Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system includes a beam combining component to combine a first optical beam including a first polarization and a second optical beam including a second polarization into a single spatial mode optical beam, and a first beam splitting component to split the single spatial mode optical beam into a plurality of single spatial mode optical beams.

Abstract: A frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a high-pass filter that includes a first connection and a second connection. The system includes an optical amplifier that couples to the first connection of the high-pass filter. The system includes a power source that couples to the first connection of the high-pass filter and provides power to the optical amplifier. The system includes switching circuitry that includes an output that couples to the second connection of the high-pass filter. The switching circuitry produces at the output a first voltage level and a second voltage level. The first voltage level causes the optical amplifier to turn on, and the second voltage level causes the optical amplifier to turn off.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide light detection and ranging (LIDAR) systems and methods for using an electro-optical phase-locked loop (EOPLL) and algorithmic frequency locking hybrid driver to lock a beat frequency to the reference frequency. By using the hybrid driver, the present disclosure solves an architectural problem of LIDAR systems related to limited (e.g., narrow and applicable) reference frequency ranges, and provides a flexible and broad reference frequency range coverage. The present disclosure thus allows LIDAR systems to use the hybrid laser driver to effectively change hardware configurations to achieve desired reference frequencies.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a detection threshold in a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes determining a first confidence threshold with respect to a confidence metric for detecting a first target within a range of frequencies corresponding to a field of view of the LIDAR system, determining a subset of frequencies within the range of frequencies for detecting a second target, wherein a frequency peak associated with the second target has a confidence metric value lower than the first confidence threshold, and adjusting the first confidence threshold to a second confidence threshold at the subset of frequencies for detecting the second target.

Abstract: A method of aligning an optical lens in a LiDAR system includes emitting an optical beam by an optical source. The method includes placing the optical lens in front of a photodetector at a first predetermined position. The method further includes moving the optical lens to a plurality of Z-positions along a direction of an optical axis, the plurality of Z-positions corresponding to a plurality of parameter values of the LO signal. The method further includes generating a fitting function based on a set of values of the LO signal; and determining a parameter value of the LO signal for each Z-position. The method includes determining an initial Z-axis position of the optical lens by selecting a Z-position from the plurality of Z-positions based on a plurality of parameter values. The method includes determining a final Z-position of the optical lens by adding an offset to the initial Z-axis position.

Abstract: The FMCW LiDAR system includes an optical drive electronic circuit to receive a reference frequency signal and a beat frequency signal to generate a drive signal. The optical drive electronic circuit includes a TDC to calculate a phase difference between the reference frequency signal and the beat frequency signal and a digital ramp control to: provided the phase difference is a positive value, produce a ramp down control signal to increase a current chirp rate to an increased chirp rate; provided the phase difference is a negative value, produce a ramp up control signal to decrease the current chirp rate to a decreased chirp rate. The optical drive electronic circuit includes a digital integrator to generate a digital output based on at least one of the ramp down control signal or the ramp up control signal and a DAC to convert the digital output to an analog output.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a beam collimator, a plurality of first lenses, a plurality of tunable lenses, and one or more optical sources to generate a plurality of optical beams. Each tunable lens may be disposed adjacent a respective one of the plurality of first lenses such that the respective one of the plurality of first lenses is between the tunable lens and the beam collimator. Each of the plurality of optical beams may pass through one of the tunable lenses and one of the first lenses towards the beam collimator. Each of the plurality of tunable lenses may be separately controllable by selectively applying voltage to the tunable lens to adjust a focal length of the tunable lens to compensate for a variation in focus positions of the plurality of first lenses.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a plurality of optical sources to generate a plurality of optical beams and at least one optical component adjustable to shift the plurality of optical beams to align with a reference output beam pattern prior to propagating to output scanning optics.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system performs a method including generating a frequency domain waveform based on a baseband electrical signal in a time domain, wherein the frequency domain waveform includes a spectrum of frequencies and determining a likelihood metric for the spectrum of frequencies of the frequency domain waveform. The method further includes in response to one or more parameters associated with the frequency domain waveform satisfying a condition, modifying the likelihood metric for the spectrum of frequencies based on the one or more parameters associated with the frequency domain waveform to generate a modified likelihood metric for the spectrum of frequencies, selecting a peak frequency from the frequency domain waveform corresponding to a frequency with the highest value for the modified likelihood metric, and determining one or more properties of a target based at least in part on the selected peak frequency.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a configurable TIA circuit that can be used as both a single-ended “target TIA” and a differential “reference TIA”. The configurable TIA may include a first circuit to receive an input from a first photodiode (PD), the first circuit comprising a first switch and a first output buffer. The configurable TIA may also include a second circuit to receive an input from a second PD, the second circuit comprising a second switch and a second output buffer. The first and second switches are configured to operate the first and second circuits as independent signal paths via which the input from the first and second PDs can drive the first and second output buffers respectively in a first mode, and in a second mode, combine the input from the first and second PDs into the first output buffer to generate a single differential output.

