Beamsplitter architecture for monostatic LiDAR

A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system comprising:

• a light source;
• an arrayed micro-optic defining an array of optical emission sites and configured to receive light from the light source so as to produce and project a two-dimensional array of light spots on a scene;
• receiver optics having an array of optical detection sites assigned and aligned to each emission site to establish a one-to-one correspondence between light spots in the two-dimensional array and optical detection sites in the receiver optics;
• a beamsplitter and a lens arranged so that light travels from the arrayed micro-optic to the beamsplitter, from the beamsplitter to the lens, and from the lens to the scene and further so that light reflected from the scene travels from the scene to the lens, from the lens to the beamsplitter, and from the beamsplitter to the receiver optics;
• and
• a controller,
• wherein the controller is programmed to selectively activate or deactivate each one of the optical detection sites in the array of optical detection sites.

A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system comprising:

• a light source;
• an arrayed micro-optic defining an array of optical emission sites and configured to receive light from the light source so as to produce and project a two-dimensional array of light spots on a scene;
• receiver optics having an array of optical detection sites configured assigned and aligned to each emission site to establish a one-to-one correspondence between the light spots in the two-dimensional array and the optical detection sites in the receiver optics;
• a lens;
• and
• a beamsplitter, disposed between the arrayed micro-optic and the lens, the arrayed micro-optic being located on one side of the beamsplitter, the receiver optics being located on the other side of the beamsplitter, such that the arrayed micro-optic and the optical detection sites are approximately aligned to form a mirror-image pair with respect to a semi-reflective surface of the beamsplitter, the beamsplitter configured such that outgoing light travels from the arrayed micro-optic to the beamsplitter, from the beamsplitter to the lens, and from the lens to the scene and incoming light reflected from the scene travels from the scene to the lens, from the lens to the beamsplitter, and from the beamsplitter to the receiver optics.