"Solid-state Swept Source Lidar: single-sweep-per-frame 3D FMCW lidar with OPA-plus-dispersion beam steering" in Optics Express, Vol. 34 of Optica
"Solid-state Swept Source Lidar: single-sweep-per-frame 3D FMCW lidar with OPA-plus-dispersion beam steering" in Optics Express, Vol. 34 of Optica
Abstract:
Solid-state and compact beam steering is critical for next-generation lidar*1 (light detection and ranging). We previously proposed and demonstrated Swept Source Lidar*2, a method that combines broad continuous wavelength sweeping with dispersive beam steering for frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) ranging. In that system, the dispersive scan was assigned to the fast axis, requiring multiple wavelength sweeps to form a single frame. Here, we reassign the dispersive beam steering to the slow axis, and use a silicon-photonic optical phased array (OPA) on the fast axis, enabling one frame per single wavelength sweep. The OPA provides horizontal active beam steering, while the dispersive slow axis adds vertical beam steering via wavelength tuning. We perform FMCW 3D imaging with a tunable laser. This chip-scale architecture demonstrates the active, dual-axis, on-chip, fully solid-state Swept Source Lidar that forms a complete 2D frame within a single, broad, continuous wavelength sweep.
*1. Lidar is becoming ubiquitous for distance measurements in various applications, including autonomous driving, robotics, and three-dimensional sensing. In recent years, solid-state lidar systems, which have no moving components, have attracted more attention in industries where robustness and stability are critical.
*2. “Swept Source Lidar™” is a trademark of Santec Holdings Corporation.
Paper reference:
Masayuki Okano, Changho Chong, and Hossein Hashemi, "Solid-state Swept Source Lidar: single-sweep-per-frame 3D FMCW lidar with OPA-plus-dispersion beam steering," Optics Express, Vol. 34, Issue 3, pp. 4142-4157 (2026).
https://opg.optica.org/oe/abstract.cfm?doi=10.1364/OE.582856
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