Patent attributes
A light detection and ranging system includes optical sources configured to emit respectively first and second optical beams that have opposite polarizations. Taps split the first and second optical beams into first and second high-power path and low-power path optical beams. A first polarization beam splitter combines the first and second high-power path optical beams into a single spatial mode optical beam, which lensing optics launches toward the target, and collects light incident upon the target into a return path. A second polarization beam splitter splits the return optical beam into first and second spatial mode optical beams. Mixers mix the first and second spatial mode optical beams with respectively the first and second low-power path optical beams to produce optical beams first and second beat frequencies, which optical detectors detect and from which range and velocity of the target are determinable.
