Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a scanning mirror assembly. In certain configurations, the scanning mirror assembly may include a two-dimensional micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) scanning mirror, a skeleton on a back surface of the MEMS scanning mirror, a first pair of piezoelectric electrodes coupled to the MEMS scanning mirror through a first pair of serpentine torsion springs, and a second pair of piezoelectric electrodes coupled to the MEMS scanning mirror through a second pair of serpentine torsion springs. The first pair of piezoelectric electrodes drives the MEMS scanning mirror and the skeleton to rotate around a first axis, and the second pair of piezoelectric electrodes drives the MEMS scanning mirror and the skeleton to rotate around a second axis orthogonal to the first axis.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a scanner for steering optical beams. In certain configurations, the scanner may include a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) scanning mirror independently rotatable around a first axis and a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The scanner may further include a piezoelectric actuator coupled to the MEMS scanning mirror, where the piezoelectric actuator has a first pair of piezoelectric electrodes configured to drive the MEMS scanning mirror to rotate around the first axis, and a second pair of piezoelectric electrodes configured to drive the MEMS scanning mirror to simultaneously rotate around the second axis.

Abstract: An assembly for a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system including a light source configured to provide a light beam; light collimator lens configured to collimate the light beam; an active thermal control element having an upper surface; a thermally conductive mechanical structure fixed to the upper surface of the active thermal control element thermal element, the mechanical structure being in thermal contact with the light source, the light collimator lens and the active thermal control element; a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the light source; and a temperature controller configured to receive the detected temperature from the light source and in response control the temperature of the active thermal control element, which controls the temperatures of the light source and collimator lens to the same temperature via the thermally conductive mechanical structure.

Abstract: Cautious driving and cautious driving speed determination for an autonomous vehicle is responsive to receiving a non-yield backup prediction for the vehicle regarding a traffic participant in a region of interest in a road network surrounding the vehicle, the non-yield backup prediction including a non-yield probability value for the traffic participant not yielding to the vehicle. Driving information, including speed, for other traffic participants within the region of interest is obtained from a sensor system, and an average speed of the other traffic participants is determined. A driving system determines a cautious driving speed for the vehicle by calculating a reverse probability value, which is a reverse percentage of the non-yield probability value relative to a maximum value for it, and multiplying the average speed of the other traffic participants by the reverse probability value. The driving system controls the vehicle to reduce its speed to the cautious driving speed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for improving the light collection efficiency in coaxial LiDAR systems. A coaxial LiDAR system includes a photodetector, a first polarization beam splitter configured to receive a returned light beam including a first linear polarization component and a second linear polarization component and direct the different linear polarization components to different respective directions, a polarization beam combiner configured to transmit the first linear polarization component from the first polarization beam splitter to the photodetector, a non-reciprocal polarization rotator configured to transmit the second linear polarization component from the first polarization beam splitter, and a second polarization beam splitter configured to reflect the second linear polarization component from the non-reciprocal polarization rotator towards the polarization beam combiner.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a receiver of an optical sensing system. The receiver may include a Hadamard mask configured to resonate during a scanning procedure performed by the optical sensing system. The Hadamard mask may include a frame beginning pattern corresponding to a start of a frame captured during the scanning procedure. The Hadamard mask may also include a coded pattern configured to provide sub-pixelization of the frame. The receiver may also include a photodetector array positioned on a first side of the Hadamard mask. The photodetector array may be configured to detect light that passes through the Hadamard mask during the scanning procedure to generate the frame.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide for a scanner of an optical sensing system. The scanner may include a polygon scanning mirror with a plurality of facets each configured to steer a light beam towards an object during a scanning procedure. The scanner may include a driver configured to rotate the polygon scanning mirror in a horizontal plane during the scanning procedure. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of facets may be tilted at a different angle with respect to the horizontal plane.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a mask apparatus used in an optical sensing system. The apparatus may include an optical encoding mask configured to facilitate a scanning procedure of the optical sensing system, wherein the scanning procedure comprises a plurality of scanning lines. The apparatus may further include an actuator coupled to the optical encoding mask and configured to generate a force to drive the optical encoding mask to resonate in a direction perpendicular to the scanning lines during the scanning procedure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide optical sensing systems, optical sensing methods, and integrated transmitter-receiver-scanner (TX-RX-scanner) modules. An exemplary optical sensing system includes an integrated TX-RX-scanner module and a printed circuit board coupled to the integrated TX-RX-scanner module. The integrated TX-RX-scanner module includes a plurality of optical components optically aligned with each other and a plurality of pins located on edges of the TX-RX-scanner module. The printed circuit board is separated from and connected to the integrated TX-RX-scanner module, and includes one or more serving electronic components connected to the optical components through the plurality of pins located on the edges of the integrated TX-RX-scanner module.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a receiver of an optical sensing system. The receiver may include a mask configured to resonate during a scanning procedure performed by the optical sensing system. The receiver may also include a photodetector array positioned on a first side of the mask. The photodetector array may be configured to detect light that passes through the mask during the scanning procedure to generate a frame. The receiver may further include a light collector array aligned with the photodetector array and configured to concentrate the light that passes through the mask during the scanning procedure before directing the light to the photodetector array.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a system for controlling power of laser lights emitted by an optical sensing device. The system includes at least one storage device configured to store instructions and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one storage device and configured to execute the instructions to perform operations. The operations include detecting an object within a field of view of the optical sensing device based on a reflected laser signal received by the optical sensing device, determining a distance of the object from the optical sensing device, determining a value indicating a total power of one or more laser beams to be incident on an aperture at the distance, and comparing the value with a predetermined tolerance value. The operations also includes adjusting a laser emission scheme to reduce the total power when the value is greater than the predetermined tolerance value.

