Techniques for processing a target return signal using free-space optics

US12216208B2 · 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: Nov 1, 2022
• Grant date: Feb 4, 2025
• Expiry date: Jan 3, 2043

Classification

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

Abstract

Free-space optics for use in a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus include a polarization beam-splitter (PBS) to direct an optical beam in a first direction toward a target environment and to propagate a portion of the optical beam in a second direction for receipt by a photodetector (PD), a polarization wave plate (PWP) to convert the optical beam from a first polarization to a second polarization, and to convert the target return signal from a third polarization to a fourth polarization, and a lens system coupled between the PBS and the PWP to magnify the optical beam. The propagated portion of the optical beam comprises a local oscillator (LO) signal to mix with a target return signal to generate target information.