# US 11,994,629 B2 · Coherent signal combining with multiple-outputs for quasi-CW LIDAR operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,994,629 B2 - Document ID: US11994629B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/530,328 - Filed: 2021-11-18 - Published: 2022-08-18 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-05 - Assignees: Aurora Operations, Inc. - Applicants: Aurora Operations, Inc. - Inventors: Zeb Barber; Randy R. Reibel; Emil Kadlec - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994629B2 ## CPC - G01S 7/4917: {superposing optical signals in a photodetector, e.g. optical heterodyne detection} - G01S 17/32: using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated - G01S 7/4911: Transmitters - G01S 17/931: of land vehicles - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract The present disclosure is directed to light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system including a laser configured to output a beam, an amplifier, and an optical network. The amplifier may be configured to receive a plurality of optical signals that are generated based on the beam and are respectively associated with a plurality of phases. The amplifier may be configured to generate a plurality of amplified optical signals based on the plurality of optical signals. The optical network may be coupled to the amplifier. The optical network may be configured to receive the plurality of amplified optical signals. The optical network may be configured to generate an optical signal based on the plurality of amplified optical signals. An amplitude of the optical signal may correspond to a combined amplitude of the plurality of amplified optical signals. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system comprising: a laser configured to output a beam; an amplifier configured to: receive a plurality of optical signals that are generated based on the beam and are respectively associated with a plurality of phases, and generate a plurality of amplified optical signals based on the plurality of optical signals; and an optical network that is coupled to the amplifier and a plurality of outputs, wherein the optical network is configured to: receive the plurality of amplified optical signals, and generate a combined optical signal at a particular output of the plurality of outputs by splitting the plurality of amplified optical signals via one or more beam splitters, wherein an amplitude of the combined optical signal corresponds to a combined amplitude of the plurality of amplified optical signals split by the one or more beam splitters. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The LIDAR system of claim 1, wherein a first phase of the plurality of phases is different from a second phase of the plurality of phases. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The LIDAR system of claim 1, wherein the amplifier comprises a plurality of sub-amplifiers that are respectively configured to: receive a respective one of the plurality of optical signals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The LIDAR system of claim 3, wherein the optical network comprises a plurality of beam splitters that are respectively coupled to a respective one of the plurality of sub-amplifiers, wherein the plurality of beam splitters are respectively configured to: receive a respective one of the plurality of amplified optical signals. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The LIDAR system of claim 3, wherein a count of the plurality of outputs corresponds to a count of the plurality of sub-amplifiers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The LIDAR system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of optical signals respectively corresponds to a quasi-continuous wave signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The LIDAR system of claim 1, wherein a number of the plurality of amplified optical signals is greater than or equal to four. ### Claim 8 An autonomous vehicle control system comprising one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: cause a laser to output a beam; cause an amplifier to: receive a plurality of optical signals that are generated based on the beam and are respectively associated with a plurality of phases, and generate a plurality of amplified optical signals based on the plurality of optical signals; cause an optical network to: receive the plurality of amplified optical signals wherein the optical network is coupled to the amplifier and a plurality of outputs, and generate a combined optical signal at a particular output of the plurality of outputs by splitting the plurality of amplified optical signals via one or more beam splitters, wherein an amplitude of the combined optical signal corresponds to a combined amplitude of the plurality of amplified optical signals split by the one or more beam splitters; and operate a vehicle based on the optical signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 8, wherein a first phase of the plurality of phases is different from a second phase of the plurality of phases. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 8, wherein the amplifier comprises a plurality of sub-amplifiers, wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause each of the plurality of sub-amplifiers to receive a respective one of the plurality of optical signals. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 10, wherein the optical network comprises a plurality of beam splitters that are respectively coupled to a respective one of the plurality of sub-amplifiers, wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause each of the plurality of beam splitters to receive a respective one of the plurality of amplified optical signals. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 10, wherein a count of the plurality of outputs corresponds to a count of the plurality of sub-amplifiers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of optical signals respectively corresponds to a quasi-continuous wave signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 8, wherein a number of the plurality of amplified optical signals is greater than or equal to four. ### Claim 15 An autonomous vehicle, comprising: a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system comprising: a laser configured to output a beam; an amplifier configured to: receive a plurality of optical signals that are generated based on the beam and are respectively associated with a plurality of phases, and generate a plurality of amplified optical signals based on the plurality of optical signals; and an optical network that is coupled to the amplifier and a plurality of outputs, wherein the optical network is configured to: receive the plurality of amplified optical signals, and generate a combined optical signal at a particular output of the plurality of outputs by splitting the plurality of amplified optical signals via one or more beam splitters, wherein an amplitude of the combined optical signal corresponds to a combined amplitude of the plurality of amplified optical signals split by the one or more beam splitters; at least one of a steering system or a braking system; and a vehicle controller comprising one or more processors configured to control operation of the at least one of the steering system or the braking system based on the optical signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The autonomous vehicle of claim 15, wherein a first phase of the plurality of phases is different from a second phase of the plurality of phases. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The autonomous vehicle of claim 15, wherein the amplifier comprises a plurality of sub-amplifiers, wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause each of the plurality of sub-amplifiers to receive a respective one of the plurality of optical signals. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The autonomous vehicle of claim 17, wherein the optical network comprises a plurality of beam splitters that are respectively coupled to a respective one of the plurality of sub-amplifiers, wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause each of the plurality of beam splitters to receive a respective one of the plurality of amplified optical signals. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The autonomous vehicle of claim 17, wherein a count of the plurality of outputs corresponds to a count of the plurality of sub-amplifiers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The autonomous vehicle of claim 19, wherein the plurality of optical signals respectively corresponds to a quasi-continuous wave signal.