Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a light source configured to output a source signal. The LIDAR chip is also configured to output a LIDAR output signal that exits from the LIDAR chip. The LIDAR system also includes an isolator adapter that includes an optical isolator configured to receive an adapter signal. The adapter signal includes light that is from the source signal and that has exited from the LIDAR chip before being received by the optical isolator. The isolator is configured to output light from the adapter signal in an isolator output signal. Additionally, the LIDAR output signal includes light from the isolator output signal.

Abstract: Multiple LIDAR output signals are generated and are concurrently directed to the same sample region in a field of view. The LIDAR output signals have one or more optical diversities selected from a group consisting of wavelength diversity, polarization diversity, and diversity of an angle of incidence of the LIDAR output signal relative to the sample region.

Abstract: A LIDAR system has a beam steering mechanism and a signal steering mechanism that are each configured to steer within a field of view a system output signal that is output from the LIDAR system. A path of system output signal in the field of view has a contribution from the beam steering mechanism and the second mechanism. The contribution of the beam steering mechanism to the path is movement of the system output signal on a two-dimensional path back and forth across the field of view. The contribution of the signal steering mechanism to the path is movement of the system output signal transverse to the two-dimensional path contribution of the provided by the beam steering mechanism.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein are directed to optical light sources, such as an external cavity laser (ECL) with an active phase shifter. The system may include control circuitry for controlling one or more parameters associated with the active phase shifter. The phase shifter may be a p-i-n phase shifter. The control circuitry may cause variation in a refractive index associated with the phase shifter, thereby varying a lasing frequency of the ECL. The ECL may be configured to operate as a light source for a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system based on generating frequency modulated light signals. In some embodiments, the ECL may generate an output LIDAR signal with alternating segments of increasing and decreasing chirp frequencies. The ECL may exhibit increased stability and improved chirp linearities with less dependence on ambient temperature fluctuations.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a LIDAR assembly configured to output a LIDAR output signal that carries multiple different channels. A directional component has an optical grating that receives the LIDAR output signal from the LIDAR assembly. The directional component demultiplexes the LIDAR output signal into multiple LIDAR output channels that each carries a different one of the channels. The directional component is configured to steer a direction that the LIDAR output channels travel away from the LIDAR system.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a light source configured to output a source signal. The LIDAR chip is also configured to output a LIDAR output signal that exits from the LIDAR chip. The LIDAR system also includes an isolator adapter that includes an optical isolator configured to receive an adapter signal. The adapter signal includes light that is from the source signal and that has exited from the LIDAR chip before being received by the optical isolator. The isolator is configured to output light from the adapter signal in an isolator output signal. Additionally, the LIDAR output signal includes light from the isolator output signal.

Abstract: An on-chip optical switch based on an echelle grating and a phase tuning element is described herein. The phase tuning element may change a refractive index of the material through which an optical signal propagates, thereby causing a change in the angle of propagation of the optical signal. By dynamically tuning the phase change element, the refractive index change may be controlled such that the deviation of the optical signal causes the optical signal to be focused on a particular coupling waveguide out of an array of coupling waveguides. The echelle grating with the active phase change element form a configurable optical switch capable of switching an optical signal between two or more coupling waveguides, that may be respectively connected to different optical signal processing pathways.

Abstract: An optical system has a LIDAR chip that includes a switch configured to direct an outgoing LIDAR signal to one of multiple different alternate waveguides. The system also includes a redirection component configured to receive the outgoing LIDAR signal from any one of the alternate waveguides. The redirection component is also configured to redirect the received outgoing LIDAR signal such that a direction that the outgoing LIDAR signal travels away from the redirection component changes in response to changes in the alternate waveguide to which the optical switch directs the outgoing LIDAR signal.

Abstract: The LIDAR chip includes a utility waveguide that guides an outgoing LIDAR signal to a facet through which the outgoing LIDAR signal exits from the chip. The chip also includes a control branch that removes a portion of the outgoing LIDAR signal from the utility waveguide. The control branch includes a control light sensor that receives a light signal that includes light from the removed portion of the outgoing LIDAR signal. The chip also includes a data branch that removes a second portion of the outgoing LIDAR signal from the utility waveguide. The data branch includes a light-combining component that combines a reference light signal that includes light from the second portion of the outgoing LIDAR signal with a comparative light signal that includes light that was reflected off an object located off of the chip.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a demultiplexer that separates an outgoing LIDAR signal into multiple LIDAR output signals that each carries a different channel and the different channels are each at a different wavelength. The system also includes a beam distributor that receives each of the LIDAR output signals. The beam distributor directs the received LIDAR output signals such that different LIDAR output signals travel away from the beam distributor in different directions.

Abstract: A LIDAR system has one or more light splitters and multiple light combiners. The LIDAR system also has multiple optical pathways through which light signals travel. The optical pathways include delay pathways that each extends from one of the one or more splitters to one of the light combiners. The optical pathways include expedited pathways that each extends from one of the splitters to one of the light combiners. Each of the light combiners has one of the delay pathways and one of the expedited pathways extending to the light combiner. The delay pathways and the expedited pathways are configured such that the delay pathway to each light combiner is longer than the expedited pathway to the same light combiner. Each of the delay pathways has a common portion and a separated portion. The common portion of each delay pathway is shared by the other delay pathways. In contrast, the separated portion of a delay pathways is not shared with the other delay pathways.

