LIDAR device including a local oscillator network

An autonomous vehicle control system for an autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle control system comprising:

• a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device including:
• a local oscillator network configured to provide a plurality of local oscillator signals including a first local oscillator signal and a second local oscillator signal in the LIDAR device;
• and
• one or more LIDAR pixels coupled to the local oscillator network, wherein at least one of the one or more LIDAR pixels includes:
• a transmit optical antenna configured to emit a transmit beam;
• a receive optical antenna configured to detect (i) a first polarization orientation of a return beam and (ii) a second polarization orientation of the return beam;
• and
• at least one receiver configured to generate at least one signal based on (i) the return beam and (ii) at least one of the plurality of local oscillator signals, wherein the at least one signal represents a distance to an object;
• wherein the local oscillator network comprises:
• a plurality of optical splitters positioned outside the one or more LIDAR pixels, and a plurality of output ports configured to provide the first local oscillator signal and the second local oscillator signal to each of the one or more LIDAR pixels.

An autonomous vehicle comprising:

• a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device including:
• a local oscillator network configured to provide a plurality of local oscillator signals including a first local oscillator signal and a second local oscillator signal in the LIDAR device;
• and
• one or more LIDAR pixels coupled to the local oscillator network, wherein at least one of the one or more LIDAR pixels includes:
• a transmit optical antenna configured to emit a transmit beam;
• a receive optical antenna configured to detect (i) a first polarization orientation of a return beam and (ii) a second polarization orientation of the return beam;
• and
• at least one receiver configured to generate at least one signal based on (i) the return beam and (ii) at least one of the plurality of local oscillator signals, wherein the at least one signal represents a distance to an object;
• wherein the local oscillator network comprises:
• a plurality of optical splitters positioned outside the one or more LIDAR pixels, and a plurality of output ports configured to provide the first local oscillator signal and the second local oscillator signal to each of the one or more LIDAR pixels.