Ranging using a shared path optical coupler
Described are various configurations for transmitting and receiving optical light using a shared path ranging system. The shared path ranging system can include an optical router (e.g., an optical coupler) coupled to a grating to transmit light to a physical object and receive light reflected by the physical object. The shared path ranging system can include rows of routers and gratings in a two-dimensional configuration to transmit and receive light for ranging purposes.
1. A photonic integrated circuit comprising:
an optical router configured to route light from a light emitter toward a bi-directional grating and to route a reflected portion of the light from the bi-directional grating toward a light detector; and
the bi-directional grating, configured to direct the light toward a target and to receive the reflected portion of the light from the target.
2. The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein:
the optical router includes a spatial mode multiplexer configured to provide the light in a first transverse mode to the bi-directional grating and to receive the reflected portion of the light in a second transverse mode from the bi-directional grating.
3. The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein:
the light changes from a first transverse mode to a second transverse mode upon reflection from the target; and
the bi-directional grating is configured to direct the light in the first transverse mode toward the target and to receive the reflected portion of the light in the second transverse mode from the target.
4. The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein:
the light changes from a first transverse mode to a second transverse mode upon reflection from the target; and
the optical router is configured to route the light in the first transverse mode from the light emitter toward the bi-directional grating and to route the reflected portion of the light in the second transverse mode from the bi-directional grating toward the light detector.
5. The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein:
the bi-directional grating directs the light in a first transverse mode through a lens toward the target and receives the reflected portion of the light in a second transverse mode through the lens from the target.
6. The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein:
the optical router comprises an emitter port optically coupled to the light emitter, a detector port optically coupled to the light detector, and a grating port optically coupled to the bi-directional grating, the emitter port being configured to receive the light from the light emitter, the detector port being configured to provide the reflected portion of the light to the light detector, the grating port being configured to provide the light to the bi-directional grating and to receive the reflected portion of the light from the bi-directional grating.
7. The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:
processing circuitry configured to generate distance values based on at least one of a phase difference or a frequency difference between the light directed by the bi-directional grating toward the target and the reflected portion of the light received by the bi-directional grating.
8. A LIDAR sensor system comprising:
a light emitter configured to emit light; and
a photonic integrated circuit comprising:
an optical router configured to route the light from the light emitter toward a bi-directional grating and to route a reflected portion of the light from the bi-directional grating toward a light detector; and
the bi-directional grating, configured to direct the light toward a target and to receive the reflected portion of the light from the target.
9. The LIDAR sensor system of claim 8 , wherein:
the optical router includes a spatial mode multiplexer configured to provide the light in a first transverse mode to the bi-directional grating and to receive the reflected portion of the light in a second transverse mode from the bi-directional grating.
10. The LIDAR sensor system of claim 8 , wherein:
the light changes from a first transverse mode to a second transverse mode upon reflection from the target; and
the bi-directional grating is configured to direct the light in the first transverse mode toward the target and to receive the reflected portion of the light in the second transverse mode from the target.
11. The LIDAR sensor system of claim 8 , wherein:
the light changes from a first transverse mode to a second transverse mode upon reflection from the target; and
the optical router is configured to route the light in the first transverse mode from the light emitter toward the bi-directional grating and to route the reflected portion of the light in the second transverse mode from the bi-directional grating toward the light detector.
12. The LIDAR sensor system of claim 8 , wherein:
the bi-directional grating directs the light in a first transverse mode through a lens toward the target and receives the reflected portion of the light in a second transverse mode through the lens from the target.
13. The LIDAR sensor system of claim 8 , wherein:
the optical router comprises an emitter port optically coupled to the light emitter, a detector port optically coupled to the light detector, and a grating port optically coupled to the bi-directional grating, the emitter port being configured to receive the light from the light emitter, the detector port being configured to provide the reflected portion of the light to the light detector, the grating port being configured to provide the light to the bi-directional grating and to receive the reflected portion of the light from the bi-directional grating.
14. The LIDAR sensor system of claim 8 , further comprising:
processing circuitry configured to generate distance values based on at least one of a phase difference or a frequency difference between the light directed by the bi-directional grating toward the target and the reflected portion of the light received by the bi-directional grating.
15. A frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) LIDAR system comprising:
a FMCW LIDAR transceiver comprising a photonic integrated circuit, the photonic integrated circuit comprising:
an optical router configured to route light from a light emitter toward a bi-directional grating and to route a reflected portion of the light from the bi-directional grating toward a light detector; and
the bi-directional grating, configured to direct the light toward a target and to receive the reflected portion of the light from the target; and
a lens configured to guide the light from the bi-directional grating toward the target and to guide the reflected portion of the light from the target to the bi-directional grating.
16. The FMCW LIDAR system of claim 15 , wherein:
the optical router includes a spatial mode multiplexer configured to provide the light in a first transverse mode to the bi-directional grating and to receive the reflected portion of the light in a second transverse mode from the bi-directional grating.
17. The FMCW LIDAR system of claim 15 , wherein:
the light changes from a first transverse mode to a second transverse mode upon reflection from the target; and
the bi-directional grating is configured to direct the light in the first transverse mode toward the target and to receive the reflected portion of the light in the second transverse mode from the target.
18. The FMCW LIDAR system of claim 15 , wherein:
the light changes from a first transverse mode to a second transverse mode upon reflection from the target; and
the optical router is configured to route the light in the first transverse mode from the light emitter toward the bi-directional grating and to route the reflected portion of the light in the second transverse mode from the bi-directional grating toward the light detector.
19. The FMCW LIDAR system of claim 15 , wherein:
the optical router comprises an emitter port optically coupled to the light emitter, a detector port optically coupled to the light detector, and a grating port optically coupled to the bi-directional grating, the emitter port being configured to receive the light from the light emitter, the detector port being configured to provide the reflected portion of the light to the light detector, the grating port being configured to provide the light to the bi-directional grating and to receive the reflected portion of the light from the bi-directional grating.
20. The FMCW LIDAR system of claim 15 , further comprising;
processing circuitry configured to generate distance values based on at least one of a phase difference or a frequency difference between the light directed by the bi-directional grating toward the target and the reflected portion of the light received by the bi-directional grating.