Embodiments describe a solid state electronic scanning LIDAR system that includes a scanning focal plane transmitting element and a scanning focal plane receiving element whose operations are synchronized so that the firing sequence of an emitter array in the transmitting element corresponds to a capturing sequence of a photosensor array in the receiving element. During operation, the emitter array can sequentially fire one or more light emitters into a scene and the reflected light can be received by a corresponding set of one or more photosensors through an aperture layer positioned in front of the photosensors. Each light emitter can correspond with an aperture in the aperture layer, and each aperture can correspond to a photosensor in the receiving element such that each light emitter corresponds with a specific photosensor in the receiving element.

Embodiments describe a solid state electronic scanning LIDAR system that includes a scanning focal plane transmitting element and a scanning focal plane receiving element whose operations are synchronized so that the firing sequence of an emitter array in the transmitting element corresponds to a capturing sequence of a photosensor array in the receiving element. During operation, the emitter array can sequentially fire one or more light emitters into a scene and the reflected light can be received by a corresponding set of one or more photosensors through an aperture layer positioned in front of the photosensors. Each light emitter can correspond with an aperture in the aperture layer, and each aperture can correspond to a photosensor in the receiving element such that each light emitter corresponds with a specific photosensor in the receiving element.

Apparatus include a first laser diode situated to emit a beam from an exit facet along an optical axis, the beam as emitted having perpendicular fast and slow axes perpendicular to the optical axis, a first fast axis collimator (FAC) optically coupled to the beam as emitted from the exit facet and configured to direct the beam along a redirected beam axis having a non-zero angle with respect to the optical axis of the first laser diode, a second laser diode situated to emit a beam from an exit facet of the second laser diode along an optical axis parallel to the optical axis of the first laser diode and with a slow axis in a common plane with the slow axis of the first laser diode, and a second fast axis collimator (FAC) optically coupled to the beam as emitted from the exit facet of the second laser diode and configured to direct the beam along a redirected beam axis having a non-zero angle with respect to the optical axis of the second laser diode.

Systems, devices, and methods for optical engines and laser projectors that are well-suited for use in wearable heads-up displays (WHUDs) are described. Generally, the optical engines of the present disclosure integrate a plurality of laser diodes (e.g., 3 laser diodes, 4 laser diodes) within a single, hermetically or partially hermetically sealed, encapsulated package. The optical engines include an optical director element that includes a curved reflective surface (e.g., parabolic cylinder) that redirects laser light beams and collimates the same along the fast axes thereof. Such optical engines may have various advantages over existing designs including, for example, smaller volumes, better manufacturability, faster modulation speed, etc. WHUDs that employ such optical engines and laser projectors are also described.

The present disclosure relates to a three-dimensional cylindrical cavity-type laser system capable of supporting circumferential radial emission. A cylindrical ring waveguide provides optical confinement in the radial and axial dimensions thereby supporting a plurality of radial modes, one of a plurality of axial modes and a plurality of degenerate azimuthal modes. These modes constitute a set of traveling wave modes which propagate around the cylindrical ring waveguide possessing various degrees of optical confinement as quantified by their respective Q-factors. Index tailoring is used to tailor the radial refractive index profile and geometry of the waveguide to support radial modes possessing Q-factors capable of producing efficient radial emission, while gain tailoring is used to define a gain confining region which offsets modal gain factors of the modal constituency to favor a preferred set of modes supporting efficient radial emission out of the total modal constituency supported by the resonator. Under appropriate pump actuation the selected modes produce circumferential laser radiation with the output surface comprising of the entire outer perimeter of the cylindrical ring waveguide. The design is applicable toward both micro-resonators and resonators much larger than the optical wavelength, enabling high output powers and scalability. The circumferential radial laser emission can be concentrated by positioning the cylindrical ring laser inside a three-dimensional conical mirror thereby forming a laser ring of light propagating in the axial dimension away from the surface of the laser, which can be subsequently collimated for focused using conventional optics.

Provided is an optical phased array including a light injector, a first splitter connected to the light injector, a first phase shifter connected to the first splitter, a plurality of waveguides connected to the first splitter, portions of the plurality of waveguides being connected to the first splitter via the first phase shifter, an antenna array connected to the plurality of waveguides, a single mode filter provided in each of the plurality of waveguides, and a first photodetector connected to the first splitter and configured to detect a portion of light radiated onto the antenna array.

A laser device includes a substrate including a principal surface and a recess provided in the principal surface; a laser oscillation unit fixed to the principal surface in direct contact with the principal surface or with an adhesive interposed between the laser oscillation unit and the principal surface, the laser oscillation unit having an emission surface from which laser light that diverges as the laser light travels is emitted along the principal surface; and a reflecting member fixed to a bottom surface of the recess and having an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the principal surface so as to reflect the laser light. At least a portion of the inclined surface is positioned in a space inside the recess.

A circuit conductor is provided on a base. A semiconductor laser is connected to the circuit conductor. Cutout parts on which the circuit conductor is not formed are provided at, for example, the vicinity of the four corners of the base, and a hole is provided at each of the said portions. The holes penetrate the base. Fixing members are inserted through the holes. The fixing members are, for example, male threads. Since the head part of the fixing members is located in the cutout part, the fixing members and the circuit conductor are not in contact with each other. A platform has holes formed at portions corresponding to the holes in the optical unit and female threads formed on the inner surface. The fixing members and the platform are therefore joined. As a result, the optical unit is fixed to the platform.

In various embodiments, laser devices include a thermal bonding layer featuring an array of carbon nanotubes and at least one metallic thermal bonding material.

An apparatus for deflecting and/or modulating a laser radiation, wherein the laser radiation is a plurality of laser beams. The apparatus comprises a plurality of deflecting elements configured as mirror elements or transparent components, and movement apparatus that is capable of moving the plurality of deflecting elements individually or in groups. The movement apparatus comprises a plurality of piezo actuators which are capable of performing a translatory motion.