Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system to transmit an optical beam toward a target and receive a returned optical beam. The optical beam includes an up-chirp frequency and a down-chirp frequency, and is modulated to have phase non-linearities. The LIDAR system generates a baseband signal from the returned optical beam, which includes a plurality of peaks corresponding with the up-chirp frequency and the down-chirp frequency. The LIDAR system identifies a first true peak in the baseband signal, and identifies a second true peak in the baseband signal based, at least in part, on a spectral shape of the second true peak caused by the phase non-linearities. The LIDAR system is to determine the location of the target using the first true peak and the second true peak.

Abstract: A frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system that includes an optical source to generate light at a target frequency. The system also includes a first transistor to transmit a modulation current through a modulation path that includes the optical source and a modulation resistor. The system also includes electro optical circuitry coupled to the first transistor to produce a phase locked loop. The system also includes a second transistor to transmit a bias current through a bias path that includes the optical source and is separate from the modulation path, wherein the bias path is separate from the modulation path.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system, includes an optical source to generate a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) optical beam, a memory, and a processor, operatively coupled to the memory, to identify energy peaks in a frequency domain of a range-dependent baseband signal that corresponds to a return signal from a reflection of the FMCW optical beam and identify an obstruction of the LIDAR system based on a comparison of a frequency of the energy peaks to a threshold frequency.

Abstract: A system uses range and Doppler velocity measurements from a lidar system and images from a video system to estimate a six degree-of-freedom trajectory (6DOF) of a target. The 6DOF transformation parameters are used to transform multiple images to the frame time of a selected image, thus obtaining multiple images at the same frame time. These multiple images may be used to increase a resolution of the image at each frame time, obtaining the collection of the superresolution images.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided that includes a first optical source and a second optical source configured to emit respectively a first optical beam and a second optical beam that are nondegenerate and are chirped antiphase and at least one tap configured to split each of the first optical beam and the second optical beam to generate a first local oscillator and a second local oscillator.

Abstract: A method of operating a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system is provided that includes performing a scene measurement using a LiDAR sensor capable of measuring Doppler per point. The method also includes estimating a velocity of the LiDAR sensor with respect to static points within the scene based on the scene measurement. The method may also include compensating for the velocity of the LiDAR sensor and compensating for a Doppler velocity of the LiDAR sensor.

Abstract: A system including one or more waveguides to receive a first returned reflection having a first lag angle and generate a first waveguide signal, receive a second returned reflection having a second lag angle different from the first lag angle, and generate a second waveguide signal. The system includes one or more photodetectors to generate a first output signal within a first frequency range, and generate, based on the second waveguide signal and a second LO signal, a second output signal within a second frequency range. The system includes an optical frequency shifter (OFS) to shift a frequency of the second LO signal to cause the second output signal to shift from within the second frequency range to within the first frequency range to generate a shifted signal. The system includes a processor to receive the shifted signal to produce one or more points in a point set.

Abstract: A system and method including, receiving a plurality of optical beams in a first direction along a first plane in a first beam pattern towards an optical element based on a trajectory that causes at least a portion of the plurality of optical beams to not contact a surface of the optical lens. The system and method includes transmitting a first set of the plurality of optical beams in the first direction along a second plane. The system and method includes transmitting a second set of the plurality of optical beams in the first direction along the first plane. The system and method includes generating a second beam pattern by transmitting the first set and the second set of the plurality of optical beams through an optical element, wherein the second beam pattern adjusts the trajectory to cause the portion to contact the surface of the optical lens.

Abstract: A frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: receive samples of a range-dependent time domain baseband signal; assemble the samples into sample blocks in the time domain; convert the sample blocks from the time domain to the frequency domain; generate subbands in the frequency domain from converted sample blocks; classify the subbands into a plurality of subband types based on subband typing criteria; select subband processing parameters for each of the subbands based on respective ones of the plurality of subband types; and process each of the subbands using the selected subband processing parameters for the subband.

Abstract: An optical sub-assembly includes a diode submount structure, a diode mounted to the diode submount, and a thermoelectric cooler (TEC). The TEC is in thermal contact with the diode, and the diode is positioned between the diode submount structure and the TEC.

Abstract: A method of testing a photonics die at the wafer level includes providing a sacrificial waveguide and a grating coupler at least partially in a scribe line between dies of a wafer, performing one or more tests on the dies of the wafer via the sacrificial waveguide and grating coupler in the scribe line, and removing the sacrificial waveguide during separation of the dies of the wafer.

Abstract: A frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system that includes an optical source to transmit an optical beam and a drive circuit configured to drive a current through the optical source to transmit the optical beam at a frequency. The system also includes an operational amplifier comprising a plurality of inputs to produce an output voltage for receipt by the drive circuit as input to determine an amplitude of the current driven by the drive circuit through the light source. The system also includes electro optical circuitry coupled to a first input of the plurality of inputs to produce a phase locked loop to maintain the light at the frequency. The system also includes ramp control circuitry coupled to a second input the plurality of inputs to cause the output voltage of the operational amplifier to modulate the optical beam at the frequency.

Abstract: Techniques for cascade filtering of a set of points of interest (POIs) in a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system is described. The method includes performing a series of cascaded filtering of a set of points of interest (POIs) on a first point cloud. The method includes calculating, for each POI of the set of POIs, at least a first metric for a first set of neighborhood points to make a decision with respect to a subset of the set of POIs for transmission to a second point cloud. The method also includes extracting at least one of range or velocity information based on the second point cloud based on the decision.

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 and apparatus including a photonics chip mounted to a substrate, the photonics chip including one or more optical components and one or more electrical components and one or more integrated circuit (IC) chips mounted to the photonics chip to process an electrical signal generated by the one or more optical components and the one or more electrical components, wherein the one or more IC chips are physically separated from the substrate to reduce crosstalk on the LIDAR apparatus.

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: 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 includes an optical circuit including an optical source to transmit an optical beam, a first optical component to generate a local oscillator from the optical beam, a first optical amplifier to amplify a return signal to generate an amplified return signal, wherein a power level of the local oscillator is comparable to a power of amplified spontaneous emission of the first optical amplifier, and an optical detector operatively coupled to the first optical amplifier, the optical detector configured to output an electrical signal based on the amplified return signal and the local oscillator.

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.

Abstract: A system and method for improving a video characteristic of a video stream is described. According to various implementations of the invention, a changed region between a later-in-time image frame and an earlier-in-time image frame and an unchanged region between such two image frames are determined. A new improvement to the video characteristic is determined and applied to the changed region of the later-in-time image frame. A prior improvement to the video characteristic that was determined for the earlier-in-time image frame is applied to the unchanged region of the later-in-time image frame.