	US 12,216,208 B2
	Techniques for processing a target return signal using free-space optics
Oguzhan Avci, Cupertino, CA (US); Omer P. Kocaoglu, Fremont, CA (US); Neal N. Oza, Palo Alto, CA (US); Keith Gagne, Santa Clara, CA (US); Behsan Behzadi, Sunnyvale, CA (US); and Mina Rezk, Haymarket, VA (US)
Assigned to Aeva, Inc., Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by Aeva, Inc., Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/978,520.
Application 17/978,520 is a continuation of application No. 17/481,142, filed on Sep. 21, 2021, granted, now 11,525,916.
Application 17/481,142 is a continuation of application No. 16/415,836, filed on May 17, 2019, granted, now 11,156,715, issued on Oct. 26, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0049443 A1, Feb. 16, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01C 3/08 (2006.01); G01S 7/4912 (2020.01); G01S 7/499 (2006.01); G01S 17/34 (2020.01)

CPC G01S 17/34 (2020.01) [G01S 7/4912 (2013.01); G01S 7/499 (2013.01)]

18 Claims

1. Free-space optics for use in a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus, comprising:

a first photodetector (PD);

a second PD;

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 the first or second photodetector, wherein the propagated portion of the optical beam comprises a local oscillator (LO) signal to mix with a target return signal to generate target information;

a wavelength demultiplexer coupled between the PBS and the first and second PDs, the wavelength demultiplexer to separate a portion of the target return signal comprising light of a first wavelength to the first PD or the second 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.