Abstract: A laser scanner (10) including a housing (12) having a window (14), a light source (34) for emitting a light beam (32), the window (14) being transparent to the wavelength(s) of the light beam (32), a scanning mirror (30) rotatable about an axis of rotation (X) for deflection of the light beam (32) toward a scanning area (SC) so that the light beam (32) periodically sweeps at least one sweep surface, and for deflection of return light from objects or persons in the scanning area (SC) into a light collection path, a motor (24) for rotating the scanning mirror (30), a photodetector element (42) for generating an electric signal, arranged in said light collection path, wherein the motor (24), the light source (34), and the photodetector element (42) are all housed within the housing (12) on a same side with respect to said at least one sweep surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to calibrate a LiDAR using a reflect array calibration target having a spatially varying spectral reflectance profile. A frequency modulated continuous wave LiDAR emits a beam that spans a range of wavelengths, and, therefore, spatially varying spectral features in the reflectance profile can be used as indicia of where the LiDAR beam hits the calibration target. For example, the center has one absorption wavelength and the periphery has another, such that alignment is achieved by changing the alignment direction to maximize the spectral feature at the one absorption wavelength while minimizing the spectral feature at the other absorption wavelength. Alternatively, at least one spectral feature can have a center wavelength that changes as a function of space. Thus, the LiDAR is aligned by changing the beam direction to shift the center wavelength to a value corresponding to the target center.

Abstract: A ranging system includes a first ranging unit with a first laser driver, a first control circuit generating a first trigger signal, and a first data interface with a first trigger transmitter transmitting the first trigger signal over a first data transmission line and a first calibration receiver receiving a first calibration signal over a second data transmission line. A second ranging unit includes a second laser driver, a second data interface with a second trigger receiver receiving the first trigger signal and a second calibration transmitter transmitting the first calibration signal, and a second control circuit generating the first calibration signal in response to receipt of the first trigger signal. The first control circuit determines an elapsed time between transmission of the first trigger signal and receipt of the first calibration signal. The determined elapsed time is used to synchronize activation of the first and second laser drivers.

Abstract: A hydrophone used for measuring acoustic energy from a high frequency ultrasound transducer, or a method of manufacturing the membrane hydrophone. The membrane assembly is supported by the frame and comprises a piezoelectric. The hydrophone also includes an electrode pattern formed within the piezoelectric to define an active area. In addition, the hydrophone includes a built in-situ coaxial layer connected to the active area.

Abstract: Disclosed is a time-of-flight sensing apparatus and method.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a sensor cable that may be reconfigurable to have various combinations of seismic sensors. An apparatus may comprise a sensor cable and seismic sensors distributed throughout a volume of the sensor cable and along all three axes of the sensor cable, wherein the seismic sensors are assigned to sampling groups that are reconfigurable and not hardwired.

Abstract: A semiconductor circuitry includes an oscillator configured to output an oscillation signal whose frequency depends on a first input signal, a counter configured to count a number of cycles of the oscillation signal, first circuitry configured to output a first digital signal based on a first number of cycles counted by the counter within one of a clock cycle of a clock signal, wherein the first input signal is digitally converted into the first digital signal, and a second circuitry configured to output a second digital signal based on a second number of cycles counted by the counter in a period from a reference timing of the clock signal to an input timing of a second input signal within the one of the clock cycle of the clock signal, wherein the period is digitally converted into the second digital signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for detecting rotational speed and early failures of an electronic device. The system includes a rotating disk affixed to a rotating shaft of the electronic device. The rotating disk has projections extending from its periphery. A time of flight ranging system determines distance to the projections extending from the rotating disk. Processing circuitry determines a rotational speed of the rotating shaft from the determined distances to the projections extending from the rotating disk, and detects whether the electronic device is undergoing an early failure from the determined distances to the projections extending from the rotating disk. Rotational speed is determined from the time between successive peaks in the determined distances, and early failures (for example, due to wobble of the shaft) are determined where the peaks vary unexpectedly in magnitude.

Abstract: A system is presented in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the system includes a light source configured to emit light, an emitting lens positioned to obtain the emitted light and configured to produce a shaped beam, an optical element positioned to obtain the shaped beam and redirect the shaped beam toward a near field object to produce scattered light from the near field object, and to obtain and redirect at least a portion of the scattered light, and a collection lens configured to focus the at least the portion of the scattered light on a light detector.

Abstract: A laser safety system adapted to prevent inadvertent illumination of people and assets. The laser safety system configured to emit a laser beam with a laser and determine a path of a target object relative to the laser safety system. The laser safety system configured to cause the laser beam to illuminate the target object while the target object moves along the path.

