CPC G01S 17/89 (2013.01) [G01S 7/4813 (2013.01); G01S 7/4814 (2013.01); G01S 7/4816 (2013.01); G01S 7/4817 (2013.01); G01S 17/42 (2013.01); G02B 27/283 (2013.01); G02B 27/286 (2013.01)] | 12 Claims |
1. A method of operating a chip-scale wavelength division multiplexed LiDAR comprising:
providing a multiwavelength optical signal;
directing the multiwavelength optical signal via a distribution network to an optical phased array, said optical phased array including emitter elements and phase shifters;
separating the multiwavelength optical signal into its component wavelengths through the effect of at least one reflective grating or transmission grating receiving the multiwavelength optical signal from the emitter elements and emitting individual component wavelengths as individual beams in an individual direction toward a scene according to their wavelength, where said individual beam directions span an emission plane; and
steering the individual beams through the effect of the phase shifters, said individual beams collectively steered about an axis substantially parallel to the emission plane.
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