Photonic apparatus using a phase alignment waveguide

A photonic apparatus, comprising:

• a lens exposed within a surface of the photonic apparatus to receive reflected waves from an external environment of the photonic apparatus;
• a receiving waveguide operably connected with the lens, the receiving waveguide including receiving outputs located at defined positions along an opposing surface of the receiving waveguide that opposes the lens, the receiving outputs providing the reflected waves into the photonic apparatus,
• wherein the receiving outputs receive the reflected waves according to associated angles of incidence of respective ones of the reflected waves with the lens;
• and
• an optical component operably connected with the receiving outputs to receive the reflected waves.

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

• a transmission component, comprising:
• a transmitting waveguide including transmitting inputs and transmitting outputs, the transmitting inputs being operably connected with a light source to provide a light wave into the transmitting waveguide and the transmitting outputs providing a plurality of light waves from the transmitting waveguide, wherein the transmitting waveguide modulates the light wave to generate the plurality of light waves with different phases;
• and
• a receive component, comprising:
• a lens exposed within a surface of the LIDAR apparatus to receive reflected waves from an external environment of the photonic apparatus;
• a receiving waveguide operably connected with the lens, the receiving waveguide including receiving outputs located at defined positions along an opposing surface of the receiving waveguide that opposes the lens, the receiving outputs providing the reflected waves into the photonic apparatus.