Lidar systems with planar multi-pixel sensing arrays

An optical system comprising:

• a light source configured to generate a light;
• one or more optical devices, integrated in a photonic integrated circuit (PIC), configured to:
• impart modulation to the generated light, and
• deliver the modulated light to an interface coupling device;
• and
• the interface coupling device, comprising:
• a first interface coupler (IC), integrated in the PIC, configured to produce, from the modulated light, a transmitted (TX) light, wherein the TX light has a first polarization;
• a second IC, integrated in the PIC, configured to receive a received (RX) light generated upon interaction of the TX light with an object, wherein the RX light has a second polarization;
• and
• one or more polarization-sensitive diffraction optical elements (DOEs) configured to change direction of at least one of the TX light or the RX light.

A method comprising:

• generating a light using a light source;
• imparting modulation to the generated light;
• delivering the modulated light to an interface coupling device comprising a plurality of interface couplers (ICs) integrated on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC);
• scattering the modulated light, using the plurality of ICs, wherein each IC is configured to scatter the modulated light in a direction that makes at least an angle of 5 degrees with an optical axis of a first lens;
• and
• transmitting through the first lens the light scattered by each IC along a respective direction of a plurality of directions.