Pulsed laser for lidar system
First Claim
1. A laser system comprising:
- a seed laser configured to produce optical seed pulses;
a first fiber-optic amplifier configured to amplify the seed pulses by a first amplifier gain to produce a first-amplifier output that comprises amplified seed pulses and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE);
a first optical filter configured to remove from the first-amplifier output an amount of the ASE;
a second fiber-optic amplifier configured to receive the amplified seed pulses from the first optical filter and amplify the received pulses by a second amplifier gain to produce output pulses, wherein the output pulses have output-pulse characteristics comprising;
a pulse repetition frequency of less than or equal to 100 MHz;
a pulse duration of less than or equal to 20 nanoseconds; and
a duty cycle of less than or equal to 1%; and
an optical demultiplexer configured to receive the output pulses from the second fiber-optic amplifier and distribute the output pulses to a plurality of optical links of a lidar system, wherein the optical links are coupled to a respective plurality of sensor heads of the lidar system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a laser system includes a seed laser configured to produce optical seed pulses. The laser system also includes a first fiber-optic amplifier configured to amplify the seed pulses by a first amplifier gain to produce a first-amplifier output that includes amplified seed pulses and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE). The laser system further includes a first optical filter configured to remove from the first-amplifier output an amount of the ASE. The laser system also includes a second fiber-optic amplifier configured to receive the amplified seed pulses from the first optical filter and amplify the received pulses by a second amplifier gain to produce output pulses. The output pulses have output-pulse characteristics that include: a pulse repetition frequency of less than or equal to 100 MHz; a pulse duration of less than or equal to 20 nanoseconds; and a duty cycle of less than or equal to 1%.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A laser system comprising:
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a seed laser configured to produce optical seed pulses; a first fiber-optic amplifier configured to amplify the seed pulses by a first amplifier gain to produce a first-amplifier output that comprises amplified seed pulses and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE); a first optical filter configured to remove from the first-amplifier output an amount of the ASE; a second fiber-optic amplifier configured to receive the amplified seed pulses from the first optical filter and amplify the received pulses by a second amplifier gain to produce output pulses, wherein the output pulses have output-pulse characteristics comprising; a pulse repetition frequency of less than or equal to 100 MHz; a pulse duration of less than or equal to 20 nanoseconds; and a duty cycle of less than or equal to 1%; and an optical demultiplexer configured to receive the output pulses from the second fiber-optic amplifier and distribute the output pulses to a plurality of optical links of a lidar system, wherein the optical links are coupled to a respective plurality of sensor heads of the lidar system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A laser system comprising:
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a seed laser configured to produce optical seed pulses; a first fiber-optic amplifier configured to amplify the seed pulses by a first amplifier gain to produce a first-amplifier output that comprises amplified seed pulses and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE); a first optical filter configured to remove from the first-amplifier output an amount of the ASE; and a second fiber-optic amplifier configured to receive the amplified seed pulses from the first optical filter and amplify the received pulses by a second amplifier gain to produce output pulses, wherein the output pulses have output-pulse characteristics comprising; a pulse repetition frequency of less than or equal to 100 MHz; a pulse duration of less than or equal to 20 nanoseconds; and a duty cycle of less than or equal to 1%, wherein the laser system is part of a lidar system comprising a light source, an optical link, and a sensor head, wherein; the optical link couples the light source to the sensor head; the seed laser is disposed in the light source; the first fiber-optic amplifier is disposed in the light source, the optical link, or the sensor head; and the second fiber-optic amplifier is disposed in the light source, the optical link, or the sensor head. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification