Optical detector having a bandpass filter in a lidar system

A method for detecting light from light pulses having an operating wavelength in a lidar system, the method comprising:

• emitting light pulses by a light source in a lidar system;
• scanning, by a scanner in the lidar system, a field of regard of the lidar system, including directing the light pulses toward different points within the field of regard;
• and
• detecting, by a receiver in the lidar system, light from one of the light pulses scattered by one or more remote targets to identify a return light pulse, the receiver including an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a photodetector electrically coupled to the ASIC, a thin-film notch filter, and a lens attached to the photodetector over the thin-film notch filter, wherein the thin-film notch filter is deposited directly on the photodetector or on a back surface of the lens.

A method for manufacturing a receiver for detecting light from light pulses having an operating wavelength in a lidar system, the method comprising:

• electrically coupling a photodetector to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC);
• and
• depositing a thin-film notch filter configured to transmit light at an operating wavelength directly on the photodetector or on a back surface of a lens to generate a receiver for detecting light from light pulses having the operating wavelength,
• wherein a light source in a lidar system emits the light pulses having the operating wavelength and the receiver detects light having the operating wavelength from the light pulses scattered by one or more remote targets.