Abstract: A Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photodetector, a spectrum analyzer and a processor. The photodetector generates an electrical signal in response to a reflected light beam received at the photodetector, the reflected light beam being a reflection of a chirp signal from the object. The electrical signal has a bandwidth the same as a bandwidth of the chirp signal. The spectrum analyzer includes a power divider that partitions the electrical signal into a plurality of channels, an analog-to-digital converter that converts the electrical signal within a selected channel from an analog signal to a digital signal, and a comb filter that provides output from the selected channel from the power divider to the analog-to-digital converter. The processor determines a parameter of the object from the digital signal in the selected channel.

Abstract: A Lidar system, photonic chip and method of detecting an object. The photonic chip includes a laser and one or more photodetectors. The laser generates a transmitted light beam. The one or more photodetectors are receptive to a reflected light beam that is a reflection of the transmitted light beam from an object and generate an electrical signal as output in response to the reflected light beam signal. An amplifier is configured to amplify a signal related to the reflected light beam to amplify the output signal of the one or more photodetectors. A processor determines a parameter of the object from the amplified output signal.

Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photonic chip, and a laser integrated into the photonic chip. The laser has a front facet located at a first aperture of the photonic chip to direct a transmitted light beam into free space. A reflected light beam that is a reflection of the transmitted light beam is received at the photonic chip and a parameter of the object is determined from a comparison of the transmitted light beam and the reflected light beam. A navigation system operates the vehicle with respect to the object based on a parameter of the object.

Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photonic chip having a laser, an on-chip frequency shifter, a combiner and a first set of photodetectors. The laser generates a transmitted light beam and an associated local oscillator beam within the photonic chip. The on-chip frequency shifter shifts a frequency of the local oscillator beam. The combiner combines a reflected light beam with the frequency-shifted local oscillator beam, wherein the reflected light beam is a reflection of the transmitted light beam from the object to generate a first electronic signal at the first set of photodetectors. A processor obtains a first measurement of a parameter of the object from the first electronic signal. The vehicle includes a navigation system for navigating the vehicle with respect to the object using at least the first measurement of the parameter.

Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photonic chip having an aperture, one or more photodetectors and a circulator. A transmitted light beam generated within the photonic chip exits the photonic chip via the aperture and a reflected light beam enters the photonic chip via the aperture, the reflected light beam being a reflection of the transmitted light beam from the object. The one or more photodetectors measure the parameter of the object from at least the reflected light beam. The circulator integrated into the photonic chip directs the transmitted light beam toward the aperture and directs the reflected light beam from the aperture to the one or more photodetectors. A navigation system navigates the vehicle with respect to the object based on the parameter of the object.

Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object. The Lidar system includes an optical phase array and a mirror. The optical phase array directs a transmitted light beam generated by a laser along a first direction within a first plane. The mirror receives the transmitted light beam from the optical phase array and directs the transmitted light beam along a second direction within a second plane.

Abstract: A Lidar system, photonic chip and method of detecting an object. The photonic chip includes a laser and one or more photodetectors. The laser generates a transmitted light beam. The one or more photodetectors are receptive to a reflected light beam that is a reflection of the transmitted light beam from an object and generate an electrical signal as output in response to the reflected light beam signal. An amplifier is configured to amplify a signal related to the reflected light beam to amplify the output signal of the one or more photodetectors. A processor determines a parameter of the object from the amplified output signal.

Abstract: A Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photodetector, a spectrum analyzer and a processor. The photodetector generates an electrical signal in response to a reflected light beam received at the photodetector, the reflected light beam being a reflection of a chirp signal from the object. The electrical signal has a bandwidth the same as a bandwidth of the chirp signal. The spectrum analyzer includes a power divider that partitions the electrical signal into a plurality of channels, an analog-to-digital converter that converts the electrical signal within a selected channel from an analog signal to a digital signal, and a comb filter that provides output from the selected channel from the power divider to the analog-to-digital converter. The processor determines a parameter of the object from the digital signal in the selected channel.

Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and a method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a first photonic chip, a second photonic chip, a mirror and a processor. The first photonic chip generates a first transmitted light beam, and the second photonic chip generates a second transmitted light beam. The mirror directs the first transmitted light beam over a first field of view and the second transmitted light beam over a second field of view, with an object being in at least one of the first and second fields of view. The processor determines a parameter of the object from at least one of a first reflection from the first field of view and a second reflection from the second field of view. A navigation system can be used to navigate the vehicle with respect to the object based on the parameter of the object.

Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object. The Lidar system includes an optical phase array and a mirror. The optical phase array directs a transmitted light beam generated by a laser along a first direction within a first plane. The mirror receives the transmitted light beam from the optical phase array and directs the transmitted light beam along a second direction within a second plane.

Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photonic chip having an aperture, one or more photodetectors and a circulator. A transmitted light beam generated within the photonic chip exits the photonic chip via the aperture and a reflected light beam enters the photonic chip via the aperture, the reflected light beam being a reflection of the transmitted light beam from the object. The one or more photodetectors measure the parameter of the object from at least the reflected light beam. The circulator integrated into the photonic chip directs the transmitted light beam toward the aperture and directs the reflected light beam from the aperture to the one or more photodetectors. A navigation system navigates the vehicle with respect to the object based on the parameter of the object.

Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photonic chip having a laser, an on-chip frequency shifter, a combiner and a first set of photodetectors. The laser generates a transmitted light beam and an associated local oscillator beam within the photonic chip. The on-chip frequency shifter shifts a frequency of the local oscillator beam. The combiner combines a reflected light beam with the frequency-shifted local oscillator beam, wherein the reflected light beam is a reflection of the transmitted light beam from the object to generate a first electronic signal at the first set of photodetectors. A processor obtains a first measurement of a parameter of the object from the first electronic signal. The vehicle includes a navigation system for navigating the vehicle with respect to the object using at least the first measurement of the parameter.

Abstract: A Lidar system, photonic chip and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes the photonic chip. The photonic chip includes a laser and a local oscillator waveguide. The laser is integrated into the photonic chip and generates a leakage energy at a back facet of the laser for use as a local oscillator beam for the photonic chip. The local oscillator waveguide receives the leakage energy as the local oscillator beam. The laser further generates a transmitted light beam through a front facet of the photonic chip, combining the leakage energy with a reflection of the transmitted light beam form an object, and detects a combination of the reflected light beam and the leakage energy to determine a parameter of the object.

Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photonic chip, and a laser integrated into the photonic chip. The laser has a front facet located at a first aperture of the photonic chip to direct a transmitted light beam into free space. A reflected light beam that is a reflection of the transmitted light beam is received at the photonic chip and a parameter of the object is determined from a comparison of the transmitted light beam and the reflected light beam. A navigation system operates the vehicle with respect to the object based on a parameter of the object.

Abstract: A method for a memory device utility program includes (1) detecting a memory device being coupled to a host device, (2) in response to said detecting, locating files on the memory device, (3) displaying a file transfer page comprising a file transfer button for transferring the files on the memory device to the host device, and (4) in response to a user selecting the transfer button, transferring the files on the memory device to the host device.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and methods for retrieving selected supply chain data from various supply chain information databases and presenting the selected data to a user for viewing. The invention allows sharing of supply chain information by receiving a data request from a user, filtering the data request, issuing a data request to an application that retrieves the data from at least one associated database, organizing the data retrieved by the application, and sending the organized data for display to the user that originated the request. The invention also provides a two-tier security system whereby the user's data access is restricted to the type of data that it is authorized to view as well as confining the user's access to predetermined fields within that data type. Finally, the invention provides a system and methods for organizing the data presented to the user in a logical and efficient manner that is responsive to the user's preferences.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a transport manager and related method for determining an optimal, cost-minimizing set of product transportation decisions based upon expected transportation costs. Additionally, disclosed herein is an electronic execution and related method for tracking and controlling the delivery and/or pickup of products according to the optimal transportation plan and a payment manager and related method for forwarding payments and invoices for the transport of the products.