Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit (i) local-oscillator light and (ii) pulses of light, where each emitted pulse of light is coherent with a corresponding portion of the local-oscillator light. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect the local-oscillator light and a received pulse of light, the received pulse of light including light from one of the emitted pulses of light that is scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The local-oscillator light and the received pulse of light are coherently mixed together at the receiver. The lidar system further includes a processor configured to determine the distance to the target based at least in part on a time-of-arrival for the received pulse of light.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a wavelength-tunable light source configured to emit pulses of light, each emitted pulse of light having a particular wavelength of multiple different wavelengths. The lidar system also includes a scanner configured to scan the emitted pulses of light across a field of regard of the lidar system. The scanner includes (i) a beam deflector configured to angularly deflect each emitted pulse of light along a first scan axis according to the particular wavelength of the emitted pulse of light and (ii) a scan mirror configured to scan the emitted pulses of light along a second scan axis different from the first scan axis. The lidar system further includes a receiver configured to detect a received pulse of light that includes a portion of one of the emitted pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit pulses of light and a scanner configured to scan the emitted pulses of light across a field of regard of the lidar system. The scanner includes (i) a beam deflector configured to direct each emitted pulse of light along a first scan axis and (ii) a scan mirror configured to scan the emitted pulses of light along a second scan axis different from the first scan axis. The lidar system also includes a receiver that includes a one-dimensional detector array that includes multiple detector elements arranged along a direction corresponding to the first scan axis. The receiver is configured to (i) detect a received pulse of light that includes a portion of one of the emitted pulses of light scattered by a target and (ii) determine a time of arrival of the received pulse of light.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit pulses of light, where each emitted pulse of light includes a spectral signature of multiple different spectral signatures. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect a received pulse of light, the received pulse of light including light from one of the emitted pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The emitted pulse of light includes one of the spectral signatures. The receiver includes a detector configured to produce a photocurrent signal corresponding to the received pulse of light, a frequency-detection circuit configured to determine, based on the photocurrent signal, a spectral signature of the received pulse of light, and a pulse-detection circuit configured to determine, based on the photocurrent signal, a time-of-arrival of the received pulse of light.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit (i) local-oscillator light and (ii) pulses of light. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect the local-oscillator light and a received pulse of light, the received pulse of light including a portion of one of the emitted pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The receiver includes a detector configured to produce a photocurrent signal corresponding to a coherent mixing of the local-oscillator light and the received pulse of light. The detector includes a first input side and a second input side located opposite the first input side, where the received pulse of light is incident on the first input side of the detector, and the local-oscillator light is incident on the second input side of the detector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit (i) local-oscillator light and (ii) pulses of light, where each emitted pulse of light is coherent with a corresponding portion of the local-oscillator light. The light source includes a seed laser configured to produce seed light and the local-oscillator light. The light source also includes a pulsed optical amplifier configured to amplify temporal portions of the seed light to produce the emitted pulses of light, where each amplified temporal portion of the seed light corresponds to one of the emitted pulses of light. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect the local-oscillator light and a received pulse of light, the received pulse of light including light from one of the emitted pulses of light that is scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit local-oscillator light and pulses of light, where each emitted pulse of light is (i) coherent with a corresponding portion of the local-oscillator light and (ii) includes a spectral signature of one or more different spectral signatures. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect the local-oscillator light and a received pulse of light, the received pulse of light including light from one of the emitted pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system, the one of the emitted pulses of light including a particular spectral signature of the one or more spectral signatures. The local-oscillator light and the received pulse of light are coherently mixed together at the receiver. The receiver includes one or more detectors and a frequency-detection circuit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit (i) local-oscillator light and (ii) pulses of light. Additionally, the light source is configured to impart a spectral signature of one or more different spectral signatures to each of the emitted pulses of light, where the emitted pulses of light include an emitted pulse of light having a particular spectral signature of the one or more different spectral signatures. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect the local-oscillator light and a received pulse of light, the received pulse of light including a portion of the emitted pulse of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The receiver includes a detector configured to produce a photocurrent signal corresponding to the local-oscillator light and the received pulse of light. The receiver also includes a pulse-detection circuit and a frequency-detection circuit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit (i) local-oscillator light and (ii) pulses of light, where each emitted pulse of light is coherent with a corresponding temporal portion of the local-oscillator light. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect the local-oscillator light and a received pulse of light, the received pulse of light including a portion of one of the emitted pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The receiver includes a detector configured to produce a photocurrent signal corresponding to the local-oscillator light and the received pulse of light. The photocurrent signal includes a sum of a first term, a second term, and a third term.