Abstract: Large time-of-flight photodetector arrays can be expensive and one solution is to multiplex the detector array between several distinct fields of view, thereby increasing its utilization. In one embodiment, a vehicle-based distributed LIDAR is disclosed, comprising a plurality of coherent fiber optic image bundles (CFOBs) that transfer laser reflections from several fields of view (FOVs) around the vehicle to a shared remotely located detector array. An optical combiner functions to multiplex (e.g. timeshares) the FOVs from each coherent fiber bundle onto the remote detector array. Individual fibers in the CFOBs gather laser reflections from distinct portions of a FOV, thereby enabling correlation of the original reflection directions with fiber locations within a bundle. Unlike single fiber cables or incoherent multicore fiber cables, where the direction of incoming light is lost, the CFOBs transfer both the timing and direction of laser reflections from multiple FOVs to a shared detector array.

Abstract: Mounting a LIDAR above or external to a vehicle can enhance the LIDAR field of view but can conflict with vehicle aesthetics and ergonomics. Within embodiments, vehicle-integrated systems for distributing laser beams around a vehicle to increase coverage with a low-profile laser range finder are disclosed. A LIDAR can be embedded beneath a roof or body panel of a vehicle as part of a laser distribution system including a set of reflectors and lenses operable to adapt the LIDAR field of view to the vehicle shape. The set of embedded reflectors can guide laser beams parallel (e.g. within the roof structure), to and from the set of lenses at the roof edge to transmit the guided laser into regions of the surrounding beyond the direct field of view of the LIDAR. In other embodiments a beam guide (e.g. including a headlight assembly) can enable a LIDAR to perform ranging from behind a vehicle body panel.

Abstract: In one embodiment an imaging system (e.g., a LIDAR or camera) contains a micromirror array that is configured in response to sensor data to dynamically enhance a complex shape region of interest in a field of view (FOV). The micromirror array functions as like an electronically controllable transfer function for light, between an input FOV and a detector array, thereby providing dynamically defined resolution across the detector array. Data from various configurations of the micromirror array is then combined in a 2D or 3D output image. In one aspect the imaging system begins with a first uniform resolution at the detector array and subsequently reconfigures the micromirror array to enhance resolution at a first portion of the detector array (e.g., spread an interesting object across more pixels) reduce resolution from in a less interesting part of a scene and thereby sample all of the original FOV with anisotropic resolution.

Abstract: Mounting a LIDAR above or external to a vehicle can enhance the LIDAR field of view but can conflict with vehicle aesthetics and ergonomics. Within embodiments, vehicle-integrated systems for distributing laser beams around a vehicle to increase coverage with a low-profile laser range finder are disclosed. A LIDAR can be embedded beneath a roof or body panel of a vehicle as part of a laser distribution system including a set of reflectors and lenses operable to adapt the LIDAR field of view to the vehicle shape. The set of embedded reflectors can guide laser beams parallel (e.g. within the roof structure), to and from the set of lenses at the roof edge to transmit the guided laser into regions of the surrounding beyond the direct field of view of the LIDAR. In other embodiments a beam guide (e.g. including a headlight assembly) can enable a LIDAR to perform ranging from behind a vehicle body panel.

Abstract: Optical time-of-flight detector arrays are costly and therefore enhancing their utilization (e.g. angular coverage range) is desirable. In one embodiment, a vehicle-based distributed LIDAR is disclosed, comprising a plurality of coherent fiber optic image bundles that transfer laser reflections from fields of view (FOVs) around the vehicle to a shared remotely located detector array. An optical multiplexor timeshares the FOVs from the coherent fiber bundles onto the remote detector array. Individual fibers in the coherent bundles gather laser reflections from distinct portions of a FOV, thereby enabling correlation of the original reflection directions with fiber locations within a bundle. Unlike an externally mounted LIDAR with direct access to a single FOV, or a LIDAR using a single optic fiber that loses direction data associated with laser reflections, the coherent fiber optic image bundles transfer both the timing and direction of laser reflections from multiple FOVs to a shared remote detector array.

Abstract: Disclosed wherein is an electrical faceplate, such as a cover for a wall outlet or light switch, that uniformly illuminates by receiving light into a transparent lightguide, homogenizing the light within the lightguide and scattering the homogenized light preferentially through a front surface. In one embodiment a faceplate comprises a substrate operable to cover an interface between an electrical junction box and a wall. The faceplate further comprises a light receiving surface operable to receive light from a light generation component (e.g. an LED) and transmit the light substantially parallel to a front surface, thereby promoting reflection at the front surface that homogenizes the light intensity within the faceplate and a portion operable to scatter light through the front surface. Several embodiments provide a faceplate with a lightguide to homogenize light through a process of total internal reflection to provide uniform illumination of the faceplate.

