Abstract: A method is provided that transmits a beam of co-propagating, cross-polarized light to a target. The method receives return light reflected from the target, which includes a first polarization and a second polarization. The method splits the return light into a first output corresponding to the first polarization and a second output corresponding to the second polarization using a first beam splitter. The method directs the first output to a first detector and directs the second output to a second detector. The method generates, by the first detector, a first electrical signal corresponding to the first polarization, and generates, by the second detector, a second electrical signal corresponding to the second polarization. The method determines an orientation of the target based on the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal, and generates a point cloud based on the orientation of the target.

Abstract: Free-space optics for use in a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus include a polarization beam-splitter (PBS) to direct an optical beam in a first direction toward a target environment and to propagate a portion of the optical beam in a second direction for receipt by a photodetector (PD), a polarization wave plate (PWP) to convert the optical beam from a first polarization to a second polarization, and to convert the target return signal from a third polarization to a fourth polarization, and a lens system coupled between the PBS and the PWP to magnify the optical beam. The propagated portion of the optical beam comprises a local oscillator (LO) signal to mix with a target return signal to generate target information.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes a dispersive element and an optical circuit. The optical circuit is to emit a first optical beam having a first frequency and a second optical beam having a second frequency towards the dispersive element to deflect the first optical beam and the second optical beam based on a frequency.

Abstract: A LiDAR system includes an optical subsystem with an optical axis. The optical subsystem includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, a first optical lens to transmit the optical beam, an optical window to reflect a first portion of the optical beam to generate a LO signal, an optical scanner to transmit a second portion of the optical beam to a target to scan the target to generate a target return signal, a second optical lens to transmit the LO signal and the target return signal to a PD, and the PD to mix the target return signal with the LO signal to extract range and velocity information. The LO signal is disposed to be decentered from the optical axis on the second optical lens to increase a percentage of an overlap of the LO signal and the target return signal on a detection plane of the PD.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, and free-space optics coupled with the optical source. The free space optics include a photodetector and other optical components to direct a propagated portion of the optical beam or a reflected portion of the optical beam toward the photodetector as a local oscillator signal, and to transmit the optical beam toward a target environment.

Abstract: A method of operating a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided that includes generating a beam of co-propagating, cross-polarized light using a first polarizing beam splitter; and determining a material characteristic or orientation of a target using the co-propagating, cross-polarized light.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes an optical source to emit a first optical beam having a first frequency and a second optical beam having a second frequency and a dispersive element to deflect the first optical beam having the first frequency at a first angle and the second optical beam having the second frequency at a second angle.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes an optical source to emit an optical beam towards a target and a mode field expander operatively coupled to the optical source to expand a mode area of the optical beam from a first mode of a single mode optical fiber to a second mode of a larger mode area optical fiber.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes an optical source to emit a corresponding plurality of optical beams with synchronized chirp rates and synchronized chirp durations. The plurality of optical beams are each tuned to produce regions of constructive and destructive interference into a combined optical beam. A first optical component forms a phase-locked loop to correct nonlinearities detected in the plurality of optical beams. A second optical component transmits a combined optical beam toward a target environment and receives a target return signal. A third optical component downconverts the target return signal to a plurality of fixed frequency downconverted target return signals, each including a target range component and a target velocity component.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes an optical source to emit an optical beam towards a target. The LIDAR apparatus further includes a mode field expander operatively coupled to the optical source to expand a mode area of the optical beam.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a first optical source to provide a first optical beam and a second optical source to provide a second optical beam. A light detection sensor detects a position of the first optical beam and the second optical beam relative to each other and to a reference pattern on a light detection sensor. Alignment optics may be located between the light detection sensor and the first optical source and the second optical source, and may include one or more optical components adjustable to shift each optical beam on the light detection sensor. A control system, including one or more processors, is coupled to the alignment optics and the light detection sensor, and causes the alignment optics to shift the first optical beam and the second optical beam on the light detection sensor according to the reference pattern.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system according to the present disclosure comprises an optical circulator and one or more photodetectors (PDs). The optical circulator is to transmit the target return signal to the one or more PDs, where the one or more PDs are to mix the target return signal with a local oscillator (LO) signal to generate a signal to extract information of the target.

