LIDAR WITH PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT
A light detection and ranging system can have a photonic integrated circuit coupled to a grating coupler and a scanning array. The scanning array may consist of a mechanical actuator configured to move at least one detector in response to a calibration operation. As a result, coherent downrange detection can be achieved with light modulation, optical mixing, and balanced detection.
1 . An apparatus comprising an optical source coupled to a grating coupler and connected to a controller, the grating coupler configured to customize a light beam from a first wavelength to a second wavelength, the second wavelength selected by the controller.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical source is a photonic integrated circuit.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical source is coupled to a waveguide.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the grating coupler is connected to a scanning element.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the scanning element is a polygon.
6 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the scanning element consists of a mechanical actuator.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the mechanical actuator tilts a reflective feature.
8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the mechanical actuator rotates a reflective feature.
9 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the mechanical actuator shifts a reflective feature.
10 . A method comprising:
connecting an optical source to a controller;
activating the optical source to emit light energy;
passing the light energy through a grating coupler to create a light beam;
customizing the light beam, as directed by the controller, to identify one or more targets positioned downrange of the optical source; and
detecting at least one downrange target with a detector connected to the controller.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the light beam is customized by changing from a first wavelength to a second wavelength.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the light beam is customized by activating a scanning element.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the light beam is customized by activating a waveguide.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the light beam sequentially passes through the grating coupler, a scanning element, and a waveguide to create the light beam.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the light beam is customized to provide a greater resolution of downrange targets.
16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the light beam is customized in accordance with a power strategy created by the controller, the power strategy prescribing light beam generation that minimizes power consumption.
17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the light beam is customized in accordance with a performance strategy created by the controller, the performance strategy prescribing light beam generation that minimizes target identification latency.
18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the light beam is customized in accordance with a reliability strategy created by the controller, the reliability strategy prescribing light beam generation that maximizes target identification accuracy.
19 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the light beam has a wavelength selected by the controller in response to a detected number of downrange targets.
20 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the light beam has a wavelength selected by the controller in response to a detected position of a downrange target.