Method for generating a linear chirp from a laser light source
AssigneeAeva, Inc.
InventorsBryce Bradford, Mina Rezk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electro-optical system has a laser drive electronic circuit, a laser light source and an optical interferometer, forming a closed loop. The laser drive electronic circuit is arranged to receive a reference frequency as input, and a beat frequency as feedback. The laser drive electronic circuit generates a drive output based on a phase difference between the reference frequency and the beat frequency. The optical interferometer, coupled to the laser light, generates optical energy at the beat frequency.
Claims21
An electro-optical system, comprising:
- a laser drive electronic circuit arranged to receive a reference frequency as input and a beat frequency as feedback and generate a drive output based on a phase difference between the reference frequency and the beat frequency;
- a laser light source arranged to receive the drive output and generate laser light;
- and
- an optical interferometer coupled to the laser light to generate optical energy at the beat frequency, proportional to rate of frequency change of the laser light, wherein the laser drive electronic circuit, the laser light source and the optical interferometer with the feedback form a closed loop.
An electro-optical system for generating a linear phase chirp from a laser light source, comprising:
- a laser light source arranged to receive a laser light drive and generate laser light;
- and
- an optical interferometer arranged to receive a portion of the laser light and generate optical energy at a beat frequency proportional to laser light frequency rate of change;
- a photodetector arranged to receive at least a portion of the optical energy at the beat frequency and generate a signal that indicates the beat frequency;
- and
- a laser drive electronic circuit arranged to receive a reference frequency as input and the signal that indicates the beat frequency as closed loop feedback, compare the beat frequency with the reference frequency and generate the laser light drive so as to correct the laser light drive to keep the beat frequency locked to the reference frequency.
A method of generating a linear phase chirp from a laser light source, comprising:
- producing laser light from a laser light source;
- producing, from an optical interferometer, optical energy at a beat frequency proportional to frequency rate of change of the laser light;
- comparing the beat frequency and a reference frequency;
- and
- producing a laser light drive output that drives the laser light source to keep the beat frequency locked to the reference frequency, based on the comparing.
A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system, comprising:
- a feedback control loop configured to generate a linear laser ramp;
- and
- a laser source operatively coupled to the feedback control loop, wherein the laser source is configured to emit a laser beam based on the generated linear laser ramp.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.