LIDAR system with polarization diversity
AssigneeSiLC Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMajid Boloorian, Bradley Jonathan Luff, Mehdi Asghari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The system also includes components that combine contributions from different signals so as to generate composite signals that each carries the LIDAR data. Each composite signal is associated with a polarization state and is also a signal component selected from a quadrature component and an in-phase component. Each of the composite signals is associated with a different combination of polarization state and signal component. The system also includes electronics that combine the composite signals so as to generate an in-phase component of a complex LIDAR data signal and a quadrature component of the LIDAR data signal. The electronics extract the LIDAR data from the complex LIDAR data signal.
Claims18
A system, comprising:
- a LIDAR system configured to output a LIDAR output signal toward a sample region in a field of view, the LIDAR output signal including light from an outgoing LIDAR signal guided by the system,
- the LIDAR system configured to receive a LIDAR input signal that has been reflected by an object located outside of the LIDAR system and within the sample region, the LIDAR input signal including light from the LIDAR output signal;
- and
- the LIDAR system configured to combine contributions from different signals so as to generate composite signals that each carries LIDAR data that indicates a radial velocity and/or distance between the object and the LIDAR system,
- each composite signal having a contribution from the LIDAR input signal and also having a contribution from a portion of the outgoing LIDAR signal that was not output from the LIDAR system,
- each composite signal being associated with a polarization state in that the contribution of the LIDAR input signal to the composite signal was of the associated polarization state,
- each composite signal being associated with a signal component of a complex signal in that each composite signal is a signal component selected from the group consisting of an in-phase component and a quadrature component, and
- each of the composite signals being associated with a different combination of polarization state and signal component;
- and
- electronics that combine the composite signals so as to generate an in-phase component of a complex LIDAR data signal and a quadrature component of the complex LIDAR data signal,
- the electronics combining the composite signals such that two of the composite signals are added and one of the composite signals is subtracted from another one of the composite signals, and
- the electronics configured to extract the LIDAR data from the complex LIDAR data signal.
A method of operating a LIDAR system, comprising:
- outputting a LIDAR output signal from a LIDAR system and toward a sample region in a field of view, the LIDAR output signal including light from an outgoing LIDAR signal guided by the system;
- receiving a LIDAR input signal that has been reflected by an object located outside of the LIDAR system and within the sample region, the LIDAR input signal including light from the LIDAR output signal;
- combining contributions from different signals so as to generate composite signals that each carries LIDAR data that indicates a radial velocity and/or distance between the object and the LIDAR system,
- each composite signal having a contribution from the LIDAR input signal and also having a contribution from a portion of the outgoing LIDAR signal that was not output from the LIDAR system,
- each composite signal being associated with a polarization state in that the contribution of the LIDAR input signal to the composite signal was of the associated polarization state,
- each composite signal being associated with a signal component of a complex signal in that each composite signal is a signal component selected from the group consisting of an in-phase component and a quadrature component, and
- each of the composite signals being associated with a different combination of polarization state and signal component;
- combining the composite signals so as to generate an in-phase component of a complex LIDAR data signal and a quadrature component on the LIDAR data signal;
- and
- extracting the LIDAR data from the complex LIDAR data signal, wherein the composite signals are combined such that two of the composite signals are added and one of the composite signals is subtracted from another one of the composite signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.