Abstract: A LIDAR system is disclosed. The system may include a laser light projection system that may simultaneously provide at least two laser light beams. The system may also include an optical system, including one or more deflectors to project the at least two laser light beams toward a field of view of the LIDAR system. Each of the laser light beams may have an energy density below an eye safe level. However, a total combined energy density of the laser light beams may exceed an eye safe level. The laser light beams may be projected from the deflector are spaced apart from one another by an angular spacing ranging from 2.5 mrad to 6 mrad.

Abstract: A photodiode-based detection module may include at least one photodiode for detecting light. The photodiode-based detection module may also include a sensitivity damper configured to temporarily reduce the sensitivity of the at least one photodiode. The photodiode-based detection module may further include a controller configured to trigger the sensitivity damper to reduce a sensitivity of the at least one photodiode to less than a nominal sensitivity threshold.

Abstract: There is provided a LIDAR system and method for surveying a Field of View (FOV) comprising: an illumination system, a light-sensitive detector, a scanning unit and at least one processing unit, wherein the illumination system is configured to project a first light with first illumination parameters, deflected by the scanning system through a window toward the field of view of the LIDAR system; and the light-sensitive detector is configured to receive light reflected from objects in the field of view and deflected by the scanning unit; and the at least one processing unit is configured to analyze detected light and determine information about the objects, and wherein the illumination system is further configured to project a second light with second illumination parameters toward a window vicinity.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for a LIDAR system comprising a laser emission unit configured to generate at least one laser beam; a scanning unit configured to project the at least one laser beam toward a field of view of the LIDAR system; and at least one processor programmed to: determine at least one indicator of a current yaw orientation of the LIDAR system based on analysis of point cloud representations of at least one stationary object in an environment of a host vehicle and based on detected ego motion of the host vehicle; determine a difference between the current yaw orientation and a target yaw orientation for the LIDAR system; and adjust at least one scan range limit associated with the scanning unit to at least partially compensate for a difference between the current yaw orientation of the LIDAR system and the target yaw orientation for the LIDAR system.

Abstract: A system includes at least one processor configured to detect, based on point cloud information, portions of a particular object, and determine, based on the detected portions, at least a first portion having a first reflectivity corresponding to a license plate, and at least two additional spaced-apart portions corresponding to locations on the particular object other than a location of the first portion. The at least two additional portions have reflectivity substantially lower than the first reflectivity. The at least one processor is further configured to classify the particular object as a vehicle, based on a spatial relationship and a reflectivity relationship between the first portion and the at least two additional portions.

Abstract: A solid-state photodetector is disclosed, which may comprise an integrated circuit comprising at least one light sensitive photodiode configured to generate output signal indicative of light impinging on the light sensitive photodiode; at least one heating resistor configured to heat the solid-state photodetector when an electric current passes through the at least one heating resistor; and a circuitry for transmitting the electric current of an electric current source to the at least one heating resistor.

Abstract: A vehicle-assistance system for classifying objects in a vehicle's surroundings. The system includes: at least one memory configured to store classification information for classifying a plurality of objects; and at least one processor configured to receive a plurality of detection results associated with light detection and ranging system (LIDAR) detection results, each detection result including location information, and further information indicative of at least two of the following detection characteristics: object surface reflectivity; temporal spreading of signal reflected from the object; object surface physical composition; ambient illumination measured at a LIDAR dead time; difference in detection information from a previous frame; and confidence level associated with another detection characteristic.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes at least one processor configured to control at least one light source for projecting light toward a field of view and receive from at least one first sensor first signals associated with light projected by the at least one light source and reflected from an object in the field of view, wherein the light impinging on the at least one first sensor is in a form of a light spot having an outer boundary. The processor may further be configured to receive from at least one second sensor second signals associated with light noise, wherein the at least one second sensor is located outside the outer boundary; determine, based on the second signals received from the at least one second sensor, an indicator of a magnitude of the light noise; and determine, based on the indicator the first signals received from the at least one first sensor and, a distance to the object.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirror assembly may comprise a frame and a MEMS mirror coupled to the frame. The MEMS mirror assembly may also include at least one piezoelectric actuator including a body and a piezoelectric element. When subjected to an electrical field, the piezoelectric element may be configured to bend the body, thereby moving the MEMS mirror with respect to a plane of the frame. The MEMS mirror assembly may further include at least one heating resistor configured to heat the piezoelectric element when an electric current passes through the at least one heating resistor.

Abstract: A mirror includes an ultralight substrate. A reflective layer is disposed on the ultralight substrate. A bonding layer may be disposed between the reflective layer and the substrate.

Abstract: A LIDAR system may include a laser emission unit configured to generate a plurality of laser beams. The LIDAR system may also include an optical system configured to transmit the plurality of laser beams from the laser emission unit to a scanning unit. The scanning unit may be configured to project the plurality of laser beams toward a field of view of the LIDAR system to simultaneously scan the field of view along a plurality of scan lines traversing the field of view.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is disclosed. The LIDAR system may include at least one light source configured to project laser light toward a field of view of the LIDAR system, at least one sensor configured to detect laser light reflections from objects in the field of view of the LIDAR system, and at least one processor configured to perform operations. The processor may be configured to use the laser light reflections to generate point-cloud representations of an environment of the LIDAR system within the field of view of the LIDAR system, output navigational information based on the generated point-cloud representations to one or more processors associated with a vehicle on which the LIDAR system is mounted, and store at least some of the generated point-cloud representations in a cache memory to provide a point-cloud archive.

