FMCW LIDAR system with passive amplitude modulation for simultaneous determination of range and velocity

A method for light detection and ranging (LIDAR), comprising:

• transmitting a light signal from a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) source;
• modulating, with a passive modulator, the light signal with a low-power mode at a section of a sweep signal to generate a pulsed light signal transmitted towards a target;
• receiving a return beam from the target based on the pulsed light signal, the return beam including an amplitude modulated (AM) signal portion and a frequency modulated (FM) signal portion;
• and
• determining a target range value for the target based on the AM signal portion;
• and
• determining a target velocity value for the target based on the AM signal portion and based on the FM signal portion.

A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system, comprising:

• a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light source to generate a light signal;
• an optical circuit including:
• an optical source to transmit the light signal;
• a passive modulator to modulate the light signal with a low-power mode at a section of a sweep signal to generate a pulsed light signal transmitted towards a target;
• and
• a photodetector to receive a return beam from the target based on the pulsed light signal, the return beam including an amplitude modulated (AM) signal portion and a frequency modulated (FM) signal portion;
• a processing device coupled to the photodetector configured to:
• determine a target range value for the target based on the AM signal portion;
• and
• determine a target velocity value for the target based on the AM signal portion and based on the FM signal portion;
• and
• optics to transmit the pulsed light signal from the optical circuit and direct the return beam to the photodetector.