Abstract: Various implementations of the invention compensate for “phase wandering” in tunable laser sources. Phase wandering may negatively impact a performance of a lidar system that employ such laser sources, typically by reducing a coherence length/range of the lidar system, an effective bandwidth of the lidar system, a sensitivity of the lidar system, etc. Some implementations of the invention compensate for phase wandering near the laser source and before the output of the laser is directed toward a target. Some implementations of the invention compensate for phase wandering in the target signal (i.e., the output of the laser that is incident on and reflected back from the target). Some implementations of the invention compensate for phase wandering at the laser source and in the target signal.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes optical sources to emit a continuous-wave (CW) optical beam and a frequency-modulated CW (FMCW) optical beam, an optical component to split a target return signal into a CW return signal and a FMCW return signal, and at least one optical detector to detect a first beat frequency from a combination of a CW local oscillator (LO) signal and the CW return signal, and a second beat frequency from a combination of a FMCW LO signal and the FMCW return signal, wherein the first beat frequency is associated with a velocity of a target and the second beat frequency is associated with a range of the target.

Abstract: A polarization splitter-rotator (PSR) is described. The PSR having a silicon nitride based waveguide including a first silicon nitride segment comprising a tapered width in a longitudinal direction and a ridge extending in a transverse direction and an adiabatic coupler coupled with the first silicon nitride segment.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system, includes a memory, and a processor, operatively coupled to the memory, to identify an obstruction of the LIDAR system based on a comparison of a frequency of an energy peak generated from a return signal to a threshold frequency and mitigate the obstruction.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide a LIDAR system including an optical source to transmit at least a first beam and a second beam toward a target, respectively at a first original power level and a second original power level. The LIDAR system further includes an optical attenuator adapted to receive each of the first and the second beams disposed between the optical source and one or more optics. The at least one optical attenuator is to receive a controlled voltage to adjust a polarization of at least one of the first beam or the second beam to a first polarization. The first and the second beams are transmitted toward a corresponding local oscillator resident on the LIDAR system, such that an output of the first beam and an output of the second beam transmitted through the local oscillator are balanced to have a substantially equal power level.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system performs a method including generating a frequency domain waveform based on a baseband signal in a time domain, determining a first likelihood metric for frequencies in the frequency domain waveform, and identifying one or more frequencies in the frequency domain waveform that exceed a threshold value for the first likelihood metric. The method further includes determining a second likelihood metric for the frequencies in the frequency domain waveform, selecting a peak frequency from the frequency domain waveform corresponding to the frequency with the highest value for the second likelihood metric based on the one or more frequencies in the frequency domain waveform that exceed the threshold value for the first likelihood metric, and determining one or more properties of a target based at least in part on the selected peak frequency and the corresponding values of the first and second likelihood metrics.

Abstract: A method for dynamic monitoring of a trailer using a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system comprising: scanning the trailer using a set of sensors positioned on a tractor towing the trailer to generate a point cloud of the trailer and monitoring an initial set of motion data of the trailer produced within the point cloud, wherein the motion data comprises velocity data related to the trailer. Provided the initial set of motion data is outside a safe operational threshold, instructing the tractor to perform a corrective action that causes a subsequent set of motion data of the trailer to be within the safe operational threshold. Provided the initial set of motion data is within the safe operational threshold, continuing to monitor the initial set of motion data until the initial set of motion data is outside the safe operational threshold.

Abstract: A LiDAR system includes an optical source to emit an optical beam toward a target, a partially reflective surface to generate a local oscillator (LO) signal from the optical beam, and an optical lens disposed in front of a photodetector (PD), wherein the LO signal is incident at a decenter of the optical lens to shift the LO signal at the photodetector with respect to a return signal received from the target.

Abstract: A set of POIs of a point cloud are received at a first filter. Each POI of the set of POIs is filtered. At a second filter, based on a first metric, a first score of the POI is determined. At a third filter, based on a second metric, a second score of the POI is determined. At the first filter, based on the first score and the second score, whether to accept the POI, modify the POI, or reject the POI, is determined to extract range or velocity information.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging apparatus (LIDAR) includes at least one waveguide including a first cladding layer having a first refractive index and a second cladding layer having multiple second refractive indexes to expand an optical mode of an optical beam propagating within the waveguide. The second refractive indexes include a gradient of refractive indexes and the first refractive index is less than the second refractive indexes.