Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) assembly comprising a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) array and a U-turn chip. The SOA array includes an input SOA and a plurality of SOAs. The input SOA and the plurality of SOAs are arranged parallel to one another. The U-turn chip includes an optical splitter and a waveguide assembly. The optical splitter is configured to receive amplified input light propagating in a first direction from the input SOA, and divide the amplified light into beams. The waveguide assembly guides the beams to a corresponding SOA of the plurality of SOAs, and adjusts a direction of prorogation of each of the guided beams to be substantially parallel to a second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transceiver includes optical antenna arrays and an optical switch. Some of the optical antenna arrays include a number of optical antennas and an optical splitter coupled to the optical antennas. The optical splitter may include a number of passive optical splitters. The optical splitter provides a portion of an input signal to the optical antennas. The optical switch is configured to selectively provide the input signal to at least one of the plurality of optical antenna arrays. The optical switch enables addressable field of view scanning by selectively providing the input signal to the plurality of antenna arrays, one array at a time.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a transmitter, a receiving pixel, a rotating mirror, and a beam displacement apparatus. The transmitter is configured to emit a transmit beam. The receiving pixel is configured to receive a returning beam. The rotating mirror is configured to direct the transmit beam to a target and direct the returning beam to the receiving pixel. The beam displacement apparatus is disposed between the receiving pixel and the rotating mirror. The beam displacement apparatus is configured to introduce a displacement to the returning beam to compensate for a spacing between the transmitter and the receiving pixel.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a LIDAR measurement unit, a reference measurement unit, and a phase cancellation unit. The LIDAR measurement unit estimates a time for which a laser beam travels. The reference measurement unit determines a phase of a laser source. The phase cancellation unit identifies phase noise and cancels the phase noise from the laser beam, at least partially based on the phase of the laser source and the time for which the laser beam travels. The denoised signal is used to determine the range between a laser source and a target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a LIDAR measurement unit, a reference measurement unit, and a phase cancellation unit. The LIDAR measurement unit estimates a time for which a laser beam travels. The reference measurement unit determines a phase of a laser source. The phase cancellation unit identifies phase noise and cancels the phase noise from the laser beam, at least partially based on the phase of the laser source and the time for which the laser beam travels. The denoised signal is used to determine the range between a laser source and a target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system include one or more LIDAR pixels including a transmit optical antenna, a receive optical antenna, a first receiver, and a second receiver. The transmit optical antenna is configured to emit a transmit beam. The receive optical antenna is configured to detect (i) a first polarization orientation of a returning beam and (ii) a second polarization orientation of the returning beam.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device includes a substrate layer, a cladding layer, a waveguide, and an ohmic element. The cladding layer is disposed with the substrate layer. The waveguide runs through the cladding layer. The ohmic element runs through the cladding layer. The ohmic element is arranged to impart heat to the waveguide when an electrical current is driven through the ohmic element.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system includes a dual-polarization optical antenna, a single-polarization optical antenna, a first receiver, and a second receiver. The dual-polarization optical antenna is configured to (i) emit a transmit beam with a first polarization orientation and (ii) and detect a return beam having a second polarization orientation. The single-polarization optical antenna is configured to detect the return beam having the second polarization orientation.

Abstract: A thermal-optical phase shifter includes a substrate layer, a cladding layer, and a beam in the cladding layer. The thermal-optical phase shifter includes a waveguide and a heating element disposed in the beam. The thermal-optical phase shifter includes a thermally conductive structure disposed on the cladding layer to disperse heat from the beam. The thermally conductive structure may include a metal strip disposed longitudinally along the beam, may include thermally conductive pads, and/or may include thermally conductive vias coupled between the cladding layer and the substrate layer. The thermal-optical phase shifter may be incorporated into light detection and ranging (LIDAR) devices, telecommunications devices, and/or computing devices.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device includes a waveguide, cladding, and a scattering array. The waveguide is configured to route an infrared optical field. The cladding is disposed around the waveguide. The scattering array is formed in the cladding. The scattering array is configured to perturb the infrared optical field routed by the waveguide to direct the infrared optical field into an infrared beam propagating toward a surface of the cladding.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device includes a pixel, a mirror, and a birefringent material. The pixel is configured to emit light having a first polarization orientation. The mirror is configured to reflect the light to a surface. The birefringent material is disposed between the pixel and the mirror. The birefringent material introduces an offset in a position of the emitted light having the first polarization orientation propagating through the birefringent material. The birefringent material shifts a reflected beam in space horizontally back on the pixel.

Abstract: A LIDAR transceiver includes an input port, optical antennas, an optical switch, splitters, and mixers. The optical switch switchably couples an input port to the optical antennas. For at least one optical path from the input port to one of the optical antennas, a splitter is coupled along the optical path. The splitter splits a received portion of a laser signal into a local oscillator signal and a transmit signal and outputs a return signal that is a portion of the reflected signal. The transmit signal is emitted through the optical antenna and a reflection of the transmit signal is received through the optical antenna as a reflected signal.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a first receive optical coupler, a second receive optical coupler, a first optical mixer, a second optical mixer, and an optical switch. The first optical mixer is configured to receive a first receive signal from the first receive optical coupler. The second optical mixer is configured to receive a second receive signal from the second receive optical coupler. The optical switch is configured to switch an oscillator light signal between the first optical mixer and the second optical mixer.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) pixel includes a polarization controller, a grating coupler, and an optical mixer. The polarization controller includes a phase shifter that sets a phase of light in a first arm of the polarization controller and a second arm of the polarization controller.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a LIDAR measurement unit, a reference measurement unit, and a phase cancellation unit. The LIDAR measurement unit estimates a time for which a laser beam travels. The reference measurement unit determines a phase of a laser source. The phase cancellation unit identifies phase noise and cancels the phase noise from the laser beam, at least partially based on the phase of the laser source and the time for which the laser beam travels. The denoised signal is used to determine the range between a laser source and a target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device includes a laser assembly tier and a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) tier. The laser assembly tier includes a laser configured to emit laser light. The PIC tier includes a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and a PIC wafer configured to incouple laser light into the PIC wafer and direct the laser light to the SOA.