Abstract: An optical system has a LIDAR chip that includes a switch configured to direct an outgoing LIDAR signal to one of multiple different alternate waveguides. The system also includes a redirection component configured to receive the outgoing LIDAR signal from any one of the alternate waveguides. The redirection component is also configured to redirect the received outgoing LIDAR signal such that a direction that the outgoing LIDAR signal travels away from the redirection component changes in response to changes in the alternate waveguide to which the optical switch directs the outgoing LIDAR signal.

Abstract: The LIDAR system includes a polarization component configured such that a first light signal traveling through the polarization component along an optical pathway has its polarization angle changed from a first polarization angle to a second polarization angle. The polarization angle is also configured such that a second light signal traveling the optical pathway in a direction that is the reverse of the direction traveled by the first light signal both enters and exits the polarization component in the second polarization angle. The LIDAR system is configured to output a LIDAR output signal that includes light from the first light signal. The LIDAR system is also configured to receive a LIDAR return signal that includes light from the LIDAR output signal after the LIDAR output signal was reflected by an object located outside of the LIDAR assembly.

Abstract: An on-chip optical switch based on an echelle grating and a phase tuning element is described herein. The phase tuning element may change a refractive index of the material through which an optical signal propagates, thereby causing a change in the angle of propagation of the optical signal. By dynamically tuning the phase change element, the refractive index change may be controlled such that the deviation of the optical signal causes the optical signal to be focused on a particular coupling waveguide out of an array of coupling waveguides. The echelle grating with the active phase change element form a configurable optical switch capable of switching an optical signal between two or more coupling waveguides, that may be respectively connected to different optical signal processing pathways.

Abstract: A LIDAR system has a circulator outputs multiple different outgoing circulator signals. The circulator receives multiple different circulator return signals. Each of the circulator return signals includes light that was included in one of the outgoing circulator signals and was reflected by one or more objects located outside of the LIDAR system. The circulator is configured to output multiple circulator output signals that each includes light from one of the circulator return signals. The LIDAR system also includes electronics that use the circulator output signals to generate one or more LIDAR data results. The LIDAR data results are selected from a group consisting of a distance and a radial velocity between the LIDAR system and the one or more objects.

Abstract: The chip includes multiple steering waveguides positioned on a base. Each of the steering waveguides is being configured to carry an output signal. The steering waveguides each terminate at a facet. The facets are arranged such that output signals exit the chip through the facets and combine to form a LIDAR output signal. The chip also includes phase tuners positioned on at least a portion of the steering waveguides. Electronics operate the phase tuners so as to tune a phase differential between the output signals on adjacent steering waveguides. The electronics tune the phase differential so as to tune the direction that the LIDAR output signal travels away from the chip.

Abstract: An on-chip optical switch based on an echelle grating and a phase tuning element is described herein. The phase tuning element may change a refractive index of the material through which an optical signal propagates, thereby causing a change in the angle of propagation of the optical signal. By dynamically tuning the phase change element, the refractive index change may be controlled such that the deviation of the optical signal causes the optical signal to be focused on a particular coupling waveguide out of an array of coupling waveguides. The echelle grating with the active phase change element form a configurable optical switch capable of switching an optical signal between two or more coupling waveguides, that may be respectively connected to different optical signal processing pathways.

Abstract: A LIDAR system that generates an outgoing LIDAR signal and multiple composite light signals that each carries a different channel and that each includes a contribution from a reference signal and a contribution from a comparative signal. The comparative signals each include light from the outgoing LIDAR signal that has been reflected by one or more objects located outside of the LIDAR system. The reference signals each include light from the outgoing LIDAR signal but exclude light that has been reflected by any object located outside of the LIDAR system. Electronics induce a frequency offset in the reference signals between a LIDAR data period and a channel period. The electronics use the composite signals generated during the LIDAR data period to generate LIDAR data and the composite signals generated during the channel period to associate the composite signals with the channel carried by the composite signal.

Abstract: The system also includes components that combine contributions from different signals so as to generate composite signals that each carries the LIDAR data. Each composite signal is associated with a polarization state and is also a signal component selected from a quadrature component and an in-phase component. Each of the composite signals is associated with a different combination of polarization state and signal component. The system also includes electronics that combine the composite signals so as to generate an in-phase component of a complex LIDAR data signal and a quadrature component of the LIDAR data signal. The electronics extract the LIDAR data from the complex LIDAR data signal.

Abstract: A light source has a resonant laser cavity with an optical grating and a waveguide that has a longitudinal axis. A portion of the longitudinal axis extends through the optical grating and serves as a grating axis. The laser cavity is configured to generate a laser signal that exits the laser cavity through the optical grating. The optical grating includes multiple perturbation structures that each causes a perturbation in an effective refractive index of the waveguide. The perturbation structures are staggered on the waveguide such that the perturbation structures that are adjacent to one another in a longitudinal direction are spaced apart in a transverse direction. The longitudinal direction is a direction parallel to the grating axis and the transverse direction is a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction.