Abstract: A system and method for combining multiple functions of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes receiving a second optical beam generated by the laser source or a second laser source, wherein the second optical beam is associated with a second local oscillator (LO); splitting the second optical beam into a third split optical beam and a fourth split optical beam; transmitting, to the optical device, the third split optical beam and the fourth split optical beam; receiving, from the optical device, a third reflected beam that is associated with the third split optical beam and a fourth reflected beam that is associated with the fourth split optical beam; and pairing the third reflected beam with the second LO signal and the fourth reflected beam with the second LO signal.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes one or more components that include at least one of an electrical circuit, an electro-optical component, or an optical component. The one or more components are configured to receive an optical beam generated by a laser source, split the optical beam into a plurality of optical beams, transmit the plurality of optical beams through a first subset of optical paths. The one or more components are configured to in response to transmitting the plurality of optical beams, receive a reflected beam through a second subset of the optical paths, generate a first output signal based on a first local oscillator (LO) signal and the reflected beam, and generate a second output signal based on a second local oscillator (LO) signal and the reflected beam.

Abstract: In some implementations, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a laser source configured to provide an optical signal at a first signal power, an amplifier having a plurality of gain levels, at which the amplifier is configured to amplify the optical signal, and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to, based on the first signal power and a duty cycle of the optical signal, vary a gain level of the amplifier from the plurality of gain levels to generate a pulse signal, transmit the pulse signal from the amplifier to an environment, receive a reflected signal that is reflected from an object, responsive to transmitting the pulse signal, and determine a range to the object based on an electrical signal associated with the reflected signal.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a transceiver, a laser source coupled to the transceiver, a time-division multiplexing (TDM) circuit, and one or more processors. The TDM circuit is configured to generate a plurality of first signals. The one or more processors are configured to control the laser source to provide an optical beam to a first input optical channel of a plurality of input optical channels of the transceiver during a first time slot, based on the optical beam provided to the first input optical channel, control the transceiver to send a first reflected beam and a second reflected beam to the TDM circuit through a first output optical channel of a plurality of output optical channels of the transceiver, and based on a control signal provided to the TDM circuit, control the TDM circuit to select the plurality of first signals during the first time slot.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser source, a first scanner, and a second scanner. The first scanner receives a first beam from the laser source and applies a first angle modulation to the first beam to output a second beam at a first angle. The second scanner receives the second beam and applies a second angle modulation to the second beam to output a third beam at a second angle.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a coherent signal generator comprising an amplifier configured to receive a plurality of optical signals that are respectively associated with a plurality of phases, and generate a plurality of amplified optical signals using the plurality of optical signals; and a splitter network that is coupled to the amplifier. The splitter network is configured to receive the plurality of amplified optical signals, and generate a combined optical signal at an output of a plurality of outputs using the plurality of amplified optical signals.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle control system includes one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to cause a transmitter to transmit a transmit signal from a laser source. The one or more processors are configured to cause a receiver to receive a return signal reflected by an object. The one or more processors are configured to cause one or more optics to generate a first polarized signal of the return signal with a first polarization, and generate a second polarized signal of the return signal with a second polarization. The one or more processors are configured to calculate a value of reflectivity based on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the first polarized signal and an SNR value of the second polarized signal. The one or more processors are configured to operate a vehicle based on the value of reflectivity.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a coherent signal generator comprising an amplifier configured to receive a plurality of optical signals that are respectively associated with a plurality of phases, and generate a plurality of amplified optical signals using the plurality of optical signals; and a splitter network that is coupled to the amplifier. The splitter network is configured to receive the plurality of amplified optical signals, and generate a combined optical signal at an output of a plurality of outputs using the plurality of amplified optical signals.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes one or more processors, and one or more computer-readable storage mediums storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to determine a code that has a first number of symbols, transmit, to an environment, an optical signal generated based on the code such that the first number of symbols are transmitted in a first duration, in response to transmitting the optical signal, receive a returned optical signal that is reflected from an object in the environment, sample, from the returned optical signal, a second number of symbols in a second duration, the second number being different from the first number, and determine, based on the second number of symbols, a range to the object.

Abstract: A system and method for pulsed-wave LIDAR to support the operation of a vehicle. In some implementations, the system and method include modulating an optical signal to generate a modulated optical signal; selecting a plurality of pulses from the modulated optical signal to generate a pulsed envelope signal; transmitting the pulsed envelope signal via one or more optical elements; receiving a reflected signal responsive to transmitting the pulsed envelope signal; and determining a range to an object based on an electrical signal associated with the reflected signal.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser source, a first scanner, and a second scanner. The first scanner receives a first beam from the laser source and applies a first angle modulation to the first beam to output a second beam at a first angle. The second scanner receives the second beam and applies a second angle modulation to the second beam to output a third beam at a second angle.

