Patent ID: 9316534
Filing Date: 2016-04-19
CPC Classification: G01J,G01S,H04B,H04L

Claim Text:
1. A reconfigurable optical detection system switchable between a direct detection mode and multiple coherent detection modes, the reconfigurable optical detection system comprising: a detector configured to operate in the direct detection mode and the multiple coherent detection modes; a photonic integrated subsystem coupled to the detector, the photonic integrated subsystem being configured to mix a return signal beam and a local oscillator beam to produce a combined beam and direct the combined beam to the detector, wherein the local oscillator beam comprises optical properties associated with the direct detection mode and the multiple coherent detection modes; and a controller coupled to the photonic integrated subsystem, the controller being configured to switch a mode of operation of the detector between the direct detection mode and the multiple coherent detection modes via adjustments to one or more optical properties of the local oscillator beam, wherein, in a coherent detection mode of the multiple coherent detection modes, the controller is configured to adjust one or more optical properties of the local oscillator beam that switch the detector into the coherent detection mode and to control the photonic integrated subsystem to mix the return signal beam with the local oscillator beam having the adjusted optical properties to produce the combined beam and direct the combined beam to the detector, and wherein, in the direct detection mode, the controller is configured to disable the local oscillator beam via one or more adjustments to the optical properties to switch the detector into the direct detection mode and to control the photonic integrated subsystem to direct the return signal beam without mixing to the detector.