Coherent LiDAR system utilizing polarization-diverse architecture

US10948598B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Aeva, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Gautam Prabhakar · Los Altos, US
• Behsan Behzadi · Menlo Park, US
• Oguzhan Avci · Cupertino, US
• Keith Gagne · Santa Clara, US
• Kevin Pollock · Mountain View, US
• Pierre Hicks · San Francisco, US
• Mina Rezk · Haymarket, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 25, 2020
• Grant date: Mar 16, 2021
• Expiry date: Nov 25, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S17/931
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system according to the present disclosure comprises an optical source to emit an optical beam, and an optical circulator to receive the optical beam and transmit the optical beam to a target, to receive a target return signal from the target and to transmit the target return signal to one or more photodetectors (PDs). The optical circulator is configured to collect all polarization states in the target return signal. The LiDAR system further comprises an optical element to generate a local oscillator (LO) signal, and the one or more PDs to mix the target return signal with the LO signal to generate a heterodyne signal to extract range and velocity information of the target.