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 leaked 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. The local oscillator signal co-propagates with a like-polarized target return signal and mixes with the target return signal to generate target information.

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 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) system according to the present disclosure comprises an optical circulator and one or more photodetectors (PDs). The optical circulator is to receive an optical beam and transmit the optical beam to a target, to receive a target return signal from the target and 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 an LO signal to generate a heterodyne signal to extract range and velocity information of the target.

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 method of operating a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided that includes generating a beam of polarized light; and transforming a polarization state of the beam of polarized light at a rate faster than a rate of data collection at a plurality of detectors configured to detect light reflected from a target for the purpose of speckle-reduction.

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) system includes a first optical source to generate a first optical beam and a second optical source to generate a second optical beam. The first optical beam and the second optical beam are separated by a first spacing. The system further includes an optical system to receive the first optical beam and the second optical beam and reduce the first spacing between the first optical beam and the second optical beam to a second spacing and an output lens to transmit the first and second optical beams to scanner optics.

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.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system according to the present disclosure comprises an optical source to emit an optical beam, and an optical circulator to receive the optical beam and transmit the optical beam to a target, to receive a target return signal from the target and to transmit the target return signal to one or more photodetectors (PDs). The optical circulator is configured to collect all polarization states in the target return signal. The LiDAR system further comprises an optical element to generate a local oscillator (LO) signal, and the one or more PDs to mix the target return signal with the LO signal to generate a heterodyne signal to extract range and velocity information of the target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, and free-space optics coupled with the optical source to focus the optical beam at a first focal plane, 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. The free-space optics configured 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 also includes 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) 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 configured to emit an optical beam. The LIDAR apparatus further includes free space optics configured to receive a first portion of the optical beam as a target signal and a second portion of the optical beam as a local oscillator signal, and combine the target signal and the local oscillator signal. The LIDAR apparatus includes a multi-mode (MM) waveguide configured to receive the combined signal.

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 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 is provided that includes a laser source configured to emit a laser beam in a first direction. The apparatus also includes lensing optics configured to pass a first portion of the laser beam in the first direction toward a target, return a second portion of the laser beam into a return path as a local oscillator signal, and return a target signal into the return path. The apparatus also includes a quarter-wave plate configured to polarize the laser beam headed in the first direction and polarize the target signal returned through the lensing optics. The apparatus also includes a polarization beam splitter configured to pass non-polarized light through the beam splitter in the first direction and reflect polarized light in a second direction different than the first direction, wherein the polarization beam splitter is further configured to enable interference between the local oscillator signal and the target signal to generate a mixed signal.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes optical source configured to emit a laser beam in a first direction, a polarization wave plate configured to transform polarization state of the laser beam headed in the first direction toward a target environment, and a reflective optical component to return a portion of the laser beam toward the optical source along a return path and through the polarization wave plate as a local oscillator signal. A polarization selective component to separate light in the return path based on the optical polarization, wherein the polarization selective component refracts orthogonally polarized light along the return path to a divergent path, wherein the polarization selective component is further configured to enable interference between the local oscillator signal and the target signal to generate a combined signal.