Abstract: An apparatus including a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) antenna of an optical phased array includes a silicon-on-insulator substrate including a silicon wire waveguide embedded within the substrate and a grating layer disposed over the substrate. The grating layer includes a silicon nitride layer coating the silicon-on-insulator substrate and including a plurality of etchings formed in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the optical phased array and a silicon oxynitride layer coating the silicon nitride layer and filling the etchings. The etchings are relatively thin in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the optical phased array at a first end of the optical antenna and are relatively thick in the direction of the longitudinal axis at a second end. The etchings gradually increase in thickness between the first end of the optical phased array and the second end of the optical antenna.

Abstract: A photonic reflector device includes a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer, which functions as a retro-reflector, is formed of a first material contacting a second material and having a non-planar interface therebetween. The second layer, which functions as a photonic crystal, includes third and fourth materials that have different refractive indices from one another and are configured such that the second layer has a periodic optical potential along at least one dimension. The third layer, which functions as a Lambertian scatterer, includes a plurality of inclusions in a first matrix material. In combination, the layers may be optimized to synergistically reflect targeted wavelengths and/or polarizations of light.

Abstract: A blade positioning system and method are provided to dynamically measure blade position during flight of a rotorcraft. In the context of a method, a blade of the rotorcraft is repeatedly illuminated by a light source during flight of the rotorcraft while the blade is rotating. The method also includes detecting radiation scattered from the blade in response to illumination of the blade. The method further includes determining at least one of a blade pitch angle, a blade flap angle, a blade leading position or a blade lagging position based upon the radiation that is scattered from the blade and detected. A rotorcraft is also provided that includes a chip-scale light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor configured to illuminate the plurality of blades while the blades are rotating in order to permit blade position to be measured or to illuminate terrain beneath the rotorcraft in order to provide an altitude measurement.

Abstract: An architecture for a chip-scale optical phased array-based scanning frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) Light-detection and ranging (LiDAR) device is described. The LiDAR device includes a laser, a transmit optical splitter, an optical circulator, photodetectors, and an optical phased array. The laser, the transmit optical splitter, the optical circulator, the photodetectors, and the optical phased array are arranged as a chip-scale package on a single semiconductor substrate. The laser generates a first light beam that is transmitted to the optical phased array aperture via the transmit optical splitter, the optical circulator, and the optical phased array. A fraction of the first light beam is transmitted to the photodetectors via the transmit optical splitter to serve as the optical local oscillator (LO), the aperture of the optical phased array captures a second light beam that is transmitted to the photodetectors via the optical phased array and the optical circulator.

Abstract: An integrated photonic circulator is described, an application of which may be deployed on a chip-scale light-detection and ranging (LiDAR) device. The photonic circulator includes a micro-ring resonator waveguide, a heating element, first and second bus waveguides, a magneto-optic substrate, a magneto-optic element, a magnetic ring disposed on a photonic substrate, and a silicon substrate. The first and second bus waveguides are coupled to the micro-ring resonator waveguide, and the micro-ring resonator waveguide is affixed onto a first side of the photonic substrate. The magneto-optic element and the magneto-optic substrate are arranged on the micro-ring resonator waveguide, the magnetic ring is affixed to the magneto-optic substrate, the heating element is affixed to the photonic substrate, the photonic substrate is affixed to the silicon substrate, and the magnetic ring is concentric with the micro-ring resonator.

Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photonic chip, and a laser integrated into the photonic chip. The laser has a front facet located at a first aperture of the photonic chip to direct a transmitted light beam into free space. A reflected light beam that is a reflection of the transmitted light beam is received at the photonic chip and a parameter of the object is determined from a comparison of the transmitted light beam and the reflected light beam. A navigation system operates the vehicle with respect to the object based on a parameter of the object.

Abstract: A photonic reflector device includes a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer, which functions as a retro-reflector, is formed of a first material contacting a second material and having a non-planar interface therebetween. The second layer, which functions as a photonic crystal, includes third and fourth materials that have different refractive indices from one another and are configured such that the second layer has a periodic optical potential along at least one dimension. The third layer, which functions as a Lambertian scatterer, includes a plurality of inclusions in a first matrix material. In combination, the layers may be optimized to synergistically reflect targeted wavelengths and/or polarizations of light.