Abstract: A system and method for sidelobe suppression in phase-encoded Doppler LIDAR to support the operation of a vehicle includes determining a sequence code that is indicative of a sequence of phases for an optical signal; modulating an optical signal based on the sequence code to produce a phase-encoded optical signal; transmitting the phase-encoded optical signal to an environment; receiving, from the environment, a returned optical signal in response to transmitting the phase-encoded optical signal; generating, based on the returned optical signal, an electrical signal; and determine a Doppler frequency shift in the returned optical signal.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle control system includes one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to cause a transmitter to transmit a transmit signal from a laser source. The one or more processors are configured to cause a receiver to receive a return signal reflected by an object. The one or more processors are configured to cause one or more optics to generate a first polarized signal of the return signal with a first polarization, and generate a second polarized signal of the return signal with a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization. The one or more processors are configured to operate a vehicle based on a ratio of reflectivity between the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal.

Abstract: A system and method for combining multiple functions of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes receiving a second optical beam generated by the laser source or a second laser source, wherein the second optical beam is associated with a second local oscillator (LO); splitting the second optical beam into a third split optical beam and a fourth split optical beam; transmitting, to the optical device, the third split optical beam and the fourth split optical beam; receiving, from the optical device, a third reflected beam that is associated with the third split optical beam and a fourth reflected beam that is associated with the fourth split optical beam; and pairing the third reflected beam with the second LO signal and the fourth reflected beam with the second LO signal.

Abstract: A system and method for enhanced velocity resolution and signal to noise ratio in optical phase-encoded range detection includes receiving an electrical signal generated by mixing a first optical signal and a second optical signal, wherein the first optical signal is generated by modulating an optical signal, wherein and the second optical signal is received in response to transmitting the first optical signal toward an object, and determining a Doppler frequency shift of the second optical signal, and generating a corrected electrical signal by adjusting the electrical signal based on the Doppler frequency shift, and determining a range to the object based on a cross correlation of the corrected electrical signal with a radio frequency (RF) signal that is associated with the first optical signal.

Abstract: A system and method for sidelobe suppression in phase-encoded Doppler LIDAR to support the operation of a vehicle includes determining a sequence code that is indicative of a sequence of phases for an optical signal; modulating an optical signal based on the sequence code to produce a phase-encoded optical signal; transmitting the phase-encoded optical signal to an environment; receiving, from the environment, a returned optical signal in response to transmitting the phase-encoded optical signal; generating, based on the returned optical signal, an electrical signal; and determine a Doppler frequency shift in the returned optical signal.

Abstract: A LIDAR system including one or more processors configured to receive a plurality of electrical signals that are respectively associated with (i) a plurality of optical signals provided by a laser and (ii) a plurality of returned optical signals that are responsive to the plurality of optical signals provided by the laser; determine an internal reflection signal; determine a range to an object by adjusting a third electrical signal of the plurality of electrical signals using the internal reflection signal; and operate a vehicle based on the determined range to the object.

Abstract: A system and method for enhanced velocity resolution and signal to noise ratio in optical phase-encoded range detection includes receiving an electrical signal generated by mixing a first optical signal and a second optical signal, wherein the first optical signal is generated by modulating an optical signal, wherein and the second optical signal is received in response to transmitting the first optical signal toward an object, and determining a Doppler frequency shift of the second optical signal, and generating a corrected electrical signal by adjusting the electrical signal based on the Doppler frequency shift, and determining a range to the object based on a cross correlation of the corrected electrical signal with a radio frequency (RF) signal that is associated with the first optical signal.

Abstract: A system and method for optical detection in autonomous vehicles includes modulating an optical signal from a laser to generate a modulated optical signal and transmitting the modulated optical signal toward an object. The system and method include receiving, responsive to transmitting the modulated optical signal, a returned optical signal and mixing the returned optical signal with a reference optical signal associated with the optical signal from the laser to generate a mixed optical signal and detecting the mixed optical signal to generate an electrical signal. Based on the electrical signal and the modulated optical signal, a parameter of an internal reflection of the returned optical signal from one or more optical components is determined, which may be used to operate a vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for optical detection in autonomous vehicles includes modulating an optical signal from a laser to generate a modulated optical signal and transmitting the modulated optical signal toward an object. The system and method include receiving, responsive to transmitting the modulated optical signal, a returned optical signal and mixing the returned optical signal with a reference optical signal associated with the optical signal from the laser to generate a mixed optical signal and detecting the mixed optical signal to generate an electrical signal. Based on the electrical signal and the modulated optical signal, a parameter of an internal reflection of the returned optical signal from one or more optical components is determined, which may be used to operate a vehicle.