Patent attributes
A continuous-wave frequency-modulated (FMCW) LiDAR system comprises: a laser cavity around a solid gain medium; an optical source configured to optically pump the solid gain medium at a power that determines a relaxation oscillation frequency; a structure configured to apply force to the solid gain medium associated with a mechanical resonance frequency, wherein the relaxation oscillation frequency is equal to the mechanical resonance frequency within a factor of 5; an optical arrangement configured to transmit at least one optical beam from the laser cavity towards a target, and to couple into the laser cavity a received optical signal comprising at least a portion of the optical beam reflected from the target; and circuitry configured to determine at least one of an estimated distance to the target or a speed of motion of the target based at least in part on a signal from the laser cavity.