Abstract: Mounting a LIDAR above or external to a vehicle can enhance the LIDAR field of view but can conflict with vehicle aesthetics and ergonomics. Within embodiments, vehicle-integrated systems for distributing laser beams around a vehicle to increase coverage with a low-profile laser range finder are disclosed. A LIDAR can be embedded beneath a roof or body panel of a vehicle as part of a laser distribution system including a set of reflectors and lenses operable to adapt the LIDAR field of view to the vehicle shape. The set of embedded reflectors can guide laser beams parallel (e.g. within the roof structure), to and from the set of lenses at the roof edge to transmit the guided laser into regions of the surrounding beyond the direct field of view of the LIDAR. In other embodiments a beam guide (e.g. including a headlight assembly) can enable a LIDAR to perform ranging from behind a vehicle body panel.

Abstract: Mounting a LIDAR above or external to a vehicle can enhance the LIDAR field of view but can conflict with vehicle aesthetics and ergonomics. Within embodiments, vehicle-integrated systems for distributing laser beams around a vehicle to increase coverage with a low-profile laser range finder are disclosed. A LIDAR can be embedded beneath a roof or body panel of a vehicle as part of a laser distribution system including a set of reflectors and lenses operable to adapt the LIDAR field of view to the vehicle shape. The set of embedded reflectors can guide laser beams parallel (e.g. within the roof structure), to and from the set of lenses at the roof edge to transmit the guided laser into regions of the surrounding beyond the direct field of view of the LIDAR. In other embodiments a beam guide (e.g. including a headlight assembly) can enable a LIDAR to perform ranging from behind a vehicle body panel.

Abstract: With the proliferation of laser ranging systems (e.g. LIDAR) there is a need to avoid transmitting high power laser pulses towards certain objects such as people's eyes. Recently, advancements in electronically-steerable lasers have made it possible to dynamically steer a laser in 2-D. In one embodiment a LIDAR can identify a portion of an object to be avoided with laser pulses e.g. a persons head or a car windshield. The LIDAR can compute a keepout region or portion of the field of view that will be avoided by a subsequent laser scan. The LIDAR can dynamically steer a laser beam around the keepout region. In another embodiment a laser range finder can use sensor date form the local environment to track an object to be avoided and dynamically update laser steering instructions to avoid the dynamic keepout region of the field of view.

Abstract: A smart speaker is disclosed with an interactive speaker grille. In one embodiment a smart speaker comprises a housing with a speaker grille comprising a plurality of openings. Circuitry coupled to the speaker grille is configured to sense direct user interaction with one or more of a plurality of regions of the speaker grille and to generate corresponding electrical signals indicative of the one or more regions of the speaker grille experiencing direct user interaction. The circuitry can include portions in the path of sound transmission to detect user interaction with regions of the grille and portions outside the path of sound transmission for controlling aspects of the smart speaker (e.g. speaker volume, radio station or media stream selection) based on the particular regions touched.

Abstract: A LIDAR can encounter a remotely located mirror as it moves through a local environment (e.g. a convex roadside mirror). The remote mirror can occupy a small portion of the LIDAR field of view but offer a wealth of reflection data regarding a larger indirect field of view (e.g. around a corner). In one embodiment a LIDAR can learn the location of the remote mirror and then can dynamically increase the density of laser ranging measurements in an associated mirror region of the field of view. The LIDAR can track the mirror region as it moves in the local environment with an increased density of outgoing laser pulses and thereby interrogate the remote mirror for reflection data from a wide indirect field of view.

Abstract: Large time-of-flight photodetector arrays can be expensive and one solution is to multiplex the detector array between several distinct fields of view, thereby increasing its utilization. In one embodiment, a vehicle-based distributed LIDAR is disclosed, comprising a plurality of coherent fiber optic image bundles (CFOBs) that transfer laser reflections from several fields of view (FOVs) around the vehicle to a shared remotely located detector array. An optical combiner functions to multiplex (e.g. timeshares) the FOVs from each coherent fiber bundle onto the remote detector array. Individual fibers in the CFOBs gather laser reflections from distinct portions of a FOV, thereby enabling correlation of the original reflection directions with fiber locations within a bundle. Unlike single fiber cables or incoherent multicore fiber cables, where the direction of incoming light is lost, the CFOBs transfer both the timing and direction of laser reflections from multiple FOVs to a shared detector array.

