Optical imager and method using subcarrier multiplexing

A photonic integrated circuit for an optical imager that comprises a cylindrical lens and provides sensor data from a target, the photonic integrated circuit comprising:

• at least one group of antenna pixels;
• at least one laser system configured to provide a source transmit beam and a reference beam, the source transmit beam and the reference beam having an optical frequency modulation;
• at least one subcarrier multiplexing group comprising a beam modulation generator and a waveguide combiner;
• and
• at least one optical receiver;
• wherein:
• the optical frequency modulation is the same for the source transmit beam and the reference beam;
• the at least one subcarrier multiplexing group is coupled to the at least one laser system, the at least one group of antenna pixels, and the at least one optical receiver;
• for the at least one subcarrier multiplexing group:
• the beam modulation generator is configured to simultaneously route subcarrier frequency modulated (SFM) transmit beams to transmit antennas in the at least one group of antenna pixels;
• the transmit antennas emit the SFM transmit beams through the lens towards the target, the SFM transmit beams being reflected off the target as SFM receive beams passing through the lens towards receive antennas associated with the transmit antennas in the at least one group of antenna pixels;
• the waveguide combiner is configured to combine the SFM receive beams from the receive antennas to provide a total receive beam;
• and
• the at least one optical receiver is configured to combine the total receive beam and the reference beam to provide a receive signal that is configured for extraction of the image data associated with the target.

A method of providing image data from a target detected by an optical imager, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first source transmit beam and a first reference beam each having an optical frequency modulation, wherein the optical frequency modulation is the same for the first source transmit beam and the first reference beam;
• simultaneously generating subcarrier frequency modulated (SFM) transmit beams from the first source transmit beam;
• routing the SFM transmit beams to transmit antennas in a group of antenna pixels that are associated with the first source transmit beam;
• emitting the SFM transmit beams from the transmit antennas through a cylindrical lens towards the target, wherein the SFM transmit beams are reflected off the target as SFM receive beams;
• receiving the SFM receive beams passing through the cylindrical lens towards receive antennas associated with the transmit antennas in the group of antenna pixels;
• combining the SFM receive beams from the receive antennas to provide a total receive beam;
• and
• combining the total receive beam and the first reference beam to provide a receive signal that is configured for extraction of the image data associated with the target.