Abstract: An apparatus includes a transceiver and one or more optics. The transceiver is configured to transmit a transmit signal from a laser source in a transmission mode and to receive a return signal reflected by an object in a receive mode. The one or more optics are configured to spatially separate the transmission mode and the receive mode by optically changing a distance between the transmit signal and the return signal.

Abstract: A user identification based control system includes a time of flight ranging sensor configured to sense a distance to a person, where the time of flight ranging sensor is positioned so the sensed distance is a function of a height of the person. Processing circuitry is coupled to the time of flight ranging sensor and configured to identify the person based upon sensed distance and to generate control signals to control peripheral components based upon the identity of the person. The time of flight ranging sensor may also be used to sense speed of the person for identification purposes. In general, the time of flight ranging sensor is positioned a known height over a surface on which the person is present, such as in the doorway or on a ceiling of a room.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product is provided for automatically configuring a detection device. The method includes scanning, with a LiDAR device, a region to generate LiDAR data, analyzing the LiDAR data to determine a material classification for the region, determining a zone of interest within the region based on the material classification, the zone of interest comprising a subset of the region defined by a spatial boundary, monitoring the zone of interest with the detection device, identifying an event occurring within the spatial boundary of the zone of interest based on monitoring the region with the detection device, and in response to identifying the event occurring within the spatial boundary, automatically initiating at least one responsive action.

Abstract: A system to scan a field of view with light beams can include a scanning mirror arrangement having a mirror and a drive mechanism configured to rotate the mirror about an axis between two terminal positions; at least one light source configured to simultaneously produce at least a first light beam and a second light beam directed at the mirror from different directions. Upon rotation of the mirror, the first and second light beams can scan a field of view. The scanning mirror arrangement may include a mirror; hinges attached at opposite sides of the mirror; and a drive mechanism attached to the hinges and configured to twist the hinges resulting in a larger twist to the mirror, wherein the hinges are disposed between the drive mechanism and the mirror.

Abstract: A flying object position measuring apparatus includes an optical sensor, a storage, an orientation calculator, and a position calculator. The optical sensor obtains an image of a flying object. The flying object performs flight along a ballistic trajectory. The storage stores, in advance, basic trajectory information regarding a basic trajectory of the flying object. The basic trajectory information includes position information of a start point at which the flying object starts the flight. The orientation calculator calculates an orientation of the flying object as viewed from the optical sensor on the basis of the image obtained by the optical sensor. The position calculator calculates, as a position of the flying object, an intersection of a plane of rotation with the orientation of the flying object. The plane of rotation is a plane based on a rotation of the basic trajectory around a vertical axis that travels through the start point.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for binning TOF data from a scene, for increasing the accuracy of TOF measurements and reducing the noise therein, the TOF data comprising phase data and confidence data, the method comprising the steps of acquiring a plurality of TOF data by illuminating the scene with a plurality of modulated signals; associating each modulated signal with a vector defined by a phase and a confidence data, respectively; adding the plurality of vectors for obtaining a binned vector; determining the phase and confidence of the binned vector; processing the phase and confidence data of the binned vector for obtaining depth data of the scene.

Abstract: Optoelectronic surveying device for distance and/or position determination comprising a radiation source for generating optical measurement radiation of a first wavelength, wherein the measurement radiation is emitted in an oriented manner into free space. The radiation source is designed such that the first wavelength is in the range between 1210 nm and 1400 nm and the power of the emitted measurement radiation is at least 14 mW in the chronological and spatial average.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems of a light imaging and ranging system are provided. In particular, the imaging and ranging system includes a LIDAR sensor and a low-profile optics assembly having a reflective element with a continuous and uninterrupted reflective surface surrounding a periphery of a LIDAR sensor in a light path of the LIDAR sensor. The reflective element is positioned at a distance offset from the periphery of the LIDAR sensor and directs light emitted by the LIDAR sensor to a second reflective element that is substantially similar in shape and size as the reflective element. The second reflective element is arranged above and opposite the reflective element directing the light emitted by the LIDAR sensor to a sensing environment outside the imaging and ranging system.

Abstract: A lidar system comprising with a light source, an optical link, and a sensor head. The light source can include a seed laser to produce pulses of light and an optical preamplifier to amplify the pulses of light. The optical link can convey amplified pulses of light to the sensor head remotely located from the light source. The sensor head can include an optical booster amplifier, a scanner to scan amplified output pulses of light across a field of regard, and a receiver to detect pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the sensor head.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a semiconductor die bonded on a top surface of a substrate uses an optical assembly including an image sensor and an optical system for conducting the inspection. The optical assembly is tilted at an oblique angle with respect to the top surface of the substrate, and is arranged such that its depth of focus is substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the substrate for inspecting at least one side wall of the semiconductor die.