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit an optical signal and a receiver that includes one or more detectors configured to detect a portion of the emitted optical signal scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The lidar system also includes a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that includes an input optical element configured to receive the portion of the scattered optical signal and couple the portion of the scattered optical signal into an input optical waveguide. The input optical waveguide is one of one or more optical waveguides of the PIC configured to convey the portion of the scattered optical signal to the one or more detectors of the receiver. The input optical element includes a grating coupler and a tapered optical waveguide.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a light source is configured to emit an optical signal. The light source includes a seed laser diode configured to produce a seed optical signal and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) configured to amplify the seed optical signal to produce the emitted optical signal. The light source also includes an optical isolator disposed between the seed laser diode and the SOA, where the optical isolator is configured to (i) transmit the seed optical signal to the SOA and (ii) reduce an amount of light that propagates from the SOA toward the seed laser diode.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit an optical signal and a receiver that includes one or more detectors configured to detect a portion of the emitted optical signal scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The lidar system also includes a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that includes an input optical element configured to receive the portion of the scattered optical signal and couple the portion of the scattered optical signal into an input optical waveguide. The input optical waveguide is one of one or more optical waveguides of the PIC configured to convey the portion of the scattered optical signal to the one or more detectors of the receiver. The lidar system further includes a processor configured to determine the distance from the lidar system to the target.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit an optical signal. The light source includes a seed laser diode configured to produce a seed optical signal and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) configured to amplify the seed optical signal to produce an amplified seed optical signal, where the emitted optical signal includes the amplified seed optical signal. The light source further includes an electronic driver configured to supply electrical current to the seed laser diode and electrical current to the SOA. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect a portion of the emitted optical signal scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The lidar system further includes a processor configured to determine the distance from the lidar system to the target.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit local-oscillator light and pulses of light, where each emitted pulse of light is (i) coherent with a corresponding portion of the local-oscillator light and (ii) includes a spectral signature of one or more different spectral signatures. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect the local-oscillator light and a received pulse of light, the received pulse of light including light from one of the emitted pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system, the one of the emitted pulses of light including a particular spectral signature of the one or more spectral signatures. The local-oscillator light and the received pulse of light are coherently mixed together at the receiver. The receiver includes one or more detectors and a frequency-detection circuit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit (i) local-oscillator light and (ii) pulses of light, where each emitted pulse of light is coherent with a corresponding portion of the local-oscillator light. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect the local-oscillator light and a received pulse of light, the received pulse of light including light from one of the emitted pulses of light that is scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The local-oscillator light and the received pulse of light are coherently mixed together at the receiver. The lidar system further includes a processor configured to determine the distance to the target based at least in part on a time-of-arrival for the received pulse of light.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit (i) local-oscillator light and (ii) pulses of light, where each emitted pulse of light is coherent with a corresponding portion of the local-oscillator light. The light source includes a seed laser configured to produce seed light and the local-oscillator light. The light source also includes a pulsed optical amplifier configured to amplify temporal portions of the seed light to produce the emitted pulses of light, where each amplified temporal portion of the seed light corresponds to one of the emitted pulses of light. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect the local-oscillator light and a received pulse of light, the received pulse of light including light from one of the emitted pulses of light that is scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit an optical signal. The light source includes a seed laser diode configured to produce a seed optical signal and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) configured to amplify the seed optical signal to produce an amplified seed optical signal, where the emitted optical signal includes the amplified seed optical signal. The lidar system also includes a scanner configured to direct the emitted optical signal into a field of regard of the lidar system and a receiver configured to detect a portion of the emitted optical signal scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The lidar system further includes a processor configured to determine the distance from the lidar system to the target.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit (i) local-oscillator light and (ii) pulses of light, where each emitted pulse of light is coherent with a corresponding portion of the local-oscillator light. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect the local-oscillator light and a received pulse of light, the received pulse of light comprising light from one of the emitted pulses of light that is scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The local-oscillator light and the received pulse of light are coherently mixed together at the receiver. The receiver includes one or more detectors configured to produce one or more respective photocurrent signals corresponding to the coherent mixing of the local-oscillator light and the received pulse of light. The receiver also includes a pulse-detection circuit configured to determine a time-of-arrival for the received pulse of light.