Abstract: A photonic circulator deployed on a chip-scale light-detection and ranging (LiDAR) device includes a first arm that includes a first waveguide that is bonded onto a first member at a first bonding region, and a second arm that includes a second waveguide that is bonded onto a second member at a second bonding region. A first thermo-optic phase shifter is arranged on the first member and collocated with the first waveguide, and a second thermo-optic phase shifter is arranged on the second member and collocated with the second waveguide. The magneto-optic material and the first thermo-optic phase shifter of the first member cause a first phase shift in a first light beam travelling through the first waveguide, and the magneto-optic material and the second thermo-optic phase shifter of the second member cause a second phase shift in a second light beam travelling through the second waveguide.

Abstract: A chip-scale coherent lidar system includes a master oscillator integrated on a chip to simultaneously provide a signal for transmission and a local oscillator (LO) signal. The system also includes a beam steering device to direct an output signal obtained from the signal for transmission out of the system, and a combiner on the chip to combine the LO signal and a return signal resulting from a reflection of the output signal by a target. One or more photodetectors obtain a result of interference between the LO signal and the return signal to determine information about the target.

Abstract: A chip-scale LIDAR (light detection and ranging) system, optical package and LIDAR platform. The system includes a photonic chip, a laser associated with the photonic chip, an optical circulator, and a MEMS scanner. The laser, the optical circulator and the MEMS scanner are collinear. The photonic chip includes an edge coupler. The optical package includes a housing having an aperture, and a platform within the housing. The platform includes the laser, an optical circulator, and MEMS scanner.

Abstract: A lidar system includes a laser diode to provide a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) signal, and a current source to provide a drive signal that modulates the laser diode. The current source is controlled to pre-distort the drive signal to provide a linear FMCW signal. The lidar system also includes a splitter to split the FMCW signal into an output signal and a local oscillator (LO) signal, a transmit coupler to transmit the output signal, a receive coupler to obtain a received signal based on reflection of the output signal by a target, and a combiner to combine the received signal with the LO signal into first and second combined signals. A first and second photodetector respectively receive the first and second combined signals and output first and second electrical signals from which a beat signal that indicates the pre-distortion needed for the drive signal is obtained.

Abstract: A photonic edge coupler includes a slab waveguide and a ridge waveguide. The ridge waveguide includes a silicon wire waveguide, which includes a tapered portion. A first end of the slab waveguide is joined to the ridge waveguide at a junction, and a second end of the slab waveguide forms a first facet. The ridge waveguide defines a longitudinal axis that is associated with a direction of a light signal therein. The first facet is angled at less than 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis associated with the direction of the light signal therein. The first facet is disposed opposite to a laser facet associated with a laser waveguide. The longitudinal axis of the ridge waveguide defines a first center point, and the laser facet and the associated laser waveguide define a second center point. The second center point is laterally offset from the first center point.

Abstract: A lidar system includes a photonic chip including a light source and a transmit beam coupler to provide an output signal for transmission. The output signal is a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) signal. A transmit beam steering device transmits the output signal from the transmit beam coupler of the photonic chip. A receive beam steering device obtains a reflection of the output signal by a target and provides the reflection as a received signal to a receive beam coupler of the photonic chip. The photonic chip, the transmit beam steering device, and the receive beam steering device are heterogeneously integrated into an optical engine.

Abstract: A blade positioning system and method are provided to dynamically measure blade position during flight of a rotorcraft. In the context of a method, a blade of the rotorcraft is repeatedly illuminated by a light source during flight of the rotorcraft while the blade is rotating. The method also includes detecting radiation scattered from the blade in response to illumination of the blade. The method further includes determining at least one of a blade pitch angle, a blade flap angle, a blade leading position or a blade lagging position based upon the radiation that is scattered from the blade and detected.

