Chip-scale LIDAR with a single MEMS scanner in a compact optical package

An optical coupler for a LIDAR system, comprising:

• a chip-side face in optical communication with a photonic chip;
• a scanner-side face in optical communication with a scanner;
• a polarization rotator;
• a birefringent wedge between the chip-side face and the polarization rotator;
• and
• a polarizer between the scanner-side face and the birefringent wedge;
• wherein the optical coupler directs a first beam of light received at the chip-side face from a first location of the photonic chip space along an optical path at the scanner and directs a second beam of light received at the scanner-side face along the optical path to a second location of the photonic chip.

A method of optical communication, comprising:

• transmitting a first beam of light from a first location toward a chip-side face of an optical coupler having a polarization rotator, a birefringent wedge between the chip-side face of the optical coupler and the polarization rotator and a polarizer between a scanner-side face of the optical coupler and the birefringent wedge;
• directing the first beam of light, via the optical coupler, along an optical path at the scanner-side face of the optical coupler;
• receiving a second beam of light along the optical path at the scanner-side face;
• and
• directing the second beam of light toward a second location of the photonic chip at the chip-side face.