A laser radar system according to the present invention includes: a light source to output light having a first frequency in a first period and light having a second frequency in a second period; an optical splitter to split the lights, outputted from the light source, into signal light and local oscillator light; an optical modulator to modulate the signal light into pulsed light; an optical antenna to output the pulsed light into space and to receive, as reception light, the scattered light from a target; an optical heterodyne receiver to perform heterodyne detection on the reception light by using the local oscillator light; and a measurement unit to measure the distance to the target or the movement characteristics of the target by using the reception signal detected by the optical heterodyne receiver, wherein the optical heterodyne receiver performs the heterodyne detection on the first frequency of the reception light by using the second frequency of the local oscillator light. With this configuration, a large amount of frequency shift can be provided between the signal light and the local oscillator light, and thus, the distance to the target can be measured with high resolution by using short pulsed-light.

A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device includes a substrate layer, a cladding layer, a waveguide, and an ohmic element. The cladding layer is disposed with the substrate layer. The waveguide runs through the cladding layer. The ohmic element runs through the cladding layer. The ohmic element is arranged to impart heat to the waveguide when an electrical current is driven through the ohmic element.

The present disclosure relates to optical systems, specifically light detection and ranging (LIDAR) systems. An example optical system includes a laser light source operable to emit laser light along a first axis and a mirror element with a plurality of reflective surfaces. The mirror element is configured to rotate about a second axis. The plurality of reflective surfaces is disposed about the second axis. The mirror element and the laser light source are coupled to a base structure, which is configured to rotate about a third axis. While the rotational angle of the mirror element is within an angular range, the emitted laser light interacts with both a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface of the plurality of reflective surfaces and is reflected into the environment by the first and second reflective surfaces.

In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit pulses of light and a scanner configured to scan the emitted pulses of light across a field of regard of the lidar system. The scanner includes (i) a beam deflector configured to direct each emitted pulse of light along a first scan axis and (ii) a scan mirror configured to scan the emitted pulses of light along a second scan axis different from the first scan axis. The lidar system also includes a receiver that includes a one-dimensional detector array that includes multiple detector elements arranged along a direction corresponding to the first scan axis. The receiver is configured to (i) detect a received pulse of light that includes a portion of one of the emitted pulses of light scattered by a target and (ii) determine a time of arrival of the received pulse of light.

A semiconductor light-emitting element having a structure in which a substrate, a first reflector, a resonator cavity including an active layer, a second reflector and a transparent conductive film are stacked in this sequence, the semiconductor light-emitting element comprising: a first current constriction portion configured with an oxidation constriction layer; and a second current constriction portion configured with an insulation film, which is formed on an upper face of the second reflector and has an opening, and a contact portion between the transparent conductive film and a semiconductor layer with which the transparent conductive film is in contact, wherein a width d2 of the second current constriction portion is smaller than a width d1 of the first current constriction portion.

A semiconductor light-emitting element having a structure in which a substrate, a first reflector, a resonator cavity including an active layer, a second reflector and a tunnel junction portion are stacked in this sequence, comprising: a first current constriction portion configured with an oxidation constriction layer; and a second current constriction portion including the tunnel junction portion, wherein a width d2 of the second current constriction portion is smaller than a width d1 of the first current constriction portion.

A light source device in which a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements are disposed, each of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements being configured with a first reflector, a resonator cavity including an active layer, and a second reflector which are stacked in this sequence on a semiconductor substrate, wherein in each of the semiconductor light-emitting elements, an electric contact region for supplying carriers to the active layer is disposed on a surface of the second reflector on an opposite side thereof to the active layer, and wherein the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements include a first semiconductor light-emitting element of which shape of the contact region is a first shape, and a second semiconductor light-emitting element of which shape of the contact region is a second shape which is different from the first shape.

An optical scanning device includes a light source unit having a light exiting portion from which a light is output, a scanning unit having a mirror supported by a supporting part and reflecting the light output from the light exiting portion while swinging the mirror around a swing axis, and a housing having an enclosed space partitioned by a plurality of wall portions including a first wall portion and a second wall portion, in which the light exiting portion and the scanning unit are placed in the enclosed space, wherein the first wall portion transmits the light reflected by the scanning unit, and the second wall portion includes a part of the light source unit.

A distance measuring device according to one embodiment includes a light emitter, a first light receiver, and a second light receiver. The light emitter includes a light source. The light source emits an optical signal. The first light receiver includes a first sensor and a first optical system. The first sensor includes first pixels. The first optical system is configured to guide a reflected light of the optical signal emitted from the light emitter to the first sensor. The second light receiver includes a second sensor and a second optical system. The second sensor includes second pixels. The second optical system is configured to guide the reflected light to the second sensor.

A light source module includes a substrate; a light source disposed on the substrate; a lens assembly configured to transmit light transferred from the light source; and an optical barrier having a shape which surrounds the light source to block light transferred from the light source.