System and method of optical scanning with detection of return signals using a star coupler
| DWPI Title: Method for optical beam steering using phased arrays of optical emitters in light detection and ranging (LIDAR) applications, involves injecting input beam of light into input signal waveguide on input side of star coupler |
| Abstract: A LIDAR system or the like uses a star coupler to distribute an input light beam over a steerable array. The input light beam is injected through an input signal waveguide on the input side of the star coupler. The light returning after reflecting from external objects is directed back through the star coupler to one or more waveguides on the input side. Return light is detected in one or more waveguides on the input side that are displaced from the input signal waveguide. In embodiments, the beam direction of the steerable array changes during the round-trip transit time of the returning light. This causes the returning light to arrive off-axis, which in turn causes it to couple into one or more of the displaced input-side waveguides instead of coupling back into the input signal waveguide. |
| Use: Method for optical beam steering using phased arrays of optical emitters in light detection and ranging (LIDAR) applications. |
| Advantage: The apparatus reduces scan times by Flash (RTM: Computer multimedia application)-illuminating a broad field of view and collecting the return light simultaneously and independently from multiple directions of arrival. The apparatus simultaneously detects and tracks multiple targets to potentially increase the scan rate. The return light is detected while the LIDAR beam is dynamically swept, so that the beam axis changes during the round-trip delay between the transmission of an outgoing send signal and the detection of its incoming reflection. |
| Novelty: The method involves injecting the input beam of light into an input signal waveguide on an input side of the star coupler, where the input signal waveguide is provided as a portion of an input waveguide array with the input signal waveguide and additional input-side waveguides. The send beam of light is swept by controlling the controllable phase shift, and light is detected from the return beam that is coupled into at least one of the additional input-side waveguides. The return beam is provided for reentering the star coupler through the array of output waveguides. |
| Filed: 3/24/2021 |
| Application Number: US17210852A |
| Tech ID: SD 14520.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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