Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photonic chip, and a laser integrated into the photonic chip. The laser has a front facet located at a first aperture of the photonic chip to direct a transmitted light beam into free space. A reflected light beam that is a reflection of the transmitted light beam is received at the photonic chip and a parameter of the object is determined from a comparison of the transmitted light beam and the reflected light beam. A navigation system operates the vehicle with respect to the object based on a parameter of the object.

Abstract: A LIDAR system, LIDAR chip and method of manufacturing a LIDAR chip. The LIDAR system includes a photonic chip configured to transmit a transmitted light beam and to receive a reflected light beam, a scanner for directing the transmitted light beam towards a direction in space and receiving the reflected light beam from the selected direction, and a fiber-based optical coupler. The photonic chip and the scanner are placed on a semiconductor integrated platform (SIP). The fiber-based optical coupler is placed on top of the photonic chip to optically couple to the photonic chip for directing the a transmitted light beam from the photonic chip to the scanner and for directing a reflected light beam from the scanner to the photonic chip.

Abstract: A chip-scale coherent lidar system includes a photonic chip that includes a light source, a transmit beam coupler to provide an output signal, and a receive beam coupler to receive a received signal based on a reflection of the output signal by a target. The system also includes a transmit beam steering device to transmit the output signal out of the system, and a receive beam steering device to obtain the received signal into the system. A transmit beam curved mirror reflects the output signal from the transmit beam coupler to the transmit beam steering device. A receive beam curved mirror reflects the received signal from the receive beam steering device to the receive beam coupler. The transmit beam curved mirror and the receive beam curved mirror are formed in a substrate that is heterogeneously integrated with the photonic chip.

Abstract: A lidar system includes a light source to generate a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) signal, and a waveguide splitter to split the FMCW signal into an output signal and a local oscillator (LO) signal. A transmit coupler provides the output signal for transmission. A receive lens obtains a received signal resulting from reflection of the output signal by a target. A waveguide coupler combines the received signal and the LO signal into a first combined signal and a second combined signal. A first phase modulator and second phase modulator respectively adjust a phase of the first combined signal and the second combined signal to provide a first phase modulated signal and a second phase modulated signal to a first photodetector and a second photodetector. A processor processes a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal from the first and second photodetectors to obtain information about the target.

Abstract: A Lidar system, photonic chip and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes the photonic chip. The photonic chip includes a laser and a local oscillator waveguide. The laser is integrated into the photonic chip and generates a leakage energy at a back facet of the laser for use as a local oscillator beam for the photonic chip. The local oscillator waveguide receives the leakage energy as the local oscillator beam. The laser further generates a transmitted light beam through a front facet of the photonic chip, combining the leakage energy with a reflection of the transmitted light beam form an object, and detects a combination of the reflected light beam and the leakage energy to determine a parameter of the object.

Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photonic chip, and a laser integrated into the photonic chip. The laser has a front facet located at a first aperture of the photonic chip to direct a transmitted light beam into free space. A reflected light beam that is a reflection of the transmitted light beam is received at the photonic chip and a parameter of the object is determined from a comparison of the transmitted light beam and the reflected light beam. A navigation system operates the vehicle with respect to the object based on a parameter of the object.

Abstract: A LIDAR system, optical coupler for a LIDAR system and method of optical communication. The LIDAR system includes an optical coupler having a chip-side face in optical communication with a photonic chip and a scanner-side face in optical communication with a scanner, the optical coupler comprising a polarization rotator and a birefringent wedge. A first beam of light is transmitted from the first location toward a chip-side face of an optical coupler to direct the first beam of light, via the optical coupler, along an optical path at a scanner-side face of the optical coupler. A second beam of light is received along the optical path at the scanner-side face and directed the second beam of light toward a second location.

Abstract: A machine for harvesting seeds or insects includes a mechanical compressor, a seed removal device, and an air curtain for directing seeds into troughs below the seed removal device.

Abstract: A LIDAR system, optical coupler for a LIDAR system and method of optical communication. The LIDAR system includes an optical coupler having a chip-side face in optical communication with a photonic chip and a scanner-side face in optical communication with a scanner, the optical coupler comprising a polarization rotator and a birefringent wedge. A first beam of light is transmitted from the first location toward a chip-side face of an optical coupler to direct the first beam of light, via the optical coupler, along an optical path at a scanner-side face of the optical coupler. A second beam of light is received along the optical path at the scanner-side face and directed the second beam of light toward a second location.

Abstract: A lidar system includes a light source to generate a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) signal, and a waveguide splitter to split the FMCW signal into an output signal and a local oscillator (LO) signal. A transmit coupler provides the output signal for transmission. A receive lens obtains a received signal resulting from reflection of the output signal by a target. A waveguide coupler combines the received signal and the LO signal into a first combined signal and a second combined signal. A first phase modulator and second phase modulator respectively adjust a phase of the first combined signal and the second combined signal to provide a first phase modulated signal and a second phase modulated signal to a first photodetector and a second photodetector. A processor processes a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal from the first and second photodetectors to obtain information about the target.

Abstract: A LIDAR system, LIDAR chip and method of manufacturing a LIDAR chip. The LIDAR system includes a photonic chip configured to transmit a transmitted light beam and to receive a reflected light beam, a scanner for directing the transmitted light beam towards a direction in space and receiving the reflected light beam from the selected direction, and a fiber-based optical coupler. The photonic chip and the scanner are placed on a semiconductor integrated platform (SIP). The fiber-based optical coupler is placed on top of the photonic chip to optically couple to the photonic chip for directing the a transmitted light beam from the photonic chip to the scanner and for directing a reflected light beam from the scanner to the photonic chip.

Abstract: A chip-scale coherent lidar system includes a photonic chip that includes a light source, a transmit beam coupler to provide an output signal, and a receive beam coupler to receive a received signal based on a reflection of the output signal by a target. The system also includes a transmit beam steering device to transmit the output signal out of the system, and a receive beam steering device to obtain the received signal into the system. A transmit beam curved mirror reflects the output signal from the transmit beam coupler to the transmit beam steering device. A receive beam curved mirror reflects the received signal from the receive beam steering device to the receive beam coupler. The transmit beam curved mirror and the receive beam curved mirror are formed in a substrate that is heterogeneously integrated with the photonic chip.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to rotate a sample about first and second axes in a heat chamber to obtain a desired homogeneous modification of properties of the sample and maintain a surface figure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to rotate a sample about first and second axes in a heat chamber to obtain a desired homogeneous modification of properties of the sample and maintain a surface figure.