Abstract: A time of flight sensor device is capable of generating accurate propagation time information for emitted light pulses using a small number of measurement cycles by using multiple measuring capacitors to capture more return pulse information per pulse period. To mitigate the effects of mismatched measuring capacitors and reading paths, embodiments of the time of flight sensor device perform multiple measuring sequences per measurement operation, permutating the roles of the measuring capacitors for each of the measuring sequences. The data collected by the measuring capacitors for the multiple measuring sequences is then aggregated and used to compute the propagation time and corresponding distance. This technique mitigate yields accurate measurements despite mismatches between reading paths and measuring capacitors without the need to implement pixel-level calibration and compensation, thereby saving calibration time, memory space, and computing time.

Abstract: A system and method for sidelobe suppression in phase-encoded Doppler LIDAR to support the operation of a vehicle includes determining a sequence code that is indicative of a sequence of phases for an optical signal; modulating an optical signal based on the sequence code to produce a phase-encoded optical signal; transmitting the phase-encoded optical signal to an environment; receiving, from the environment, a returned optical signal in response to transmitting the phase-encoded optical signal; generating, based on the returned optical signal, an electrical signal; and determine a Doppler frequency shift in the returned optical signal.

Abstract: A time of flight sensor device is capable of extending its total sensing distance using multiple measuring sequences for each distance measuring operation. Such embodiments can execute two or more iterations of a measuring sequence, where the gating signal control sequence for each measuring sequence is offset in time relative to a previous sequence. This yields a greater number of sampling points within which a reflected pulse can be detected and measured, resulting in a total measurable time of flight range that is greater than a measuring operation that uses a fixed timing for the gating signals.

Abstract: A height measuring apparatus comprising a main body portion adapted for placement upon an object to be measured, and a movable portion which is movable relative to the main body portion, wherein the movable portion comprises a laser source and a photo detector, the movable portion being movable so that a laser beam from the laser source can be directed to the ground when the main body is placed on the object to be measured.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes one or more wheels positioned at a bottom side of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a first light detection and ranging device (LIDAR) positioned at a top side of the vehicle opposite to the bottom side. The first LIDAR is configured to scan an environment around the vehicle based on rotation of the first LIDAR about an axis. The first LIDAR has a first resolution. The vehicle also includes a second LIDAR configured to scan a field-of-view of the environment that extends away from the vehicle along a viewing direction of the second LIDAR. The second LIDAR has a second resolution. The vehicle also includes a controller configured to operate the vehicle based on the scans of the environment by the first LIDAR and the second LIDAR.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media enabled methods are disclosed for detecting LIDAR window obstructions in an FMCW LIDAR system, analyzing the operational effects of the LIDAR window obstructions on the FMCW LIDAR system, and mitigating the operational effects on the FMCW LIDAR system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for receiving a pulsed signal emitted by an emitter (2,20) in an optoelectronic sensor (1), the sensor including at least an emitter (2,20) for emitting electromagnetic radiation and a receiver (3, 30) for receiving electromagnetic radiation and wherein the electromagnetic radiation received is converted into an electric signal, said method including the steps of: o arranging said emitter to emit a pulsed electromagnetic radiation; o before the emission of a pulse, receiving an electromagnetic radiation received through said receiver (3, 30) by generating a noise signal (sr,S1,S2); o comparing an amplitude of said received noise signal (sr,S1) with a first threshold (Vthreshold); and o emitting said pulse if the amplitude of said received noise signal is below said first threshold, and not emitting said pulse otherwise. The invention also relates to an optoelectronic sensor.

Abstract: An active illumination three-dimensional sensor device is configured with a number of diagnostic functions that can satisfy the requirements of industrial safety within the context of a single-channel safety sensor architecture. The sensor diagnostic functions provide sufficient diagnostic coverage for an optical safety sensor (e.g., a time-of-flight safety sensor) to achieve a desired safety integrity level without the need for multiple channels. The diagnostic features can be applied to one or more components along the single-channel path (e.g., the sequencer, the illumination source, input and/or output optics, image sensor pixel, etc.) to provide a level of diagnostic coverage that renders the optical safety sensor suitable for use within industrial safety applications requiring high safety integrity levels.

Abstract: An optical device includes a light source, which is configured to emit a beam of light, and a sensor having a detection area. At least one scanning mirror is configured to scan the beam across a target scene. Light collection optics include a collection lens positioned to receive the light from the scene that is reflected from the at least one scanning mirror and to focus the collected light onto a focal plane, and a non-imaging optical element having a front surface positioned at the focal plane of the collection lens and a rear surface in proximity to the sensor and configured to spread the light focused by the collection lens over the detection area of the sensor.

Abstract: A scanning lidar system includes an external frame, an internal frame attached to the external frame by vibration-isolation mounts, and an electro-optic assembly movably attached to the internal frame and configured to be translated with respect to the internal frame during scanning operation of the scanning lidar system.