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US 11,960,006 B2Granted
Wavelength division multiplexed LiDAR
AssigneeAnalog Photonics LLC
InventorsEhsan Hosseini, Michael Watts, Christopher Poulton, Diedrik Vermeulen
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Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure describe wavelength division multiplexed LiDAR systems, methods, and structures that advantageously provide a wide field of view without employing lasers having a large tuning range.
Claims12
A method of operating a chip-scale wavelength division multiplexed LiDAR comprising:
- providing a multiwavelength optical signal;
- directing the multiwavelength optical signal via a distribution network to an optical phased array, said optical phased array including emitter elements and phase shifters;
- separating the multiwavelength optical signal into its component wavelengths through the effect of at least one reflective grating or transmission grating receiving the multiwavelength optical signal from the emitter elements and emitting individual component wavelengths as individual beams in an individual direction toward a scene according to their wavelength, where said individual beam directions span an emission plane;
- and
- steering the individual beams through the effect of the phase shifters, said individual beams collectively steered about an axis substantially parallel to the emission plane.
2 more elements
A wavelength division multiplexed LiDAR system comprising:
- a substrate;
- a multiwavelength light source formed on the substrate;
- an active optical phased array formed on the substrate, said active optical phased array including phase shifters and emitter elements;
- an optical splitter network formed on the substrate, said optical splitter network optically connecting the multiwavelength light source to the active optical phased array;
- and
- a plurality of transmitter/receiver (TX/RX) units formed on the substrate, wherein each individual TX/RX unit is configured to generate an individual wavelength of the multiwavelength light source and to detect that same individual wavelength.
3 more elements
A wavelength division multiplexed LiDAR system comprising:
- a substrate;
- a light source integrated with the substrate providing a multiwavelength optical signal;
- an active optical phased array formed on the substrate, said active optical phased array including phase shifters and emitter elements;
- an optical splitter network formed on the substrate, said optical splitter network optically connecting the multiwavelength optical signal to the active optical phased array;
- and
- driver electronics configured to control phase shifts applied by the phase shifters to steer individual beams exhibiting different wavelengths emitted in individual directions that span an emission plane such that said individual beams are collectively steered about an axis substantially parallel to the emission plane.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.