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.

Abstract: The chip includes multiple component assemblies that are each configured to generate and steer a direction of a LIDAR output signal that exits from the chip. The LIDAR output signals generated by different components assemblies have different wavelengths.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a light source configured to output light. A portion of the light is included in a LIDAR signal that travels a LIDAR path from the light source to an object located outside of the LIDAR system and from the object to a filter and from the filter to a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to convert optical signals that include the LIDAR signal to electrical signals. A portion of the light is also included in one or more misdirected signals. Each of the misdirected signals travels a different misdirected path from the light source to the filter. Each of the misdirected paths is a different path from the LIDAR path. The system also includes a filter being configured to filter out the LIDAR signal from the misdirected signals. The system also includes electronics that generate LIDAR data from the electrical signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein are directed to polarization separation of laser signals and/or incoming light signals associated with an imaging system, such as a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system. Example embodiments describe a system configured to direct incoming light signals to a polarization separator and capturing the two polarization states of the incoming light signals. In some instances, the laser signal may be converted into two different polarization states. The system may individually process the two polarization states of the incoming light signals along with the corresponding polarization state of the laser reference signal to extract information associated with reflecting objects within the field-of-view of the imaging system. The polarization separator may be a birefringent crystal positioned adjacent to an edge of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that is used for processing outgoing and incoming light signals associated with the imaging system.

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 circuity 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 reference light source configured to generate an outgoing light signal that includes multiple reference channels that each has a different frequency. The system also includes a comparative light source configured to generate an outgoing light signal that includes multiple comparative channels. Each of the comparative channels has a different frequency. The comparative channels are each associated with one of the reference channels in that LIDAR data is generated for a sample region on a field of view using a comparative channel and the associated reference channel. The comparative channel and the associated reference channel have different frequencies.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein are directed to high speed remote imaging systems, such as Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) systems. Example embodiments describe systems that are configured to mitigate a walk-off effect that may limit a speed of operation of the imaging system. The walk-off effect may be characterized by a failure to steer returning signals to a designated input facet of the imaging system due to continuous rotation of mirrors associated with the steering mechanisms. The walk-off effect may be mitigating by configuring more than one input waveguide to receiving returning signals associated with an output signal. The input waveguides may be spaced apart and configured to sequentially receive the input signals. In some embodiments, walk-off mitigation may extend a range of operation of the imaging systems.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes one or more optical components that output multiple system output signals. The system also includes electronics that use light from the system output signals to generate LIDAR data. The LIDAR data indicates a distance and/or radial velocity between the LIDAR system and one or more object located outside of the LIDAR system. The electronics including a series processing component that processes electrical signals that are each generated from one of the system output signals. The series processing component processes the electrical signals generated from different system output signals in series.

Abstract: A LIDAR system has a transmitter that outputs a system output signal from the LIDAR system. The LIDAR system also includes electronics that control a frequency of the system output signal over a series of cycles. The cycles include multiple data periods. The electronics change the frequency of the system output signal at a first rate during a first one of the data periods. The electronics change the frequency of the system output signal at a second rate during a second one of the data periods. The second rate is different from the first rate.

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.

Abstract: The LIDAR system has a LIDAR chip that includes a processing component configured to combine at least a portion of a reference light signal with at least a portion of a comparative signal so as to generate a composite light signal that carries LIDAR data. The reference signal includes light that has not exited from the LIDAR system. The comparative signal includes light that has been reflected by an object located outside of the LIDAR system. The light that has not exited from the LIDAR system and the light that has been reflected by the object are both from the same outgoing LIDAR signal. The LIDAR chip includes an optical attenuator configured to attenuate a power level of the reference signal before the composite signal is generated.

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: A LIDAR system includes a LIDAR chip configured to output a LIDAR output signal. The LIDAR chip includes a redirection component and alternate waveguides. The redirection component receives an outgoing LIDAR signal from any one of multiple alternate waveguides. The LIDAR output signal includes light from the outgoing LIDAR signal. A direction that the LIDAR output signal travels away from the LIDAR chip is a function of the alternate waveguide from which the redirection component receives the outgoing LIDAR signal.

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 waveguide array configured to output a LIDAR output signal such that the LIDAR output signal is reflected by an object located off the LIDAR chip. The system also includes electronics configured to tune a wavelength of the LIDAR output signal such that the direction that the LIDAR output signal travels away from the LIDAR chip changes in response to the tuning of the wavelength by the electronics.