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 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.

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) 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 method of operating a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided. The method includes transmitting a beam of co-propagating, cross-polarized light to a target. The method includes receiving return light reflected from the target by at least one detector. The method further includes transforming a polarization state of the beam at a transformation rate faster than a data collection rate from the at least one detector.

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 including, receiving a plurality of optical beams in a first direction along a first plane in a first beam pattern towards an optical element based on a trajectory that causes at least a portion of the plurality of optical beams to not contact a surface of the optical lens. The system and method includes transmitting a first set of the plurality of optical beams in the first direction along a second plane. The system and method includes transmitting a second set of the plurality of optical beams in the first direction along the first plane. The system and method includes generating a second beam pattern by transmitting the first set and the second set of the plurality of optical beams through an optical element, wherein the second beam pattern adjusts the trajectory to cause the portion to contact the surface of the optical lens.

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 method is provided that transmits a beam of co-propagating, cross-polarized light to a target. The method receives return light reflected from the target, which includes a first polarization and a second polarization. The method splits the return light into a first output corresponding to the first polarization and a second output corresponding to the second polarization using a first beam splitter. The method directs the first output to a first detector and directs the second output to a second detector. The method generates, by the first detector, a first electrical signal corresponding to the first polarization, and generates, by the second detector, a second electrical signal corresponding to the second polarization. The method determines an orientation of the target based on the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal, and generates a point cloud based on the orientation of the target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes an optical source configured to emit an optical beam. The LIDAR apparatus further includes free space optics configured to receive a first portion of the optical beam as a target signal and a second portion of the optical beam as a local oscillator signal, and combine the target signal and the local oscillator signal. The LIDAR apparatus includes a multi-mode (MM) waveguide configured to receive the combined signal.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes optical source configured to emit a laser beam in a first direction, a polarization wave plate configured to transform polarization state of the laser beam headed in the first direction toward a target environment, and a reflective optical component to return a portion of the laser beam toward the optical source along a return path and through the polarization wave plate as a local oscillator signal. A polarization selective component to separate light in the return path based on the optical polarization, wherein the polarization selective component refracts orthogonally polarized light along the return path to a divergent path, wherein the polarization selective component is further configured to enable interference between the local oscillator signal and the target signal to generate a combined signal.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes a laser source configured to emit a laser beam in a first direction. The apparatus also includes lensing optics configured to pass a first portion of the laser beam in the first direction toward a target, return a second portion of the laser beam into a return path as a local oscillator signal, and return a target signal into the return path. The apparatus also includes a quarter-wave plate configured to polarize the laser beam headed in the first direction and polarize the target signal returned through the lensing optics. The apparatus also includes a polarization beam splitter configured to pass non-polarized light through the beam splitter in the first direction and reflect polarized light in a second direction different than the first direction, wherein the polarization beam splitter is further configured to enable interference between the local oscillator signal and the target signal to generate a mixed signal.

Abstract: A system and method include receiving a first beam pattern from an optical source that comprises a plurality of optical beams transmitted towards a target causing different spaces to form between each optical beam. The system and method include measuring a vertical angle between at least two of the optical beams along a first axis and calculating a second beam pattern based on the vertical angle and a pivot point that causes the optical beams to be transmitted towards the target with substantially uniform spacing. The system and method include adjusting, at the pivot point, one or more components to form the second beam pattern to adjust the plurality of different spaces to the substantially uniform spacing for transmission towards the target. The system and method include receiving return optical beams from the target to produce a plurality of points to form the point cloud.

Abstract: A system and method including, receiving a plurality of optical beams in a first direction along a first plane in a first beam pattern towards an optical element based on a trajectory that causes at least a portion of the plurality of optical beams to not contact a surface of the optical lens. The system and method includes transmitting a first set of the plurality of optical beams in the first direction along a second plane. The system and method includes transmitting a second set of the plurality of optical beams in the first direction along the first plane. The system and method includes generating a second beam pattern by transmitting the first set and the second set of the plurality of optical beams through an optical element, wherein the second beam pattern adjusts the trajectory to cause the portion to contact the surface of the optical lens.

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.

Abstract: A method is provided that transmits a beam of co-propagating, cross-polarized light to a target. The method receives return light reflected from the target, which includes a first polarization and a second polarization. The method splits the return light into a first output corresponding to the first polarization and a second output corresponding to the second polarization using a first beam splitter. The method directs the first output to a first detector and directs the second output to a second detector. The method generates, by the first detector, a first electrical signal corresponding to the first polarization, and generates, by the second detector, a second electrical signal corresponding to the second polarization. The method determines an orientation of the target based on the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal, and generates a point cloud based on the orientation of the target.

Abstract: Free-space optics for use in a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus include a polarization beam-splitter (PBS) to direct an optical beam in a first direction toward a target environment and to propagate a portion of the optical beam in a second direction for receipt by a photodetector (PD), a polarization wave plate (PWP) to convert the optical beam from a first polarization to a second polarization, and to convert the target return signal from a third polarization to a fourth polarization, and a lens system coupled between the PBS and the PWP to magnify the optical beam. The propagated portion of the optical beam comprises a local oscillator (LO) signal to mix with a target return signal to generate target information.