Abstract: A LIDAR having dynamic alignment capabilities, the LIDAR may include an optical unit that comprises a sensing unit, a processor and a compensation unit. The sensing unit may include a sensing array that comprises sets of sensing elements that are configured to sense reflected light impinging on sensing regions of the sets of sensing elements of the sensing array, during one or more sensing periods; wherein the sensing unit is configured to generate detection signals by the sensing elements of the sensing array. The processor may be configured to determine, based on at least some of the detection signals, one or more optical unit misalignments related to the optical unit of the LIDAR. The compensation unit may be configured to compensate for the one or more optical unit misalignment.

Abstract: In one implementation, a LIDAR system includes a laser emission unit configured to generate a laser beam; a scanning unit configured to deflect the laser beam toward a field of view of the LIDAR system, and cyclically scan the laser beam over the field of view during a plurality of frame capture events; and a processor programmed to: determine an actual frame capture progression for the LIDAR system based on an actual frame capture rate of the scanning unit; receive, from a location external to the LIDAR system, an indicator of a current external time; determine an expected frame capture progression for the LIDAR system based on a target frame capture rate for the scanning unit and based on the indicator of the current external time; and adjust the actual frame capture rate of the scanning unit in response to a detected difference between the actual frame capture progression and the expected frame capture progression.

Abstract: A LIDAR system may have a laser emission unit configured to generate a plurality of laser beams. The LIDAR system may also have an optical system configured to transmit the plurality of laser beams from the laser emission unit to a common scanning unit. The common scanning unit may be configured to project the plurality of laser beams towards a first set of spaced apart locations of a field of view of the LIDAR system. The first set of spaced apart locations may be associated with a first plurality of parallel scan lines traversing the field of view. The common scanning unit may also be configured to simultaneously scan the field of view along the first plurality of scan lines by sequentially illuminating non-contiguous segments in a first set of non-contiguous segments of the field of view positioned along the first plurality of scan lines.

Abstract: LIDAR systems and methods for generating point cloud data points using LIDAR systems are provided. In one implementation, a LIDAR system may include a processor programmed to control at least one light source configured to emit a plurality of light bursts for scanning a field of view, wherein each of the plurality of light bursts includes a plurality of light pulses. The processor is further configured to receive, from at least one sensor, reflection signals associated with the plurality of light pulses included in the plurality of light bursts. The processor is further programmed to selectively determine a number of point cloud data points to generate based on the received reflection signals associated with the plurality of light pulses included in at least one light burst. Then, the processor is programmed to output the determined number of point cloud data points generated for the at least one light burst.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a LIDAR system may include at least one processor configured to control at least one light source for projecting light toward a field of view and receive from at least one first sensor first signals associated with light projected by the at least one light source and reflected from an object in the field of view, wherein the light impinging on the at least one first sensor is in a form of a light spot having an outer boundary. The processor may further be configured to receive from at least one second sensor second signals associated with light noise, wherein the at least one second sensor is located outside the outer boundary; determine, based on the second signals received from the at least one second sensor, an indicator of a magnitude of the light noise; and determine, based on the indicator the first signals received from the at least one first sensor and, a distance to the object.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a LIDAR system may include at least one processor configured to control at least one light source for projecting light toward a field of view and receive from at least one first sensor first signals associated with light projected by the at least one light source and reflected from an object in the field of view, wherein the light impinging on the at least one first sensor is in a form of a light spot having an outer boundary. The processor may further be configured to receive from at least one second sensor second signals associated with light noise, wherein the at least one second sensor is located outside the outer boundary; determine, based on the second signals received from the at least one second sensor, an indicator of a magnitude of the light noise; and determine, based on the indicator the first signals received from the at least one first sensor and, a distance to the object.

Abstract: A LIDAR system may include: a first housing containing a processor configured to control a light source to enable light flux of the light source to vary over a scan of a field of view; a second housing located in a vehicle remote from the first housing, the second housing containing a controllable light deflector, and an actuator configured to move the light deflector; and a data conduit configured to interconnect the first housing and the second housing, the data conduit is associated with a forward path from the first housing to the second housing and a return path from the second housing to the first housing, wherein the data conduit is configured to cooperate with the processor and the actuator such that the forward path conveys signals for controlling the actuator and the return path conveys reflections signals indicative of light reflected from objects in the field of view.

Abstract: A LIDAR system has a laser emission unit configured to generate a plurality of laser beams. The LIDAR system also has an optical system configured to transmit the plurality of laser beams from the laser emission unit to a common scanning unit. The common scanning unit is configured to project the plurality of laser beams toward a field of view of the LIDAR system to simultaneously scan the field of view along a plurality of scan lines traversing the field of view.