Aeva, Inc.

Shijun Xiao

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a LIDAR system including an optical source to transmit at least a first beam and a second beam toward a target, respectively at a first original power level and a second original power level. The LIDAR system further includes an optical attenuator adapted to receive each of the first and the second beams disposed between the optical source and one or more optics. The at least one optical attenuator is to receive a controlled voltage to adjust a polarization of at least one of the first beam or the second beam to a first polarization. The first and the second beams are transmitted toward a corresponding local oscillator resident on the LIDAR system, such that an output of the first beam and an output of the second beam transmitted through the local oscillator are balanced to have a substantially equal power level.

Techniques for equalizing powers of multiple local oscillator beams using optical attenuators

A system including an optical scanner to transmit an optical beam towards an object. The system includes a first optical element to receive a returned reflection having a lag angle; and direct the returned reflection to generate a first directed beam. The system includes a beam directing unit to receive the first directed beam; and direct, based on a first array voltage, the first directed beam to generate a second directed beam at a first location on a different optical element. The beam directing unit to direct, based on a second array voltage, the second steered beam from the first location on the different optical element to a second location on the different optical element to compensate for the lag angle.

Techniques for programmable beam steering compensation in scanning LIDAR systems

A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system that includes a first beam splitter to multiplex a first optical beam and a second optical beam into a combined beam having orthogonal linear polarizations. The system also includes lensing optics to emit the combined beam towards a target and collect light returned from the target in a return optical beam to be received by the first beam splitter. The first beam splitter demultiplexes the return optical beam into a first return beam and a second return beam having orthogonal linear polarizations. The system also includes an optical element to generate a first beat frequency from the first return beam and to generate a second beat frequency from the second return beam. The system also includes a signal processing system to determine a range and velocity of the target from the first beat frequency and the second beat frequency.

Techniques for multiplexing optical beams in coherent LiDAR systems

A system including an optical scanner to transmit an optical beam towards an object. The system includes a first optical element to receive a returned reflection having a lag angle; and steer the returned reflection to generate a first steered beam. The system includes a beam steering unit to receive the first steered beam, wherein the first steered beam is propagating at a first beam angle; and steer, the first steered beam based on an array voltage to generate a second steered beam at a first location on a photodetector. The system includes a processor to adjust the array voltage to cause the beam steering unit to steer the second steered beam from the first location on the photodetector to a second location on the photodetector to compensate for the lag angle.

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Foster City, CA, United States of America

Shijun Xiao