Multiwavelength lidar design

A system for enabling light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning, comprising:

• a plurality of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanners, wherein each of the plurality of LiDAR scanners is disposed at a separate location of a mounting object;
• a splitter configured to:
• receive a laser signal having a first wavelength, and
• divide the laser signal to generate a plurality of signals;
• a modulator configured to modulate at least some of the plurality of signals to form modulated signals, wherein at least two of the modulated signals have different encodings, and the modulated signals and the plurality of signals have substantially the same wavelengths centered at the first wavelength;
• a local power booster configured to amplify at least one of the plurality of signals at a location of a corresponding LiDAR scanner;
• and
• a plurality of optical fiber based laser delivery channels, wherein each of the laser delivery channels is configured to deliver a respective modulated signal or unmodulated signal, if any, to a respective LiDAR scanner of the plurality of LiDAR scanners, and wherein the plurality of LiDAR scanners is configured to detect return signals received by the plurality of LiDAR scanners, the return signals being reflected based on the modulated signals and the unmodulated signals, if any, and received from external of the plurality of LiDAR scanners.

A method for enabling light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning, comprising:

• receiving a laser signal having a first wavelength;
• dividing the laser signal to generate a plurality of signals;
• modulating at least some of the plurality of signals to form modulated signals, wherein at least two of the modulated signals have different encodings, and the modulated signals and the plurality of signals have substantially the same wavelengths centered at the first wavelength;
• delivering, via a plurality of optical fiber channels, the modulated signals and unmodulated signals, if any, to a plurality of LiDAR scanners mounted on or in proximity to an object, wherein each of the plurality of signals is delivered to a respective LiDAR scanner of the plurality of LiDAR scanners, and wherein at least one amplifier amplifies at least one of the plurality of signals at a location of a corresponding LiDAR scanner;
• and
• detecting return signals received by the plurality of LiDAR scanners, the return signals being reflected based on the modulated signals and the unmodulated signals, if any, and received from external of the plurality of LiDAR scanners.