Abstract: An optical device includes a transmitter, which emits a beam of optical radiation, and a receiver, which includes a detector configured to output a signal in response to the optical radiation. An active area of the detector has a first dimension along a first axis and a second dimension, which is less than the first dimension, along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. An anamorphic lens, which collects and focuses the optical radiation onto the active area of the detector, has a first focal length in a first plane containing the first axis and a second focal length, greater than the first focal length, in a second plane containing the second axis. A scanner scans the beam across a target scene in a scan direction that is aligned with the first axis, and directs the optical radiation that is reflected from the target scene toward the receiver.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing multiple pulse LIDAR measurements are presented herein. In one aspect, each LIDAR measurement beam illuminates a location in a three dimensional environment with a sequence of multiple pulses of illumination light. Light reflected from the location is detected by a photosensitive detector of the LIDAR system during a measurement window having a duration that is greater than or equal to the time of flight of light from the LIDAR system out to the programmed range of the LIDAR system, and back. The pulses in a measurement pulse sequence can vary in magnitude and duration. Furthermore, the delay between pulses and the number of pulses in each measurement pulse sequence can also be varied. In some embodiments, the multi-pulse illumination beam is encoded and the return measurement pulse sequence is decoded to distinguish the measurement pulse sequence from exogenous signals.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for subtracting background light from an exposure value of a first pixel in an imaging array, said first pixel receiving a reflection of a spot from a scenery illuminated by a periodically pulsed pattern of spots, said periodically pulsed pattern comprising in alternation an illuminated phase and a non-illuminated phase, the method comprising: accumulating in said first pixel a charge in proportion to a first quantity of incident light, received in said first pixel while detecting said spot during a predetermined amount of time; and decreasing said charge in proportion to a second quantity of incident light received during said predetermined amount of time in absence of said spot. The invention also pertains to a pixel and an imaging array.

Abstract: A laser measuring set for measuring a distance from an object includes a pulse laser for emitting a laser pulse at the beginning of a measuring cycle; an optical sensor having at least one detection unit for generating detection signals; a coincidence recognition stage for generating coincidence signals, wherein during the measuring cycle, one of the coincidence signals is generated each time the detection signals generated by the detection unit reach at least a preset coincidence depth within a coincidence time; a coincidence time presetting stage for presetting the coincidence time for the coincidence recognition stage, the coincidence time presetting stage being configured such that the coincidence time monotonically increases during the measuring cycle; and travel-time measuring set for determining the distance on the basis of a travel-time measurement of the coincidence signals.

Abstract: A method for recognizing an object located in an object space includes emitting a distance measuring pulse into the object space by a signal time-of-flight based distance measuring unit. The object is provided with a marker which, in response to the influence of the distance measuring pulse, emits electromagnetic marker radiation in which object information for the object recognition is stored. The method further includes recording the marker radiation by an electrical radiation detector and the object information for object recognition being assigned to the object.

Abstract: In an example, a method is described. The method includes causing one or more sensors arranged on an aircraft to acquire, over a window of time, first data associated with a first object that is within an environment of the aircraft, where the one or more sensors include one or more of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor, a radar sensor, or a camera, causing an array of microphones arranged on the aircraft to acquire, over approximately the same window of time as the first data is acquired, first acoustic data associated with the first object, and training a machine learning model by using the first acoustic data as an input value to the machine learning model and by using an azimuth, a range, an elevation, and a type of the first object identified from the first data as ground truth output labels for the machine learning model.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for data and/or power transfer to and from an ocean bottom seismic node are described. In an embodiment, an autonomous seismic node is configured with a bulkhead connector assembly that may be coupled to a plug assembly for data and/or power transfer and a pressure cap assembly when utilized subsea. A plurality of pins may be located on the bulkhead assembly in a substantially flat contact surface to obtain an external electrical connection to the node. The pins on the bulkhead assembly may form a flat circuit with an external device, such as a plug assembly or pressure cap assembly. One or more external devices may be coupled to the pressure cap assembly and/or bulkhead connector for increased functionality to the node. A quick release assembly and/or locking ring may be utilized to fasten any external device to the bulkhead connector assembly.

Abstract: A pulsed-light detection and ranging apparatus comprises an optical detector arranged to generate, when in use, time-series data in response to an optical pulse incident thereupon. A processing resource is also provided and arranged to support a pulse analyser (132). The pulse analyser (132) is arranged to identify (134) an inflection point of a pulse described by the time-series data. The pulse analyser (132) is further arranged to calculate (138) a distance based upon determined inflection point relative to a time axis associated with the time-series data.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a distance measuring device and a distance measuring method that inhibit possible noise in a pixel signal based on reflected light from an object to allow accuracy of distance measurement to be maintained. A distance measuring device according to an aspect of the present technology includes a light emitting section emitting irradiation light, a light receiving section receiving reflected light corresponding to the irradiation light reflected at an object, a calculation section calculating a distance to the object on the basis of a time from emission of the irradiation light until reception of the reflected light, and a control section controlling emission of the irradiation light. The light receiving section includes a plurality of AD converting section AD-converting pixel signals read from the pixels.

Abstract: An aircraft collision avoidance system includes a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors, a plurality of sensor processors, a plurality of transmitters, and a display device. Each 3D LIDAR sensor is enclosed in an aircraft exterior lighting fixture that is configured for mounting on an aircraft, and is configured to sense objects within its field-of-view and supply sensor data. Each sensor processor receives sensor data and processes the received sensor data to determine locations and physical dimensions of the sensed objects. Each transmitter receives the object data, and is configured to transmit the received object data. The display device receives and fuses the object data transmitted from each transmitter, fuses the object data and selectively generates one or more potential obstacle alerts based on the fused object data.