Abstract: A LIDAR system, LIDAR chip and method of manufacturing a LIDAR chip. The LIDAR system includes a photonic chip configured to transmit a transmitted light beam and to receive a reflected light beam, a scanner for directing the transmitted light beam towards a direction in space and receiving the reflected light beam from the selected direction, and a fiber-based optical coupler. The photonic chip and the scanner are placed on a semiconductor integrated platform (SIP). The fiber-based optical coupler is placed on top of the photonic chip to optically couple to the photonic chip for directing the a transmitted light beam from the photonic chip to the scanner and for directing a reflected light beam from the scanner to the photonic chip.

Abstract: A photonic circulator deployed on a chip-scale light-detection and ranging (LiDAR) device includes a first arm that includes a first waveguide that is bonded onto a first member at a first bonding region, and a second arm that includes a second waveguide that is bonded onto a second member at a second bonding region. A first thermo-optic phase shifter is arranged on the first member and collocated with the first waveguide, and a second thermo-optic phase shifter is arranged on the second member and collocated with the second waveguide. The magneto-optic material and the first thermo-optic phase shifter of the first member cause a first phase shift in a first light beam travelling through the first waveguide, and the magneto-optic material and the second thermo-optic phase shifter of the second member cause a second phase shift in a second light beam travelling through the second waveguide.

Abstract: An integrated photonic circulator is described, an application of which may be deployed on a chip-scale light-detection and ranging (LiDAR) device. The photonic circulator includes a micro-ring resonator waveguide, a heating element, first and second bus waveguides, a magneto-optic substrate, a magneto-optic element, a magnetic ring disposed on a photonic substrate, and a silicon substrate. The first and second bus waveguides are coupled to the micro-ring resonator waveguide, and the micro-ring resonator waveguide is affixed onto a first side of the photonic substrate. The magneto-optic element and the magneto-optic substrate are arranged on the micro-ring resonator waveguide, the magnetic ring is affixed to the magneto-optic substrate, the heating element is affixed to the photonic substrate, the photonic substrate is affixed to the silicon substrate, and the magnetic ring is concentric with the micro-ring resonator.

Abstract: An apparatus including a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) antenna of an optical phased array includes a silicon-on-insulator substrate including a silicon wire waveguide embedded within the substrate and a grating layer disposed over the substrate. The grating layer includes a silicon nitride layer coating the silicon-on-insulator substrate and including a plurality of etchings formed in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the optical phased array and a silicon oxynitride layer coating the silicon nitride layer and filling the etchings. The etchings are relatively thin in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the optical phased array at a first end of the optical antenna and are relatively thick in the direction of the longitudinal axis at a second end. The etchings gradually increase in thickness between the first end of the optical phased array and the second end of the optical antenna.

Abstract: An architecture for a chip-scale optical phased array-based scanning frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) Light-detection and ranging (LiDAR) device is described. The LiDAR device includes a laser, a transmit optical splitter, an optical circulator, photodetectors, and an optical phased array. The laser, the transmit optical splitter, the optical circulator, the photodetectors, and the optical phased array are arranged as a chip-scale package on a single semiconductor substrate. The laser generates a first light beam that is transmitted to the optical phased array aperture via the transmit optical splitter, the optical circulator, and the optical phased array. A fraction of the first light beam is transmitted to the photodetectors via the transmit optical splitter to serve as the optical local oscillator (LO), the aperture of the optical phased array captures a second light beam that is transmitted to the photodetectors via the optical phased array and the optical circulator.

Abstract: A photonic edge coupler includes a slab waveguide and a ridge waveguide. The ridge waveguide includes a silicon wire waveguide, which includes a tapered portion. A first end of the slab waveguide is joined to the ridge waveguide at a junction, and a second end of the slab waveguide forms a first facet. The ridge waveguide defines a longitudinal axis that is associated with a direction of a light signal therein. The first facet is angled at less than 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis associated with the direction of the light signal therein. The first facet is disposed opposite to a laser facet associated with a laser waveguide. The longitudinal axis of the ridge waveguide defines a first center point, and the laser facet and the associated laser waveguide define a second center point. The second center point is laterally offset from the first center point.