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US 2021/0208253 A1Published application
Optical Phased Arrays and Spherical Shift Invariant Sensors For Use In Advanced Lidar Systems
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona
InventorsYuzuru Takashima, Matthew Salem
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Abstract
A LIDAR system architecture which transmits light via an optical phased array and receives the reflected signal with a spherically shift invariant sensor. Phased arrays offer the ability to quickly scan a desired area by manipulating the electrical, or in this case—thermal, properties of an array of sensors. Similarly spherically shift invariant systems offer the ability to bring light into focus at the same location regardless of its angle of arrival.
Claims17
A LIDAR system, comprising:
- a. an optical phased array to transmit a narrow high power beam, wherein the optical phased array uses a photonic band gap structure having elements spaced at approximately 0.5 wavelength to eliminate grating lobes;
- and
- b. a spherically shift invariant receiver comprising a macroscopic lens array and a radially symmetrical Luneburg type lens to bring light from any direction into focus at its center, whereby an active detection system is formed which can scan a full 360 degree spherical field of view.
A photonic array, comprising:
- a. a fiber input for inputting light;
- b. a primary reflector positioned to receive the input light;
- c. a secondary reflector positioned to receive light reflected off of the primary reflector;
- and
- d. a photonic structure comprising an array of high dielectric rods embedded in a low dielectric material, wherein the dielectric rods are spaced at approximately 0.5 wavelength apart.
2 more elements
A spherically shift invariant receiver, comprising:
- a. a macroscopic lens array;
- and
- b. a radially symmetrical Luneburg type lens to bring light from any direction into focus at its center, whereby an active detection system is formed which can scan a full 360 degree spherical field of view.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.