US 11,994,629 B2
Coherent signal combining with multiple-outputs for quasi-CW LIDAR operation
Zeb Barber, Bozeman, MT (US); Randy R. Reibel, Bozeman, MT (US); and Emil Kadlec, Bozeman, MT (US)
Assigned to AURORA OPERATIONS, INC., Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by Aurora Operations, Inc., Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/530,328.
Application 17/530,328 is a continuation of application No. 17/142,868, filed on Jan. 6, 2021, granted, now 11,209,529.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/993,436, filed on Mar. 23, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/985,724, filed on Mar. 5, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0260695 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. G01S 7/4912 (2020.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 7/4917 (2013.01) [G01S 17/931 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system comprising:
a laser configured to output a beam;
an amplifier configured to:
receive a plurality of optical signals that are generated based on the beam and are respectively associated with a plurality of phases, and
generate a plurality of amplified optical signals based on the plurality of optical signals; and
an optical network that is coupled to the amplifier and a plurality of outputs,
wherein the optical network is configured to:
receive the plurality of amplified optical signals, and
generate a combined optical signal at a particular output of the plurality of outputs by splitting the plurality of amplified optical signals via one or more beam splitters,
wherein an amplitude of the combined optical signal corresponds to a combined amplitude of the plurality of amplified optical signals split by the one or more beam splitters.