Abstract: A LiDAR system includes an optical source to emit an optical beam toward a target, a partially reflective surface to generate a local oscillator (LO) signal from the optical beam, and an optical lens disposed in front of a photodetector (PD), wherein the LO signal is incident at a decenter of the optical lens to shift the LO signal at the photodetector with respect to a return signal received from the target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system according to the present disclosure comprises an optical circulator and one or more photodetectors (PDs). The optical circulator is to transmit the target return signal to the one or more PDs, where the one or more PDs are to mix the target return signal with a local oscillator (LO) signal to generate a signal to extract information of the target.

Abstract: A LiDAR system includes an optical subsystem with an optical axis. The optical subsystem includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, a first optical lens to transmit the optical beam, an optical window to reflect a first portion of the optical beam to generate a LO signal, an optical scanner to transmit a second portion of the optical beam to a target to scan the target to generate a target return signal, where the LO signal is disposed to be decentered from the optical axis on a second optical lens in front of a photodetector (PD) to increase a percentage of an overlap of the LO signal and the target return signal on the PD.

Abstract: A LiDAR system includes an optical subsystem with an optical axis. The optical subsystem includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, a first optical lens to transmit the optical beam, an optical window to reflect a first portion of the optical beam to generate a LO signal, an optical scanner to transmit a second portion of the optical beam to a target to scan the target to generate a target return signal, where the LO signal is disposed to be decentered from the optical axis on a second optical lens in front of a photodetector (PD) to increase a percentage of an overlap of the LO signal and the target return signal on the PD.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, where a local oscillator (LO) signal is generated from a partial reflection of the optical beam from a partially-reflecting surface proximate to the first focal plane, and where a transmitted portion of the optical beam is directed toward a scanned target environment. LIDAR system to focus the LO signal and a target return signal at a second focal plane comprising a conjugate focal plane to the first focal plane. The system may also include a photodetector with a photosensitive surface proximate to the conjugate focal plane to mix the LO signal with the target return signal to generate target information.

Abstract: A LiDAR system includes an optical subsystem with an optical axis. The optical subsystem includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, a first optical lens to transmit the optical beam, an optical window to reflect a first portion of the optical beam to generate a LO signal, an optical scanner to transmit a second portion of the optical beam to a target to scan the target to generate a target return signal, a second optical lens to transmit the LO signal and the target return signal to a PD, and the PD to mix the target return signal with the LO signal to extract range and velocity information. The LO signal is disposed to be decentered from the optical axis on the second optical lens to increase a percentage of an overlap of the LO signal and the target return signal on a detection plane of the PD.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system according to the present disclosure comprises an optical circulator and one or more photodetectors (PDs). The optical circulator is to transmit the target return signal to the one or more PDs, where the one or more PDs are to mix the target return signal with a local oscillator (LO) signal to generate a signal to extract information of the target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, where a local oscillator (LO) signal is generated from a partial reflection of the optical beam from a partially-reflecting surface proximate to the first focal plane, and where a transmitted portion of the optical beam is directed toward a scanned target environment. LIDAR system to focus the LO signal and a target return signal at a second focal plane comprising a conjugate focal plane to the first focal plane. The system may also include a photodetector with a photosensitive surface proximate to the conjugate focal plane to mix the LO signal with the target return signal to generate target information.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system according to the present disclosure comprises an optical circulator and one or more photodetectors (PDs). The optical circulator is to receive an optical beam and transmit the optical beam to a target, to receive a target return signal from the target and to transmit the target return signal to the one or more PDs, where the one or more PDs are to mix the target return signal with an LO signal to generate a heterodyne signal to extract range and velocity information of the target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system according to the present disclosure comprises an optical source to emit an optical beam, and an optical circulator to receive the optical beam and transmit the optical beam to a target, to receive a target return signal from the target and to transmit the target return signal to one or more photodetectors (PDs). The optical circulator is configured to collect all polarization states in the target return signal. The LiDAR system further comprises an optical element to generate a local oscillator (LO) signal, and the one or more PDs to mix the target return signal with the LO signal to generate a heterodyne signal to extract range and velocity information of the target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, and free-space optics coupled with the optical source to focus the optical beam at a first focal plane, where a local oscillator (LO) signal is generated from a partial reflection of the optical beam from a partially-reflecting surface proximate to the first focal plane, and where a transmitted portion of the optical beam is directed toward a scanned target environment. The free-space optics configured to focus the LO signal and a target return signal at a second focal plane comprising a conjugate focal plane to the first focal plane. The system also includes a photodetector with a photosensitive surface proximate to the conjugate focal plane to mix the LO signal with the target return signal to generate target information.

Abstract: A system comprises an electromagnetic radiation source, a polarizing element, a mode converter, an optical fiber, and a measurement device. The polarizing element receives electromagnetic radiation produced by the electromagnetic radiation source and outputs linearly-polarized electromagnetic radiation having a linear polarization angle ?1. The mode converter converts the linearly-polarized electromagnetic radiation to an orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode of linearly-polarized electromagnetic radiation with topological charge Li. The OAM mode of linearly-polarized electromagnetic radiation is a superposition of first and second OAM modes with topological charges Li and opposite circular polarizations. The optical fiber supports propagation of the first and second OAM modes with an absolute effective index difference ?neff greater than or equal to 5×10?3, such that linearly-polarized electromagnetic radiation with linear polarization angle ?2 is emitted by the optical fiber.

Abstract: A system comprises an electromagnetic radiation source, a polarizing element, a mode converter, an optical fiber, and a measurement device. The polarizing element receives electromagnetic radiation produced by the electromagnetic radiation source and outputs linearly-polarized electromagnetic radiation having a linear polarization angle ?1. The mode converter converts the linearly-polarized electromagnetic radiation to an orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode of linearly-polarized electromagnetic radiation with topological charge Li. The OAM mode of linearly-polarized electromagnetic radiation is a superposition of first and second OAM modes with topological charges Li and opposite circular polarizations. The optical fiber supports propagation of the first and second OAM modes with an absolute effective index difference ?neff greater than or equal to 5×10?5, such that linearly-polarized electromagnetic radiation with linear polarization angle ?2 is emitted by the optical fiber.