Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided that includes a first optical source and a second optical source configured to emit respectively a first optical beam and a second optical beam that are nondegenerate and are chirped antiphase, lensing optics to direct the first and second optical beams toward a target, and collect a first return signal and a second return signal, and a first optical detector and a second optical detector configured to generate a first signal from the first return signal mixed with a first local oscillator and a second signal from the second return signal mixed with the second local oscillator.

Abstract: A frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: generate subbands in a frequency domain based on a range-dependent time domain baseband signal, classify each subband into a subband type, select processing parameters for each subband based on the respective subband type, and process each of the subbands using the selected processing parameters for the subband.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system has a passive modulator to modulate a light signal from an optical source with a low-power mode at a section of a sweep signal to generate a pulsed light signal transmitted towards a target. The LIDAR system has a photodetector to receive a return beam from the target with an amplitude modulated (AM) signal portion and a frequency modulated (FM) signal portion. The LIDAR system determines a target range value for the target based on the AM signal portion and determines a target velocity value for the target based on the FM signal portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an approach of receiving a return signal from a target based on an optical beam from an optical source. The approach samples the return signal, which includes a first frequency waveform, and converts the return signal to a frequency domain. The approach selects a matched filter that includes a second frequency waveform to match the first frequency waveform, and updates the matched filter by updating a set of coefficients of the second frequency waveform. The approach then filters the return signal by the updated matched filter to generate a filtered return signal to extract range and velocity information of the target.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting a plurality of optical beams towards a plurality of targets, receiving a plurality of return signals based on reflections of the plurality of optical beams from the plurality of targets, and generating a first plurality of peaks each associated with a different up-chirp frequency of the plurality of optical beams and a second plurality of peaks each associated with a different down-chirp frequency of the plurality of optical beams. The method further includes determining peak shape similarities between each of the first plurality of peaks and the second plurality of peaks, pairing each peak of the first plurality of peaks with a peak of the second plurality of peaks based on the peak shape similarities, and identifying the plurality of targets based on the pairing.

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) system to generate a baseband signal in the time domain from the return signal, where the baseband signal includes frequencies corresponding to LIDAR target ranges; and a signal processing system coupled with the optical processing system to measure energy of the baseband signal in the frequency domain, to compare the energy to an estimate of LIDAR system noise, and to determine a likelihood that an signal peak in the frequency domain indicates a detected 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.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided that includes a first optical source and a second optical source configured to emit respectively a first optical beam and a second optical beam that are nondegenerate and are chirped antiphase, lensing optics to direct the first and second optical beams toward a target, and collect a first return signal and a second return signal, and a first optical detector and a second optical detector configured to generate a first signal from the first return signal mixed with a first local oscillator and a second signal from the second return signal mixed with the second local oscillator.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting a plurality of optical beams towards a plurality of targets, receiving a plurality of return signals based on reflections of the plurality of optical beams from the plurality of targets, and generating a first plurality of peaks each associated with a different up-chirp frequency of the plurality of optical beams and a second plurality of peaks each associated with a different down-chirp frequency of the plurality of optical beams. The method further includes determining peak shape similarities between each of the first plurality of peaks and the second plurality of peaks, pairing each peak of the first plurality of peaks with a peak of the second plurality of peaks based on the peak shape similarities, and identifying the plurality of targets based on the pairing.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system including a processor to receive a return signal from a target based on an optical beam transmitted towards the target and receive a baseband signal in a time domain based on the return signal. The processor of the LIDAR system further to produce a comparison of signal peaks of the baseband signal with an estimate of LIDAR system noise in the frequency domain, and identify targets based on the comparison.

Abstract: A return signal from a target is received based on an optical beam from an optical source of a LiDAR system. The return signal is sampled and converted to a frequency domain, where the return signal comprises a first frequency waveform. A matched filter is selected, where the matched filter comprises a second frequency waveform to match the first frequency waveform. The matched filter is updated by updating a set of coefficients of the second frequency waveform. The return signal is filtered by the updated matched filter to generate a filtered return signal to extract range and velocity information of the target.

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) system includes an optical circuit configured to generate a first transmitted optical beam and a second transmitted optical beam being frequency modulated with sweeps being divisible into multiple sub-sweeps over respective sub-bands of the frequency band, one or more receivers configured to produce a simultaneous measurement of a first beat frequency and a second beat frequency for each sub-sweep of the respective sub-band of the frequency band from return signals, and a signal processor. The signal processor is configured to determine a range and a velocity of a target from the simultaneous measurement and determine a custom sub-band size for a custom sub-sweep within the sweep. The signal processor is further configured to produce an additional simultaneous measurement of the beat frequencies based on the custom sub-sweep and determine an additional value of the range and the velocity from the additional simultaneous measurement.

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) system to generate a baseband signal in the time domain from the return signal, where the baseband signal includes frequencies corresponding to LIDAR target ranges; and a signal processing system coupled with the optical processing system to measure energy of the baseband signal in the frequency domain, to compare the energy to an estimate of LIDAR system noise, and to determine a likelihood that an signal peak in the frequency domain indicates a detected target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system that includes optical sources configured to emit a first frequency modulated optical beam and a second frequency modulated optical beam. The system also includes an optical amplifier to receive the optical beams and generate output optical beams. The system also includes an optical arrangement to emit the output optical beams and collect light returned from the target in return beams. The system also includes an optical element to generate a first beat frequency from the first return beam and a second beat frequency from the second return beam. The system also includes a signal processing system to determine the range and velocity of the target from the beat frequencies. The system also includes circuitry to control an amplitude of the first optical beam input to the optical amplifier to amplitude modulate the first output optical beam and the second output optical beam.

Abstract: A first light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes an optical source to transmit one or more optical beams towards a first field of view, an optical receiver to receive one or more return beams corresponding to the first field of view and generate a first point cloud referencing a first field of view of the first lidar system, a processing device, and a memory to store the first point cloud and store instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processing device, cause the first LIDAR system to receive a second point cloud referencing a second field of view of a second LIDAR system, determine a relative positioning between the first field of view and the second field of view, and modify the first point cloud based on the second point cloud and the relative positioning between the first field of view and the second field of view.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system has a passive modulator to modulate a light signal from an optical source with a low-power mode at a section of a sweep signal to generate a pulsed light signal transmitted towards a target. The LIDAR system has a photodetector to receive a return beam from the target with an amplitude modulated (AM) signal portion and a frequency modulated (FM) signal portion. The LIDAR system determines a target range value for the target based on the AM signal portion and determines a target velocity value for the target based on the FM signal portion.

Abstract: A method of determining range and velocity information of a target in a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system, includes determining a set of signal power density spectrums in a frequency domain based on an optical signal returned from a target, wherein a number of the set of signal power density spectrums is determined based on an expected mirror Doppler shift associated with the optical signal returned from the target. The method further includes averaging the set of signal power density spectrums to generate a compensated signal power density spectrum and detecting a peak value in the compensated signal power density spectrum to determine range and velocity information related to a target based on a corresponding frequency of the peak value of compensated signal power density spectrum.