Light detection and ranging system

A means for light detection and ranging (LIDAR), comprising:

• a beam emitter for emitting one or more optical beams;
• an optical channel for emitting the one or more optical beams from an optical output interface of the optical channel over a scene and capturing reflections of the one or more optical beams from the scene in an optical input interface of the optical channel;
• wherein the one or more optical beams scan a first direction, and wherein the optical input interface and the optical output interface are arranged along a second direction different from the first direction, and
• wherein the optical channel comprises a polarization beam displacer for guiding reflections of the one or more beams from a receiving position arranged along the first direction towards the optical input interface.

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

• an optical output interface of at least one optical channel configured to emit one or more optical beams provided from a laser source;
• an optical output interface of the optical channel configured to capture reflections of the one or more optical beams from the scene;
• wherein the optical input interface and the optical output interface are arranged along a second direction;
• wherein the optical channel is configured to scan the one or more optical beams in a first direction different from the second direction, and wherein the optical channel comprises a polarization beam displacer configured to guide reflections of the one or more beams from a receiving position arranged along the first direction towards the optical input interface.

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

• an optical splitting means for providing a local oscillator signal having a first polarization to a photodetector;
• an optical output means for emitting a light beam having a second polarization;
• a polarization diversity means for rotating the polarization of emitted light having the second polarization to a third polarization, and for rotating the polarization of reflected light to a fourth polarization;
• a polarization beam displacement means for diverting light having the fourth polarization towards an optical input means;
• and
• a polarization rotator means for rotating the polarization of light having the fourth polarization to the first polarization, and for providing it to the photodetector.