US 12,411,213 B2
Separation of light signals in a LIDAR system
Prakash Koonath, La Crescenta, CA (US)
Assigned to SiLC Technologies, Inc., Monrovia, CA (US)
Filed by SiLC Technologies, Inc., Monrovia, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/498,677.
Prior Publication US 2023/0116435 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. G01C 3/08 (2006.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 17/06 (2006.01); G01S 17/58 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 7/4812 (2013.01) [G01S 17/06 (2013.01); G01S 17/58 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a LIDAR system includes a polarizing-beam splitter configured to receive an input light signal from an input waveguide and output an outgoing LIDAR signal on a utility waveguide,
the outgoing LIDAR signal including light from the input signal,
the LIDAR system being configured to output a system output signal that includes light from the outgoing LIDAR signal, the system output signal can be reflected by an object located outside of the LIDAR system such that a reflected portion of the system output signal serves as a system return signal; and
the polarizing-beam splitter configured to receive an incoming LIDAR signal from the utility waveguide,
the incoming LIDAR signal including light from the system return signal,
the polarizing-beam splitter outputting at least a portion of the incoming LIDAR signal on a comparative waveguide, and
the polarizing-beam splitter being configured to output a first portion of the input signal on the utility waveguide as the outgoing LIDAR signal and to output a second portion of the input signal on a reference waveguide as a reference signal.