Abstract: A MEMS chip package is provided with a removable cover to allow non-destructive testing. The MEMS package has a container (with walls and a bottom) and a cover. The cover has a glass pane, and is secured to the MEMS package with an elastomeric gasket mounted between the walls of the MEMS package and the cover. A number of attachment mechanisms secure the cover to the MEMS package.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for smart-landmark-based positioning. Such methods may include detecting, using a sensor mounted on a vehicle, a landmark object, obtaining landmark information of the detected landmark object, the landmark information including identification of the landmark object and an encrypted location of the landmark object, transmitting, from the vehicle over a wireless network, a query including at least part of the obtained landmark information, receiving, by the vehicle over the wireless network, a query response including additional information of the landmark.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging transmitter includes an optical scanner assembly and an extending arm for positioning a light source and a light beam collimator in a coaxial configuration. The optical scanner assembly include a scanner board for installing an optical scanner, a mechanical mount, a first set of adjustable connectors coupling the scanner board to the mechanical mount, and a first set of elastic members between the mechanical mount and the scanner board and sleeved on the first set of adjustable connectors. The LiDAR transmitter includes a second set of adjustable connectors coupling the mechanical mount to the extending arm such that the optical scanner can receive a light beam emitted by the light source and collimated by the light beam collimator. The LiDAR transmitter includes a second set of elastic members between the mechanical mount and the extending arm and sleeved on the second set of adjustable connectors.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a receiver of an optical sensing system, and an optical sensing method. The receiver includes a micro shutter array configured to sequentially receive a series of laser beams returned from an environment at a plurality of time points. The micro shutter array sequentially opens a portion of the micro shutter array at a specified location at each time point, to allow a respective laser beam to pass through the micro shutter array at that time point and to reflect the ambient light by a remaining portion of the micro shutter array at that time point. The receiver further includes a photodetector configured to detect the laser beam that passes through the micro shutter array at each time point to obtain point cloud data and an image sensor configured to receive the ambient light reflected by the remaining portion of the micro shutter array to obtain image data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a micro shutter array, and an optical signal filtering method. The micro shutter array is used for filtering a series of optical signals at a plurality of time points. The optical signal at each time point includes a laser beam. The micro shutter array includes a plurality of micro shutter elements arranged in an array and a driver. The driver is configured to sequentially open a subset of the micro shutter elements at a specified location at each time point to allow a respective laser beam to pass through the micro shutter array at that time point.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide an optical sensing system containing a diffractive optical element, and an optical sensing method using the same. For example, the optical sensing system includes a laser emitter configured to emit an optical signal. The optical sensing system further includes a steering device configured to direct the emitted optical signal toward an environment surrounding the optical sensing system. The optical sensing system additionally includes a diffractive optical element configured to diffract the optical signal returning from the environment to form a plurality of beams focusing at a plurality of spots on a focal plane. The optical sensing system additionally includes a photosensor array placed at the focal plane, configured to detect the plurality of beams diffracted by the diffractive optical element at the plurality of spots, wherein the photosensor array comprises a plurality of sensitive elements.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a micro shutter array, an optical sensing system, and an optical sensing method. The optical sensing system includes a laser emitter configured to sequentially emit a series of laser beams and a steering device configured to direct the series of laser beams in different directions towards an environment surrounding the optical sensing system. The optical sensing system further includes a receiver configured to receive the series of laser beams at a plurality of time points returning from the environment. The receiver includes a micro shutter array configured to sequentially open a portion of the micro shutter array at a specified location at each time point, to allow the corresponding laser beam to pass through the micro shutter array at that time point and to reflect the ambient light by a remaining portion of the micro shutter array at that time point.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide for a submount for a transmitter of an optical sensing system. The submount may include a substrate. The submount may also include a set of alignment fiducials formed using semiconductor lithography and coupled to the substrate. Still further, the submount may include at least one laser bar coupled to the substrate based on the set of alignment fiducials.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a micro shutter array, an optical sensing system, and an optical sensing method. The optical sensing system includes a laser emitter configured to sequentially emit a series of optical signals and a steering device configured to direct the series of optical signals in different directions towards an environment surrounding the optical sensing system. The optical sensing system further includes a receiver configured to receive the series of optical signals returning from the environment. The receiver includes a micro shutter array disposed in a light path of the returning optical signals and configured to sequentially open only a portion of the micro shutter array at a specified location at each time point, to allow the returned series of optical signals to sequentially pass through the micro shutter array. The receiver further includes a photodetector configured to receive the optical signals sequentially passed through the micro shutter array.