Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus including free space optics to combine a target signal and a local oscillator signal to generate a combined signal. The LIDAR system also includes a set of multi-mode (MM) waveguides and a demultiplexer including a dispersive element. The demultiplexer configured to disperse, via the dispersive element, each respective wavelength of the combined signal at a corresponding angle, and reflect each respective wavelength of the combined signal to a corresponding MM waveguide of the set of MM waveguides.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes a dispersive element and an optical circuit. The optical circuit includes optics to project an optical beam onto a field of view and the dispersive element, operatively coupled with the optics, is to deflect the optical beam based on a wavelength of the optical beam, wherein the dispersive element shifts the field of view across a target in response to changes of the wavelength of the optical beam.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes a dispersive element and an optical circuit. The optical circuit is to emit a first optical beam having a first frequency and a second optical beam having a second frequency towards the dispersive element to deflect the first optical beam and the second optical beam based on a frequency.

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 system and method receive a first beam pattern from an optical source that includes optical beams transmitted towards a target. The system and method measure a first vertical angle between at least two of the optical beams along a first axis relative to the FMCW LIDAR system. The system and method calculate a second beam pattern based on the first vertical angle and a pivot point. The second beam pattern produces a second vertical angle between the two optical beams. The system and method adjust one or more components from a first position that forms the first beam pattern to a second position that forms the second beam pattern for transmission towards the target. The system and method receive one or more return optical beams from the target, based on the second beam pattern, to produce a plurality of points to form the point cloud.

Abstract: A method of aligning an optical lens in a LiDAR system includes emitting an optical beam by an optical source. The method includes placing the optical lens in front of a photodetector at a first predetermined position. The method further includes moving the optical lens to a plurality of Z-positions along a direction of an optical axis, the plurality of Z-positions corresponding to a plurality of parameter values of the LO signal. The method further includes generating a fitting function based on a set of values of the LO signal; and determining a parameter value of the LO signal for each Z-position. The method includes determining an initial Z-axis position of the optical lens by selecting a Z-position from the plurality of Z-positions based on a plurality of parameter values. The method includes determining a final Z-position of the optical lens by adding an offset to the initial Z-axis position.

Abstract: A system including a multi-sided scanner including a plurality of sides, and optical source to transmit, at a first angle, an optical beam towards a first side of the plurality of sides to produce a first adjusted beam transmitted within the multi-sided scanner towards a second side of the plurality of sides to produce a second adjusted beam. A trajectory of the second adjusted beam traverses a third side of the plurality of sides to exit the multi-sided scanner to produce a first FOV portion. The optical source is to transmit, at the second angle, the optical beam towards the first side to produce a third adjusted beam transmitted within the multi-sided scanner towards the second side to produce a fourth adjusted beam. A trajectory of the fourth adjusted beam traverses the third side of the plurality of sides to exit the multi-sided scanner to produce a second FOV portion.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a plurality of optical sources to generate a plurality of optical beams and at least one optical component adjustable to shift the plurality of optical beams to align with a reference output beam pattern prior to propagating to output scanning optics.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes optical sources to emit a continuous-wave (CW) optical beam and a frequency-modulated CW (FMCW) optical beam, an optical component to split a target return signal into a CW return signal and a FMCW return signal, and at least one optical detector to detect a first beat frequency from a combination of a CW local oscillator (LO) signal and the CW return signal, and a second beat frequency from a combination of a FMCW LO signal and the FMCW return signal, wherein the first beat frequency is associated with a velocity of a target and the second beat frequency is associated with a range of the target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided that includes an optical source to generate and transmit an optical beam, an optical fiber to guide the optical beam to a fiber tip from which the optical beam is emitted, and a first scanning mirror rotatable along at least one axis to steer the optical beam to scan a scene, and collect light incident upon objects in the scene. The system further includes a first lens, disposed between the optical fiber and the first scanning mirror, to focus the optical beam emitted from the optical fiber to converge at a location near a center of rotation of the first scanning mirror, the first scanning mirror to reflect the optical beam towards an optic, the optic, disposed between the first scanning mirror and the scene, to collimate or focus the optical beam reflected from the first scanning mirror, and a signal processor to determine a range of one or more of the objects from a return signal reflected from the one or more of the objects.

Abstract: A method of operating a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided that includes combining a first optical beam and a second optical beam into a combined optical beam of co-propagating, cross-polarized light, and transforming a polarization state of the first optical beam and the second optical beam of the combined optical beam at a rate faster than a rate of data collection at a plurality of detectors configured to detect light reflected from a target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a first optical source to generate a first optical beam, a first collimating lens to collimate the first optical beam, a first prism wedge of a first prism wedge pair to redirect the first optical beam, and a first focusing lens to focus the first optical beam on a front surface of a second prism wedge of the first prism wedge pair, the second prism wedge to direct the first optical beam toward an output lens.

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 system and method receive a first beam pattern from an optical source that includes optical beams transmitted towards a target. The system and method measure a first vertical angle between at least two of the optical beams along a first axis relative to the FMCW LIDAR system. The system and method calculate a second beam pattern based on the first vertical angle and a pivot point. The second beam pattern produces a second vertical angle between the two optical beams. The system and method adjust one or more components from a first position that forms the first beam pattern to a second position that forms the second beam pattern for transmission towards the target. The system and method receive one or more return optical beams from the target, based on the second beam pattern, to produce a plurality of points to form the point cloud.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes an optical source to emit an optical beam towards a target and a mode field expander operatively coupled to the optical source to expand a mode area of the optical beam from a first mode of a single mode optical fiber to a second mode of a larger mode area optical fiber.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes an optical source to emit a corresponding plurality of optical beams with synchronized chirp rates and synchronized chirp durations. The plurality of optical beams are each tuned to produce regions of constructive and destructive interference into a combined optical beam. A first optical component forms a phase-locked loop to correct nonlinearities detected in the plurality of optical beams. A second optical component transmits a combined optical beam toward a target environment and receives a target return signal. A third optical component downconverts the target return signal to a plurality of fixed frequency downconverted target return signals, each including a target range component and a target velocity component.

Abstract: A method of operating a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided that includes generating a beam of polarized light; and transforming a polarization state of the beam of polarized light at a rate faster than a rate of data collection at a plurality of detectors configured to detect light reflected from a target for the purpose of speckle-reduction.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes optical sources to emit a continuous-wave (CW) optical beam and a frequency-modulated CW (FMCW) optical beam, a first and second optical coupler to generate a CW local oscillator (LO), and an FMCW LO signal. The system further includes a first optical component to combine the CW optical beam and the FMCW optical beam, a second optical component to transmit the combined optical beam toward a target, a third optical component to split a target return signal into a CW return signal and a FMCW return signal based on polarization or frequency, a first optical detector to detect a first beat frequency from a combination of the CW LO signal and the CW return signal, and a second optical detector to detect a second beat frequency from a combination of the FMCW LO and the FMCW return signal.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a first optical source to generate a first optical beam transmitted towards an output lens, a second optical source to generate a second optical beam transmitted towards the output lens, wherein the first optical beam and the second optical beam generate a first beam pattern, and a light detection sensor to detect a second beam pattern at an image plane, wherein the second beam pattern comprises a shift in the first or second optical beam from the first beam pattern. The LIDAR system further includes alignment optics disposed between the light detection sensor and the first optical source and the second optical source, the alignment optics including one or more optical components adjustable to shift the first and second optical beams at the image plane to align with the first beam pattern.