An optical component includes a first lens and a second lens that are arranged in sequence in an emission direction of a beam and are disposed opposite relative to each other. The first lens has a first shaping surface and a second shaping surface that are disposed opposite to each other, and the second lens has a third shaping surface and a fourth shaping surface that are disposed opposite to each other. The first shaping surface and the third shaping surface form a first shaping surface group to perform optical path collimation on a first polarization direction of the beam. The second shaping surface and the fourth shaping surface form a second shaping surface group to perform optical path collimation on a second polarization direction of the beam.

An optical component includes a first lens and a second lens that are arranged in sequence in an emission direction of a beam and are disposed opposite relative to each other. The first lens has a first shaping surface and a second shaping surface that are disposed opposite to each other, and the second lens has a third shaping surface and a fourth shaping surface that are disposed opposite to each other. The first shaping surface and the third shaping surface form a first shaping surface group to perform optical path collimation on a first polarization direction of the beam. The second shaping surface and the fourth shaping surface form a second shaping surface group to perform optical path collimation on a second polarization direction of the beam.

A LiDAR system includes an optical subsystem with an optical axis. The optical subsystem includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, a first optical lens to transmit the optical beam, an optical window to reflect a first portion of the optical beam to generate a LO signal, an optical scanner to transmit a second portion of the optical beam to a target to scan the target to generate a target return signal, a second optical lens to transmit the LO signal and the target return signal to a PD, and the PD to mix the target return signal with the LO signal to extract range and velocity information. The LO signal is disposed to be decentered from the optical axis on the second optical lens to increase a percentage of an overlap of the LO signal and the target return signal on a detection plane of the PD.

A LiDAR system includes an optical subsystem with an optical axis. The optical subsystem includes an optical source to emit an optical beam, a first optical lens to transmit the optical beam, an optical window to reflect a first portion of the optical beam to generate a LO signal, an optical scanner to transmit a second portion of the optical beam to a target to scan the target to generate a target return signal, a second optical lens to transmit the LO signal and the target return signal to a PD, and the PD to mix the target return signal with the LO signal to extract range and velocity information. The LO signal is disposed to be decentered from the optical axis on the second optical lens to increase a percentage of an overlap of the LO signal and the target return signal on a detection plane of the PD.

To provide a distance and velocity measurement apparatus that can be adopted preferably in a LiDAR or a sensor for a robot, wherein the apparatus can prevent deterioration of SN ratio even in a case where an object in an external environment vibrates. A LiDAR 20 according to the present embodiment includes a first laser apparatus 1a, a second laser apparatus 1b, a polarization-maintaining type optical fiber 2, a WDM filter 6, an optical fiber coupler 3a, an optical amplifier 11, an input/output unit 4, an optical scanner 5, a second optical fiber coupler 3b, a balanced photodetector 7, and a square-law detector 9. Further, a delay line 10 composed of a polarization-maintaining optical fiber is provided on the local port 2b. The first laser apparatus 1a includes a device for generating a first laser light having a first wavelength and a first chirp rate in an interior thereof, and the second laser apparatus 1b includes a device for generating a second laser light having a second wavelength that differs from the first wavelength and a second chirp rate that differs from the first chirp rate.

A light frequency standard for use as an optical clock is disclosed that is improved by optical pumping. Optical pumping is utilized to change the ground states of the atomic vapor from transition forbidden to transition allowed ground states involved in two-photon absorption process. The added element of an optical pump increases the absorbers available in the two-photon process and creates a stronger absorption line signal used for locking the laser to an absolute frequency.

An optical spectrometer based upon two-photon absorption is disclosed that is improved by optical pumping. In this case, two optical pumps are used, One optical pump provides photons for two-photon absorption, but it also depletes absorbing atoms that are in ground states where two-photon absorption is allowed. The other optical pump replenishes the supply of absorbing atoms into ground states allowing two-photon absorption. The spectrometer is useful for measuring Doppler shift with LIDAR.

A LIDAR system that scans a beam in a full 360° FOV without any moving parts. The system includes a transmitter sub-system having a tunable laser beam source, an SPPR responsive to the laser beam, and a conical mirror receiving the output beam and directing the output beam into a desired FOV. The system also includes a receiver sub-system responsive to a reflected beam that is reflected off of an object that receives the output beam from the mirror, where the receiver sub-system includes a plurality of detector modules each including a receiver detector and arranged so that at least one detector module receives the reflected beam from any direction. The system further includes a signal processor sub-system that tunes the frequency of the laser beam generated by the laser source to change the angle orientation of the output beam and scan the output beam in the 360° FOV.

A detecting system is provided for detecting distant objects. The system includes a light source configured to emit light pulses towards a distant object, the light pulses are being polarized at a predefined polarization angle; a detector configured to detect at least a portion of the light pulses reflected from the distant objects; and at least one linear polarizer configured for polarizing light at the polarization angle and being so disposed with respect to the detector such that the light reaching the detector passes through the linear polarizer and is polarized at the polarization angle.

A detecting system is provided for detecting distant objects. The system includes a light source configured to emit light pulses towards a distant object, the light pulses are being polarized at a predefined polarization angle; a detector configured to detect at least a portion of the light pulses reflected from the distant objects; and at least one linear polarizer configured for polarizing light at the polarization angle and being so disposed with respect to the detector such that the light reaching the detector passes through the linear polarizer and is polarized at the polarization angle.

A method of operating a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided that includes generating a beam of co-propagating, cross-polarized light using a first polarizing beam splitter; and determining a material characteristic or orientation of a target using the co-propagating, cross-polarized light.