Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to variable gain amplification for a sensor application. A multistage variable gain amplifier system provides variable gain amplification of an input signal. The multistage variable gain amplifier system includes a plurality of amplification stages. The multistage variable gain amplifier system further includes a power detector configured to detect a power level of an input signal received by the multistage variable gain amplifier system. The multistage variable gain amplifier system also includes a controller configured to control the amplification stages based on the power level of the input signal. The multistage variable gain amplifier system can output an output signal such that the amplification stages are controlled to adjust a gain applied to the input signal by the multistage variable gain amplifier system to output the output signal.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to a testing apparatus that enables an analog frequency response of a device under test to be analyzed. The testing apparatus includes a laser source and an optical resonator. The laser source is optically injection locked to the optical resonator. The testing apparatus also includes a modulator configured to apply a time-varying voltage to the optical resonator. The time-varying voltage causes the laser source optically injection locked to the optical resonator to generate a frequency modulated optical signal that can include time-varying chirps. The testing apparatus further includes an interferometer (e.g., variable delay, fixed length) configured to receive the frequency modulated optical signal from the laser source optically injection locked to the optical resonator. The interferometer outputs an optical test signal having a range of frequencies. The frequencies in the optical test signal are based at least in part on the time-varying chirps.

Abstract: A system comprises an optical heterodyne device, the optical heterodyne device configured to generate an overlap signal based upon: 1) a first optical signal output by a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) laser, wherein the first optical signal comprises an optical frequency chirp that is based upon an input voltage signal received by the FMCW laser; and 2) a second optical signal output by a reference laser. The system also includes a photodetector that is optically coupled to the optical heterodyne device, the photodetector configured to output an electrical beat signal based upon the mixing of the optical signals, wherein the electrical beat signal is representative of the mixed down optical signal. The system further includes a frequency analyzer system that generates, based upon the electrical beat signal, data that is indicative of linearity of the optical frequency chirp in the first optical signal.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to a time of flight lidar sensor system that uses a coherent detection scheme. The lidar sensor system includes a laser source, a semiconductor optical amplifier, a combiner, and a balanced detector. The laser source emits an input optical signal. The semiconductor optical amplifier receives a first portion of the input optical signal and outputs a modulated optical signal (amplified and modulated). The combiner receives a second portion of the input optical signal and a returned optical signal received responsive to transmission of at least a portion of the modulated optical signal. The combiner coherently mixes the second portion of the input optical signal with the returned optical signal and outputs mixed optical signals. The balanced detector detects the mixed optical signals and generates an output signal (e.g., a differential photocurrent), which can be used to detect a distance to a target.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to variable gain amplification for a sensor application. A multistage variable gain amplifier system provides variable gain amplification of an input signal. The multistage variable gain amplifier system includes a plurality of amplification stages. The multistage variable gain amplifier system further includes a power detector configured to detect a power level of an input signal received by the multistage variable gain amplifier system. The multistage variable gain amplifier system also includes a controller configured to control the amplification stages based on the power level of the input signal. The multistage variable gain amplifier system can output an output signal such that the amplification stages are controlled to adjust a gain applied to the input signal by the multistage variable gain amplifier system to output the output signal.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to variable gain amplification for a sensor application. A multistage variable gain amplifier system provides variable gain amplification of an input signal. The multistage variable gain amplifier system includes a plurality of amplification stages. The multistage variable gain amplifier system further includes a power detector configured to detect a power level of an input signal received by the multistage variable gain amplifier system. The multistage variable gain amplifier system also includes a controller configured to control the amplification stages based on the power level of the input signal. The multistage variable gain amplifier system can output an output signal such that the amplification stages are controlled to adjust a gain applied to the input signal by the multistage variable gain amplifier system to output the output signal.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to a time of flight lidar sensor system that uses a coherent detection scheme. The lidar sensor system includes a laser source, a semiconductor optical amplifier, a combiner, and a balanced detector. The laser source emits an input optical signal. The semiconductor optical amplifier receives a first portion of the input optical signal and outputs a modulated optical signal (amplified and modulated). The combiner receives a second portion of the input optical signal and a returned optical signal received responsive to transmission of at least a portion of the modulated optical signal. The combiner coherently mixes the second portion of the input optical signal with the returned optical signal and outputs mixed optical signals. The balanced detector detects the mixed optical signals and generates an output signal (e.g., a differential photocurrent), which can be used to detect a distance to a target.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to variable gain amplification for a sensor application. A multistage variable gain amplifier system provides variable gain amplification of an input signal. The multistage variable gain amplifier system includes a plurality of amplification stages. The multistage variable gain amplifier system further includes a power detector configured to detect a power level of an input signal received by the multistage variable gain amplifier system. The multistage variable gain amplifier system also includes a controller configured to control the amplification stages based on the power level of the input signal. The multistage variable gain amplifier system can output an output signal such that the amplification stages are controlled to adjust a gain applied to the input signal by the multistage variable gain amplifier system to output the output signal.