Abstract: In one embodiment a laser range finder generates high-intensity laser pulses with intensities above a threshold intensity (e.g. above an eye-safe intensity) in an adaptive-intensity region of the field of view. The laser range finder further generates lower intensity (e.g. eye-safe) laser pulses in a protective guard region (e.g. a guard ring) that surrounds the high-intensity laser pulses. The guard region is located in the FOV such that ingress paths to the adaptive-intensity region must first traverse the lower-intensity guard region. The laser range finder analyzes laser reflections from the guard region to improve timely prediction of object intrusion into the adaptive-intensity region, thereby providing time to determine object trajectory or object classification. Upon determination that an object is likely to intersect the high-intensity laser pulses the laser range finder can discontinue the high-intensity laser pulses and instead generate laser pulses below the threshold intensity (e.g.

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: A LIDAR can utilize remote mirrors discovered in the local environment to gather reflections from remote locations. In one embodiment, a laser range finder identifies and tracks a remote mirror with variable placement in a field of view (e.g. a roadside mirror at an traffic intersection) and generates a dense non-uniform subset of outgoing laser pulses designed to cover the mirror portion of the field of view, thereby interrogating or data mining the indirect field of view offered by the remote mirror. In several embodiments a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system, learns the position of a remotely located mirror, then identifies a subset of the laser reflections that have undergone deflection by that remote mirror and performs a correction step in the process of calculating 3D locations for the deflected subset of laser reflections.

Abstract: In one embodiment a sound generating system comprises: a housing; a speaker located at least partially inside the housing; and an interactive faceplate subassembly comprising: a front surface, wherein a portion of the front surface contains a first plurality of openings forming a speaker grille; a display operable to display through a first portion of the front surface; the display disposed behind the front surface of the interactive faceplate subassembly and coupled to a second surface having a second plurality of openings, and wherein at least one of the openings in the second plurality of openings aligns with one or more of the openings in the first plurality of openings, thereby promoting improved sound transmission from the speaker.

Abstract: Dynamically steering a LIDAR to regions of a field of view with more information (e.g. the detailed boundaries of objects) is beneficial. Within embodiments a time target to complete a LIDAR scan of a FOV can be combined with sensor data from the local environment to generate laser steering parameters operable to configure a LIDAR to dynamically steer a laser beam within the course of a laser ranging scan. In this way, laser steering parameters based in part on a target time for a scan can function to tailor the density of laser ranging measurements to ensure that important objects are densely scanned while completing the laser ranging scan within the target time.

Abstract: Mounting a LIDAR above or external to a vehicle can enhance the LIDAR field of view but can conflict with vehicle aesthetics and ergonomics. Within embodiments, vehicle-integrated systems for distributing laser beams around a vehicle to increase coverage with a low-profile laser range finder are disclosed. A LIDAR can be embedded beneath a roof or body panel of a vehicle as part of a laser distribution system including a set of reflectors and lenses operable to adapt the LIDAR field of view to the vehicle shape. The set of embedded reflectors can guide laser beams parallel (e.g. within the roof structure), to and from the set of lenses at the roof edge to transmit the guided laser into regions of the surrounding beyond the direct field of view of the LIDAR. In other embodiments a beam guide (e.g. including a headlight assembly) can enable a LIDAR to perform ranging from behind a vehicle body panel.

Abstract: In one embodiment a sound generating system comprises: a housing; a speaker located at least partially inside the housing; and an interactive faceplate subassembly comprising: a front surface, wherein a portion of the front surface contains a first plurality of openings forming a speaker grille; a display operable to display through a first portion of the front surface; the display disposed behind the front surface of the interactive faceplate subassembly and coupled to a second surface having a second plurality of openings, and wherein at least one of the openings in the second plurality of openings aligns with one or more of the openings in the first plurality of openings, thereby promoting improved sound transmission from the speaker.

Abstract: In one embodiment a LIDAR generates high-intensity laser pulses with intensities above a threshold intensity (e.g. above an eye-safe intensity) in a 2-D angular range in a field of view. The LIDAR further generates low-intensity (e.g. eye-safe) laser pulses in a protective guard region (e.g. a guard ring) that surrounds the high-intensity laser pulses. In response to detecting an aspect of an object using reflections from the low-intensity laser pulses (e.g. a person on a trajectory that will intersect the high-intensity laser pulses) the LIDAR modifies the angular range of subsequent high-intensity laser pulses. In this way the LIDAR can adapt or steer the angular range of the high-intensity laser pulses to avoid an object detected within the low-intensity guard region.