Abstract: A system and method including, receiving a plurality of optical beams propagating in a first direction along a first plane in a coplanar beam pattern. The system and method include redirecting a first set of the plurality of optical beams to propagate in the first direction along a second plane. The system and method include redirecting a second set of the plurality of optical beams to propagate in a second direction along the first plane. The system and method include redirecting the second set of the plurality of optical beams propagating in the second direction along the first plane to propagate in the first direction along the first plane. The system and method include generating a multi-planar beam pattern by forwarding the first set of the plurality of optical beams and the second set of the plurality of optical beams through an optical element.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a first optical source to generate a first optical beam, a first collimating lens to collimate the first optical beam, a first prism wedge of a first prism wedge pair to redirect the first optical beam, and a first focusing lens to focus the first optical beam on a front surface of a second prism wedge of the first prism wedge pair, the second prism wedge to direct the first optical beam toward an output lens.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system uses optical sources to emit a continuous-wave (CW) optical beam and a frequency-modulated (FMCW) optical beam. A first set off optical components is coupled with the optical sources to generate a CW local oscillator (LO) signal from the CW optical beam, to generate an FMCW LO signal from the FMCW optical beam, and to combine the CW optical beam and the FMCW optical beam into a combined optical beam. A second set of optical components is coupled with the first set of optical components, to transmit the combined optical beam toward a target environment and to receive a target return signal from the target environment. A third set of optical components is coupled with the second set of optical components, to generate and detect a target velocity component of the target return signal and a target range component of the target return signal.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided that includes an optical source to generate and transmit an optical beam, an optical fiber to guide the optical beam to a fiber tip from which the optical beam is emitted, and a first scanning mirror rotatable along at least one axis to steer the optical beam to scan a scene, and collect light incident upon objects in the scene. The system further includes a first lens, disposed between the optical fiber and the first scanning mirror, to focus the optical beam emitted from the optical fiber to converge at a location near a center of rotation of the first scanning mirror, the first scanning mirror to reflect the optical beam towards an optic, the optic, disposed between the first scanning mirror and the scene, to collimate or focus the optical beam reflected from the first scanning mirror, and a signal processor to determine a range of one or more of the objects from a return signal reflected from the one or more of the objects.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, where a local oscillator (LO) signal is generated from a partial reflection of the optical beam from a partially-reflecting surface proximate to the first focal plane, and where a transmitted portion of the optical beam is directed toward a scanned target environment. LIDAR system to focus the LO signal and a target return signal at a second focal plane comprising a conjugate focal plane to the first focal plane. The system may also include a photodetector with a photosensitive surface proximate to the conjugate focal plane to mix the LO signal with the target return signal to generate target information.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided that includes an optical a scanning mirror to steer a laser beam emitted from the tip of an optical fiber to scan a scene, and collect light incident upon any objects in the scene that is returned to the fiber tip. The LIDAR system further includes a re-imaging lens located between the optical fiber and scanning mirror, and an optic located between the scanning mirror and the scene. The re-imaging lens focuses the laser beam emitted from the optical fiber on or close to the first scanning mirror's center of rotation and thereby re-image the fiber tip at or close to the center of rotation, from which the laser beam is reflected as a divergent laser beam. And the optic is configured to collimate or focus the divergent laser beam from the first scanning mirror that is launched toward the scene.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, and free-space optics coupled with the optical source. The free space optics include a photodetector and other optical components to direct a propagated portion of the optical beam or a reflected portion of the optical beam toward the photodetector as a local oscillator signal, and to transmit the optical beam toward a target environment.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes optical sources to emit optical beams with synchronized chirp rates and chirp durations. The optical beams provide a comb of coherent optical beams with a fixed frequency separation between frequency adjacent optical beams. A first set of first optical components amplifies and combines the optical beams into a combined optical beam. A second set of optical components transmits the combined optical beam toward a target environment and receives a target return signal. A third set of optical components downconverts the target return signal to downconverted target return signals corresponding to the optical beams, and coherently combines the downconverted target return signals.