Abstract: A system for generating an image of a region of interest (ROI) from a flying aircraft using a light detection and ranging (lidar) system that includes a transmitter, a receiver, an inertial navigation system, a scanning system, and a system control and a data processing computer. The transmitter includes a pulsed laser. The receiver includes a sensor to detect light scattered and reflected from the ROI. The scanning system uses a field-of-view (FOV) of the transmitter and receiver to interrogate a field-of-regard (FOR) during a flight over the ROI, and the FOV angle is narrower than the FOR angle. The system also includes a software application that divides the ROI into collection unit (CU) areas, and for each CU determines area characteristics, estimates one or more flight paths required to collect CU area data, and determines settings of the sensor for collecting the CU area data.

Abstract: A method of imaging a scene includes estimating multiple three-dimensional (3D) representations, each of which corresponds to a respective portion of the scene. Neighboring portions of the scene area are at least partially overlapping. Each 3D representation is estimated by illuminating the respective portion of the scene with a light burst including multiple light pulses, after which multiple point clouds are generated by detecting photons reflected or scattered from the respective portion of the scene using a focal plane array. Data points in the point clouds represent a distance between the focal plane array and a scene point in the respective portion of the scene. The 3D representation is then estimated based on the multiple point clouds via coincidence processing. The method then generates a 3D image of the scene based on the multiple 3D representations.

Abstract: A system for generating a 3D image of a scene includes a transmitter, a receiver, a scanning system and a data processing computer. The transmitter includes a pulsed laser generating optical pulses for illuminating the scene, and the optical pulses have a pulse width of less than 20 nanoseconds and a pulse repetition frequency in the range of 20 kHz to 200 kHz. The receiver includes a sensor to detect light scattered and reflected from the scene, and the sensor comprises one or more arrays of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes. The scanning system allows the transmitter and receiver subsystem field-of-view (FOV) to interrogate a field-of-regard (FOR) of at least 30 degrees, with update rates faster than once per 5 seconds, resolution higher than 1 million resolution elements per second, and FOR aspect ratios of 1:10 to 1:1. The data processing computer continuously generates 3D point clouds with latency less than 5 seconds, and generates alarms indicating anomalous activity within the scene.

Abstract: A method of imaging a scene includes generating a temporally varying optical intensity pattern from at least one continuous wave (CW) light beam. The method also includes illuminating at least one portion of the scene with the temporally varying optical intensity pattern so as to cause a photon to scatter or reflect off the at least one portion of the scene. The photon reflected or scatted from the at least one portion of the scene is detected using a single-photon detector. Based on the temporally varying optical intensity pattern and a time of flight of the photon detected, a distance between the single-photon detector and the at least one portion of the scene is estimated.

Abstract: A method of imaging a scene includes generating a temporally varying optical intensity pattern from at least one continuous wave (CW) light beam. The method also includes illuminating at least one portion of the scene with the temporally varying optical intensity pattern so as to cause a photon to scatter or reflect off the at least one portion of the scene. The photon reflected or scatted from the at least one portion of the scene is detected using a single-photon detector. Based on the temporally varying optical intensity pattern and a time of flight of the photon detected, a distance between the single-photon detector and the at least one portion of the scene is estimated.

Abstract: A system for generating a 3D image of a scene includes a transmitter, a receiver, a scanning system and a data processing computer. The transmitter includes a pulsed laser generating optical pulses for illuminating the scene, and the optical pulses have a pulse width of less than 20 nanoseconds and a pulse repetition frequency in the range of 20 kHz to 200 kHz. The receiver includes a sensor to detect light scattered and reflected from the scene, and the sensor comprises one or more arrays of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes. The scanning system allows the transmitter and receiver subsystem field-of-view (FOV) to interrogate a field-of-regard (FOR) of at least 30 degrees, with update rates faster than once per 5 seconds, resolution higher than 1 million resolution elements per second, and FOR aspect ratios of 1:10 to 1:1. The data processing computer continuously generates 3D point clouds with latency less than 5 seconds, and generates alarms indicating anomalous activity within the scene.

