Abstract: A technique is provided to enable check of calibrated condition of a total station (TS) having a laser scanner at a surveying site. The TS includes an optical system, a laser positioning part, a plane equation calculator, a laser scanner, a separation amount calculator, and an exterior orientation parameter calculator. The laser positioning part emits laser light on an object via the optical system to position the object. The plane equation calculator calculates an equation of a specific plane on the basis of result from the laser positioning part. The laser scanner scans the specific plane with laser light to obtain scanning points. The separation amount calculator calculates a separation amount of the respective scanning points from the specific plane. The exterior orientation parameter calculator calculates exterior orientation parameters of one or both of the laser positioning part and the laser scanner so that the separation amount will be small.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for removing LiDAR points is provided. An image is received from a camera and a plurality of points is received from a LiDAR sensor. The points are placed on the image based on coordinates associated with each point. The image is divided into a plurality of cells by placing a grid over the image. For each cell, a threshold is calculated based on the minimum distance between the points in the cell and the camera. The threshold may control how many points are allowed to remain in each cell. After calculating the thresholds, points are removed from each cell until the number of points in each cell do not exceed the threshold for the cell. The image and/or the reduced plurality of points are then used to provide one or more vehicle functions.

Abstract: In one embodiment a LIDAR can comprise two similar photodetector arrays and a malfunction indicator circuit operable to generate a malfunction signal when a measure of difference between range data from similar directions reported by each of the photodetectors exceeds a threshold value. A challenge associated with LIDARs is malfunction detection and failsafe operation in the event of a malfunction. Embodiments provide for two photodetectors in a shared remote ranging subassembly to address the challenges of malfunction detection. The two photodetector arrays can each receive light reflections from overlapping angular ranges in one or more FOVs (e.g. transferred using CFOBs) and thereby function to provide redundancy and confirmation of reflection distances. Within embodiments a reflection splitter can serve to uniformly distribute laser reflections from a common field of view among two photodetectors, thereby providing each with a half-resolution image for range comparison.

Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement for time-of-flight comprises a first and a second cavity separated by an optical barrier and covered by a cover arrangement. An optical emitter is arranged in the first cavity, a measurement and a reference photodetector are arranged in the second cavity. The cover arrangement comprises a plate and layers of material arranged on an inner main surface thereof. The layers comprise an opaque coating with a first and second aperture above the first cavity, and with a third and fourth aperture above the second cavity. The measurement photodetector is configured to detect light entering the second cavity through the fourth aperture. The second and the third aperture establish a reference path for light from the emitter to the reference photodetector.

Abstract: A lidar system that includes a laser source and transmits laser pulses produced by the laser source toward range points in a field of view via a mirror that scans through a plurality of scan angles can use (1) a laser energy model to model the available energy in the laser source over time and (2) a mirror motion model to model motion of the mirror over time. Time slots for transmitting the targeted laser pulses can be identified using the mirror motion model, and a schedule for these pulses can be determined using energies predicted for the pulses at these time slots according to the laser energy model. Linking the model of mirror motion with the model of laser energy provides highly precise granularity when scheduling laser pulses targeted at specific range points in the field of view.

Abstract: A lidar system that includes a laser source and transmits laser pulses produced by the laser source toward range points in a field of view can use a laser energy model to model the available energy in the laser source over time. The timing schedule for laser pulses fired by the lidar system can then be determined using energies that are predicted for the different scheduled laser pulse shots based on the laser energy model. This permits the lidar system to reliably ensure at a highly granular level that each laser pulse shot has sufficient energy to meet operational needs, including when operating during periods of high density/high resolution laser pulse firing. The laser energy model is capable of modeling the energy available for laser pulses in the laser source over very short time intervals (such as 10-100 nanoseconds).

