Techniques for mixing local oscillator signal with target return signal to generate target information

US11525916B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Aeva, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Oguzhan Avci · Cupertino, US
• Omer P. Kocaoglu · Fremont, US
• Neal N. Oza · Palo Alto, US
• Keith Gagne · Santa Clara, US
• Behsan Behzadi · Menlo Park, US
• Mina Rezk · Haymarket, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 21, 2021
• Grant date: Dec 13, 2022
• Expiry date: Sep 21, 2041

Classification

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

Abstract

A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, and free-space optics coupled with the optical source. The free space optics include a photodetector and other optical components to direct a propagated portion of the optical beam or a reflected portion of the optical beam toward the photodetector as a local oscillator signal, and to transmit the optical beam toward a target environment.