Abstract: The present disclosure provides an optical coherent imager implemented on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that enables shared path for transmitting and receiving optical signals by exploiting polarization diversity. The present disclosure also provides an optical coherent imager including an array of the optical coherent sensing units to simplify the design and calibrations of the imager, and a method for coherent sensing by the optical coherent imager.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a chips-scale free-space optical (FSO) receiver with a wide two-dimensional field-of-view (FOV) that affords high data rate optical communication and rapid pointing and tracking (PAT) operations in an integrated design, and a method for FSO communication with PAT that supports high-speed node acquisition and network entry, and simple angle of arrival calculations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coherent detection array and methods of multiplexing for signal readout of the coherent detection array. The coherent detection array may be implemented on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). It may comprise a plurality of coherent detection units coupling with connecting waveguides and electrical conducting paths, wherein the electrical conducting paths may manifest as readout channels for multiplexing electrical signals. The detection units may be configured to include free-space-to-waveguide couplers, optical couplers, and photodetectors. The coherent detection array enables multiplexing methods that may leverage extra degrees of freedom of the coherent detection array. These methods may include those enabled by the local oscillator and those related to the properties and responses of the components of the PIC-based detection array.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coherent detection array and methods of multiplexing for signal readout of the coherent detection array. The coherent detection array may be implemented on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). It may comprise a plurality of coherent detection units coupling with connecting waveguides and electrical conducting paths, wherein the electrical conducting paths may manifest as readout channels for multiplexing electrical signals. The detection units may be configured to include free-space-to-waveguide couplers, optical couplers, and photodetectors. The coherent detection array enables multiplexing methods that may leverage extra degrees of freedom of the coherent detection array. These methods may include those enabled by the local oscillator and those related to the properties and responses of the components of the PIC-based detection array.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coherent detection array and methods of multiplexing for signal readout of the coherent detection array. The coherent detection array may be implemented on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). It may comprise a plurality of coherent detection units coupling with connecting waveguides and electrical conducting paths, wherein the electrical conducting paths may manifest as readout channels for multiplexing electrical signals. The detection units may be configured to include free-space-to-waveguide couplers, optical couplers, and photodetectors. The coherent detection array enables multiplexing methods that may leverage extra degrees of freedom of the coherent detection array. These methods may include those enabled by the local oscillator and those related to the properties and responses of the components of the PIC-based detection array.