Chip-scale LIDAR with a single MEMS scanner in a compact optical package

US10564263B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC · US

Inventors

• Oleg M. Efimov · Thousand Oaks, US
• Raymond Sarkissian · Malibu, US
• Keyvan Sayyah · Santa Monica, US
• David Hammon · Simi Valley, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 27, 2018
• Grant date: Feb 18, 2020
• Expiry date: Jun 27, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01L2223/54486
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A LIDAR system, optical coupler for a LIDAR system and method of optical communication. The LIDAR system includes an optical coupler having a chip-side face in optical communication with a photonic chip and a scanner-side face in optical communication with a scanner, the optical coupler comprising a polarization rotator and a birefringent wedge. A first beam of light is transmitted from the first location toward a chip-side face of an optical coupler to direct the first beam of light, via the optical coupler, along an optical path at a scanner-side face of the optical coupler. A second beam of light is received along the optical path at the scanner-side face and directed the second beam of light toward a second location.