A universal 3D imaging sensor on a silicon photonics platform.

Accurate three-dimensional (3D) imaging is essential for machines to map and interact with the physical world. Although numerous 3D imaging technologies exist, each addressing niche applications with varying degrees of success, none has achieved the breadth of applicability and impact that digital image sensors have in the two-dimensional imaging world. A large-scale two-dimensional array of coherent detector pixels operating as a light detection and ranging system could serve as a universal 3D imaging platform.