Abstract: A method of imaging a scene includes generating a temporally varying optical intensity pattern from at least one continuous wave (CW) light beam. The method also includes illuminating at least one portion of the scene with the temporally varying optical intensity pattern so as to cause a photon to scatter or reflect off the at least one portion of the scene. The photon reflected or scatted from the at least one portion of the scene is detected using a single-photon detector. Based on the temporally varying optical intensity pattern and a time of flight of the photon detected, a distance between the single-photon detector and the at least one portion of the scene is estimated.

Abstract: A method of imaging a scene includes estimating multiple three-dimensional (3D) representations, each of which corresponds to a respective portion of the scene. Neighboring portions of the scene area are at least partially overlapping. Each 3D representation is estimated by illuminating the respective portion of the scene with a light burst including multiple light pulses, after which multiple point clouds are generated by detecting photons reflected or scattered from the respective portion of the scene using a focal plane array. Data points in the point clouds represent a distance between the focal plane array and a scene point in the respective portion of the scene. The 3D representation is then estimated based on the multiple point clouds via coincidence processing. The method then generates a 3D image of the scene based on the multiple 3D representations.

Abstract: A method of imaging a scene includes estimating multiple three-dimensional (3D) representations, each of which corresponds to a respective portion of the scene. Neighboring portions of the scene area are at least partially overlapping. Each 3D representation is estimated by illuminating the respective portion of the scene with a light burst including multiple light pulses, after which multiple point clouds are generated by detecting photons reflected or scattered from the respective portion of the scene using a focal plane array. Data points in the point clouds represent a distance between the focal plane array and a scene point in the respective portion of the scene. The 3D representation is then estimated based on the multiple point clouds via coincidence processing. The method then generates a 3D image of the scene based on the multiple 3D representations.

Abstract: A method of imaging a scene includes estimating multiple three-dimensional (3D) representations, each of which corresponds to a respective portion of the scene. Neighboring portions of the scene area are at least partially overlapping. Each 3D representation is estimated by illuminating the respective portion of the scene with a light burst including multiple light pulses, after which multiple point clouds are generated by detecting photons reflected or scattered from the respective portion of the scene using a focal plane array. Data points in the point clouds represent a distance between the focal plane array and a scene point in the respective portion of the scene. The 3D representation is then estimated based on the multiple point clouds via coincidence processing. The method then generates a 3D image of the scene based on the multiple 3D representations.

Abstract: A method of imaging a scene includes generating a temporally varying optical intensity pattern from at least one continuous wave (CW) light beam. The method also includes illuminating at least one portion of the scene with the temporally varying optical intensity pattern so as to cause a photon to scatter or reflect off the at least one portion of the scene. The photon reflected or scatted from the at least one portion of the scene is detected using a single-photon detector. Based on the temporally varying optical intensity pattern and a time of flight of the photon detected, a distance between the single-photon detector and the at least one portion of the scene is estimated.

Abstract: A waveguide and resonator are formed on a lower cladding of a thermo optic device, each having a formation height that is substantially equal. Thereafter, the formation height of the waveguide is attenuated. In this manner, the aspect ratio as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front or face one another decreases (in comparison to the prior art) thereby restoring the synchronicity between the waveguide and the grating and allowing higher bandwidth configurations to be used. The waveguide attenuation is achieved by photomasking and etching the waveguide after the resonator and waveguide are formed. In one embodiment the photomasking and etching is performed after deposition of the upper cladding. In another, it is performed before the deposition. Thermo optic devices, thermo optic packages and fiber optic systems having these waveguides are also taught.

Abstract: A waveguide and resonator are formed on a lower cladding of a thermo optic device, each having a formation height that is substantially equal. Thereafter, the formation height of the waveguide is attenuated. In this manner, the aspect ratio as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front or face one another decreases (in comparison to the prior art) thereby restoring the synchronicity between the waveguide and the grating and allowing higher bandwidth configurations to be used. The waveguide attenuation is achieved by photomasking and etching the waveguide after the resonator and waveguide are formed. In one embodiment the photomasking and etching is performed after deposition of the upper cladding. In another, it is performed before the deposition. Thermo optic devices, thermo optic packages and fiber optic systems having these waveguides are also taught.

