a monochromatic light source of a transmitter circuit. The photovoltaic device is configured to generate electric current responsive to the illumination of the area by the modulated optical signal. The photoconductive device is configured to generate a data signal, distinct from the electric current, responsive to the illumination of the area by the modulated optical signal. A reverse bias voltage may be applied to the photoconductive device by the photovoltaic device, independent of an external voltage source. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.