Abstract: A system comprises an optical heterodyne device, the optical heterodyne device configured to generate an overlap signal based upon: 1) a first optical signal output by a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) laser, wherein the first optical signal comprises an optical frequency chirp that is based upon an input voltage signal received by the FMCW laser; and 2) a second optical signal output by a reference laser. The system also includes a photodetector that is optically coupled to the optical heterodyne device, the photodetector configured to output an electrical beat signal based upon the mixing of the optical signals, wherein the electrical beat signal is representative of the mixed down optical signal. The system further includes a frequency analyzer system that generates, based upon the electrical beat signal, data that is indicative of linearity of the optical frequency chirp in the first optical signal.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to a testing apparatus that enables an analog frequency response of a device under test to be analyzed. The testing apparatus includes a laser source and an optical resonator. The laser source is optically injection locked to the optical resonator. The testing apparatus also includes a modulator configured to apply a time-varying voltage to the optical resonator. The time-varying voltage causes the laser source optically injection locked to the optical resonator to generate a frequency modulated optical signal that can include time-varying chirps. The testing apparatus further includes an interferometer (e.g., variable delay, fixed length) configured to receive the frequency modulated optical signal from the laser source optically injection locked to the optical resonator. The interferometer outputs an optical test signal having a range of frequencies. The frequencies in the optical test signal are based at least in part on the time-varying chirps.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting biometrics using a life detecting radar are disclosed. Life detecting radars can include transmit antennas configured to transmit continuous microwave (“CW”) radio signals that reflect back upon making contact with various objects. The signal can be systematically varied in frequency to provide a signal that is essentially continuous with short gaps between transmissions at different frequencies. The reflected return signals are received by one or more receive antennas and processed to detect one or more targets. The received signal can include a static (i.e. constant phase) signal corresponding to reflections from objects that do not move. The received signal can also include a phase varying signal that corresponds to reflections from a living target having measurable biometrics including (but not limited to) breathing patterns and heartbeats. Clutter can be removed and the remaining portions of the received signal are analyzed for target detection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting biometrics using microwave radar sensor modules are disclosed. Integrated microwave sensor modules can include a transmitter unit configured to generate at least one continuous wave transmit signal based upon at least one frequency control signal, a receiver unit configured to utilize a cancellation path to cancel contributions to a return signal based upon at least one cancellation path control signal, and a microcontroller unit that includes a processor, a memory containing a microcontroller application, where the microcontroller application configures the processor to generate at least one frequency control signal to generate least one CW transmit signal having a plurality of frequencies, generate at least one cancellation path control signal to automatically adjust the cancellation path in real time, receive at least one demodulated signal, digitize the at least one demodulated signal, and update the at least one frequency control and cancellation path control signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting biometrics using microwave radar sensor modules are disclosed. Integrated microwave sensor modules can include a transmitter unit configured to generate at least one continuous wave transmit signal based upon at least one frequency control signal, a receiver unit configured to utilize a cancellation path to cancel contributions to a return signal based upon at least one cancellation path control signal, and a microcontroller unit that includes a processor, a memory containing a microcontroller application, where the microcontroller application configures the processor to generate at least one frequency control signal to generate least one CW transmit signal having a plurality of frequencies, generate at least one cancellation path control signal to automatically adjust the cancellation path in real time, receive at least one demodulated signal, digitize the at least one demodulated signal, and update the at least one frequency control and cancellation path control signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting biometrics using a life detecting radar are disclosed. Life detecting radars can include transmit antennas configured to transmit continuous microwave (“CW”) radio signals that reflect back upon making contact with various objects. The signal can be systematically varied in frequency to provide a signal that is essentially continuous with short gaps between transmissions at different frequencies. The reflected return signals are received by one or more receive antennas and processed to detect one or more targets. The received signal can include a static (i.e. constant phase) signal corresponding to reflections from objects that do not move. The received signal can also include a phase varying signal that corresponds to reflections from a living target having measurable biometrics including (but not limited to) breathing patterns and heartbeats. Clutter can be removed and the remaining portions of the received signal are analyzed for target detection.