Abstract: A waveguide and resonator are formed on a lower cladding of a thermo optic device, each having a formation height that is substantially equal. Thereafter, the formation height of the waveguide is attenuated. In this manner, the aspect ratio as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front or face one another decreases (in comparison to the prior art) thereby restoring the synchronicity between the waveguide and the grating and allowing higher bandwidth configurations to be used. The waveguide attenuation is achieved by photomasking and etching the waveguide after the resonator and waveguide are formed. In one embodiment the photomasking and etching is performed after deposition of the upper cladding. In another, it is performed before the deposition. Thermo optic devices, thermo optic packages and fiber optic systems having these waveguides are also taught.

Abstract: A waveguide and resonator are formed on a lower cladding of a thermo optic device, each having a formation height that is substantially equal. Thereafter, the formation height of the waveguide is attenuated. In this manner, the aspect ratio as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front or face one another decreases (in comparison to the prior art) thereby restoring the synchronicity between the waveguide and the grating and allowing higher bandwidth configurations to be used. The waveguide attenuation is achieved by photomasking and etching the waveguide after the resonator and waveguide are formed. In one embodiment the photomasking and etching is performed after deposition of the upper cladding. In another, it is performed before the deposition. Thermo optic devices, thermo optic packages and fiber optic systems having these waveguides are also taught.

Abstract: A waveguide and resonator are formed on a lower cladding of a thermo optic device, each having a formation height that is substantially equal. Thereafter, the formation height of the waveguide is attenuated. In this manner, the aspect ratio as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front or face one another decreases (in comparison to the prior art) thereby restoring the synchronicity between the waveguide and the grating and allowing higher bandwidth configurations to be used. The waveguide attenuation is achieved by photomasking and etching the waveguide after the resonator and waveguide are formed. In one embodiment the photomasking and etching is performed after deposition of the upper cladding. In another, it is performed before the deposition. Thermo optic devices, thermo optic packages and fiber optic systems having these waveguides are also taught.

Abstract: A waveguide and resonator are formed on a lower cladding of a thermo optic device, each having a formation height that is substantially equal. Thereafter, the formation height of the waveguide is attenuated. In this manner, the aspect ratio as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front or face one another decreases (in comparison to the prior art) thereby restoring the synchronicity between the waveguide and the grating and allowing higher bandwidth configurations to be used. The waveguide attenuation is achieved by photomasking and etching the waveguide after the resonator and waveguide are formed. In one embodiment the photomasking and etching is performed after deposition of the upper cladding. In another, it is performed before the deposition. Thermo optic devices, thermo optic packages and fiber optic systems having these waveguides are also taught.

Abstract: A waveguide and resonator are formed on a lower cladding of a thermo optic device, each having a formation height that is substantially equal. Thereafter, the formation height of the waveguide is attenuated. In this manner, the aspect ratio as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front or face one another decreases (in comparison to the prior art) thereby restoring the synchronicity between the waveguide and the grating and allowing higher bandwidth configurations to be used. The waveguide attenuation is achieved by photomasking and etching the waveguide after the resonator and waveguide are formed. In one embodiment the photomasking and etching is performed after deposition of the upper cladding. In another, it is performed before the deposition. Thermo optic devices, thermo optic packages and fiber optic systems having these waveguides are also taught.

Abstract: A waveguide and resonator are formed on a lower cladding of a thermo optic device, each having a formation height that is substantially equal. Thereafter, the formation height of the waveguide is attenuated. In this manner, the aspect ratio as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front or face one another decreases (in comparison to the prior art) thereby restoring the synchronicity between the waveguide and the grating and allowing higher bandwidth configurations to be used. The waveguide attenuation is achieved by photomasking and etching the waveguide after the resonator and waveguide are formed. In one embodiment the photomasking and etching is performed after deposition of the upper cladding. In another, it is performed before the deposition. Thermo optic devices, thermo optic packages and fiber optic systems having these waveguides are also taught.

Abstract: A grated waveguide is partitioned into two or more collateral gratings or sub-gratings, such as sidewall gratings, and the gratings are phase offset from each other to obtain a desired perturbation strength of the grated waveguide. Other waveguide parameters, such as the effective indices of modes and the difference in grating strength between modes, are minimally affected by the phase offset. A phase offset is differentiated from a more commonly used phase shift in that a phase shift can be defined as a longitudinal spatial translation of sequential or overlayed gratings relative to each other, whereas a phase offset can be defined as a longitudinal spatial translation of collateral gratings or sub-gratings relative to each other. The phase offset between gratings is also varied along the length of the waveguide to obtain an apodized grating strength.