Abstract: A monostatic laser rangefinder device including: a laser light source; a photodetector; a double-clad optical fiber coupled to a collimating and focusing device; and an optical fiber diplexer. The diplexer includes a first optical fiber forming an input port and a second, multimode optical fiber forming a first output port. The first fiber is coupled to the laser source, the second fiber is coupled to the photodetector, and the double-clad fiber forms a second output port. A numerical aperture of a light guide formed of an inner and outer cladding of the double-clad fiber is less than or equal to 0.5, and greater than 0.1. The end of the double-clad fiber facing the collimating and focusing device has a face inclined with respect to an axis perpendicular to the axis of the fiber by an angle greater than or equal to half of the arcsine of the numerical aperture.

Abstract: A TOF ranging system based on a multi-phase correlation vector synthesis ranging method is presented. The method is a generalized expansion from conventional 2- or 4-phase correlations to arbitrary N-phase correlations in finding in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) signals of the reflected signal at the receiver, where N is an odd number greater than or equal to 3. The correlation vectors of the output of multi-phase correlators are processed by a zero-force synthesizer to produce optimal I and Q signals, from which the phase delay or ranging information is calculated. Embodiments disclose necessary components in realization of the method, such as half clock shifter, full clock shifter, dual edge reference pulse generator, and correlation integrator. The TOF ranging method enables the construction of finer and more accurate TOF systems like 3D imaging systems, 3D sonar imaging systems, or 3D touchless pointer systems.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system encodes a frequency modulation (FM) modulated signal with a time of flight (TOF) signal as a power and frequency modulated signal. The system can emit the power and frequency modulated signal and apply processing to a signal reflection to generate a target point set. The target point set processing can include frequency processing to generate target points based on range and Doppler information, and TOF processing to provide TOF range information. The LIDAR system can include a modulator to AM modulate an FM modulated light signal with an active modulator to provide the TOF signal information with the FM modulated signal as the power and frequency modulated signal.

Abstract: An optical distance measurement system includes a transmission circuit and a receive circuit. The transmission circuit is configured to generate narrowband intensity modulated light transmission signals over a first band of frequencies and direct the narrowband light transmission signal toward a target object. The receive circuit is configured to receive reflected light off the target object, convert the reflected light into a current signal proportional to the intensity of the reflected light, filter frequencies outside a second band of frequencies from the current signal to create a filtered current signal, and convert the filtered current signal into a voltage signal. The second band of frequencies corresponds with the first band of frequencies.

Abstract: A distance measuring device is configured to: obtain a first distance image acquired from a time of flight (TOF) sensor and a polarized image generated by calculating a degree of polarization for each pixel based on a plurality of images acquired from a plurality of cameras that receives linearly polarized light with different polarization directions; and execute a process for calculating reliability according to a difference between a time of measuring a distance and a time of photographing the plurality of images for each pixel of the first distance image, and execute a process for calculating a distance from the TOF sensor to a subject for each pixel using a second distance image calculated by weighting the reliability to a distance of each pixel of the first distance image, and a third distance image calculated by estimating a distance of each pixel based on the polarized image.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system comprise: a control system housing; a first LiDAR head housing separate and distinct from the control system housing; a light source within the control system housing configured to produce a first pulse signal; a light detector within the control system housing configured to detect a first return pulse signal associated with the pulse signal; a first pulse steering system within the first LiDAR housing configured to direct the first pulse signal in a first direction; a first fiber coupled to the light source and the first pulse steering system, the first fiber configured to carry the first pulse signal from the light source to the first pulse steering system; and a second fiber configured to carry a first returned pulse signal from the first LiDAR head housing to the light detector.

