US 12,228,650 B2
Master-oscillator power-amplifier (MOPA) light source with optical isolator
Joseph G. LaChapelle, Philomath, OR (US); Jason M. Eichenholz, Orlando, FL (US); Alex Michael Sincore, Orlando, FL (US); and Lawrence Shah, Winter Park, FL (US)
Assigned to Luminar Technologies, Inc., Orlando, FL (US)
Filed by Luminar Technologies, Inc., Orlando, FL (US)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/183,522.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/063,658, filed on Aug. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0043115 A1, Feb. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. G01S 17/93 (2020.01); B60W 60/00 (2020.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 7/484 (2006.01); G01S 7/486 (2020.01); G01S 7/4861 (2020.01); G01S 7/4865 (2020.01); G01S 17/10 (2020.01); G01S 17/26 (2020.01); G01S 17/88 (2006.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01); G02B 6/12 (2006.01); H01S 5/026 (2006.01); H01S 5/065 (2006.01); H01S 5/125 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 17/931 (2020.01) [B60W 60/001 (2020.02); G01S 7/4814 (2013.01); G01S 7/4817 (2013.01); G01S 7/4818 (2013.01); G01S 7/484 (2013.01); G01S 7/486 (2013.01); G01S 7/4861 (2013.01); G01S 7/4865 (2013.01); G01S 17/10 (2013.01); G01S 17/26 (2020.01); G01S 17/88 (2013.01); G02B 6/12 (2013.01); H01S 5/0265 (2013.01); B60W 2420/408 (2024.01); G02B 2006/12107 (2013.01); G02B 2006/12121 (2013.01); G02B 2006/12123 (2013.01); H01S 5/0656 (2013.01); H01S 5/125 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light source configured to emit an optical signal, the light source comprising:
a seed laser diode configured to produce a seed optical signal;
a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) configured to amplify the seed optical signal to produce the emitted optical signal;
an optical isolator disposed between the seed laser diode and the SOA, wherein the optical isolator is configured to (i) transmit the seed optical signal to the SOA and (ii) reduce an amount of light that propagates from the SOA toward the seed laser diode; and
an optical splitter disposed between the optical isolator and the SOA, wherein the optical splitter is configured to split off a portion of the seed optical signal to produce a local-oscillator light signal.