Abstract: A LIDAR apparatus for scanning a scene is provided that includes a transmitter stage, a receiver stage, a beam-steering engine configured to steer the light beam received from the transmitter stage in different directions to scan at least a portion of the scene. The beam-steering engine is responsive to steering commands to produce corresponding deflections of the light beam.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes an optical source and multiple waveguides at different positions within the LIDAR system to receive a return signal. A first waveguide receives a first portion of the return signal at a first angle relative to the scanning mirror and a second waveguide receives a second portion of the return signal at a second angle relative to the scanning mirror. The system further includes multiple optical detectors at different positions within the LIDAR system. A first optical detector receives the first portion of the return signal from the first waveguide and a second optical detector receives the second portion of the return signal from the second waveguide. The system further includes a signal processing system operatively coupled to the plurality of optical detectors to determine a distance and velocity of the target object based on the returned signal and corresponding positions of the plurality of waveguides.

Abstract: A distance measurement system includes: a signal generator which generates a light emission signal that instructs light emission and an exposure signal that instructs exposure of reflected light; a first illumination and distance measurement light source which receives the light emission signal and, according to the signal received, performs the light emission for illumination without a purpose of distance measurement and the light emission with the purpose of distance measurement using the reflected light; an imaging device which receives the exposure signal, performs the exposure according to the signal received, and obtains an amount of light exposure of the reflected light; and a calculator which calculates distance information using the amount of light exposure and outputs the distance information, wherein the distance measurement system has operation modes including an illumination mode and a first distance measurement mode.

Abstract: A number of etalons together are used to extract the velocity, density and temperature of a scattering medium, such as the atmosphere. An optical air data sensor system incorporates the structure and operation for outputting laser light at a volume of air so as to be scattered by molecules and aerosols in the air volume being scanned; receiving the scattered laser light via a collecting optics assembly; splitting the received scattered laser light from the input optical fiber into a plurality of scattered light emissions; collimating each of the plurality of scattered light emissions; inputting the plurality of collimated light emissions into corresponding ones of a plurality of Fabry-Perot etalons; and imaging each of the plurality of collimated light emissions from the plurality of Fabry-Perot onto corresponding ones of a plurality of non-imaging detectors.

Abstract: A receiver for a light detection and range finding system is disclosed. The receiver can include an optoelectrical device to receive a pulse of light reflected from a target and to convert the pulse of light to a current pulse. The receiver can also include a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) to convert the current pulse to a voltage pulse. The receiver can also include a tunable filter that has an input coupled to an output of the TIA. The tunable filter can have a frequency response that is adjustable. The TIA and the tunable filter can be disposed on a single integrated circuit (IC) die.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods and scanning systems for photonically detecting an object of high-interest having selective wavelength reflection. Various embodiments include sequentially scanning the environment by projecting a coherent pulsed electromagnetic beam of light of a first wavelength. Reflected light of the first coherent beam is received onto a photoelectric detector, which outputs digital intensity data. Various embodiments further include sequentially scanning the environment by projecting a coherent pulsed electromagnetic beam of light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. Reflected light of the second coherent beam is received onto a photoelectric detector, which outputs digital intensity data. The intensity of the reflected light of the first wavelength may be compared with the intensity reflected light of the second wavelength, and an alert may be sent to an autonomous vehicle system in response to the intensity difference exceeding a threshold.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes an imaging sensor optically aligned with imaging optics along a first optical path. A laser source is optically aligned with laser optics along a second optical path. A single scanning mechanism is aligned with both the first optical path and the second optical path for directing outgoing laser illumination from the laser source in a scanning direction and for directing incoming laser return illumination from the scanning direction.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a receiver configured to receive a reflected light beam from a receiving direction, the reflected light beam having an oblong shape that extends in a lengthwise direction. The LIDAR receiver includes a two-dimensional (2D) photodetector array including a plurality of pixel rows and a plurality of pixel columns, wherein the reflected light beam, incident on the 2D photodetector array, extends in the lengthwise direction along at least one receiving pixel column of the plurality of pixel columns according to the receiving direction; an analog readout circuit including a plurality of output channels configured to read out electrical signals; and a multiplexer configured to, for each reading cycle, selectively couple receiving pixels of the at least one receiving column to the plurality of output channels based on the receiving direction, while decoupling non-receiving pixels from the plurality of output channels based on the receiving direction.