Abstract: An electro-optical system may include a light source configured to emit a beam of radiation, and a pivotable scanning mirror configured to project the beam of radiation toward a field of view. The electro-optical system may also include a first electrode associated with the scanning mirror, and a plurality of second electrodes spaced apart from the first electrode. The electro-optical system may further include a processor programmed to determine a capacitance value for each of the second electrodes relative to the first electrode. Each of the determined capacitance values may have an accuracy in a range of ± 1/100 to ± 1/1000 of a difference between a highest capacitance value and a lowest capacitance value between the first electrode and a respective one of the second electrodes. The processor may also be programmed to determine an orientation of the scanning mirror based on one or more of the determined capacitance values.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a light source configured to generate a plurality of laser beams arranged in a beam pattern, a rotatable deflector configured to rotate about a scanning axis, a beam rotator configured to cause rotation of the beam pattern of the plurality of laser beams relative to the scanning axis of the rotatable deflector and at least one sensor configured to receive, via the rotatable deflector and the beam rotator, laser light resulting from one or more of the plurality of laser beams reflected from at least one object in the field of view of the LIDAR system wherein the multibeam array is maintained at a substantially fixed orientation with respect to the optical axis.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods that use LIDAR technology. In one implementation, a LIDAR system includes at least one processor configured to: control activation of at least one light source for illuminating a field of view; receive from at least one sensor a reflection signal associated with an object in the field of view, a time lapse between light leaving the at least one light source and reflection impinging on the least one sensor constituting a time of flight; and alter an amplification parameter associated with the at least one sensor during the time of flight.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes at least one light source; at least one deflector configured to scan light emitted by the at least one light source over a field of view of the LIDAR system; and at least one processor configured to cause the at least one deflector to scan the field of view of the LIDAR system with a first scan pattern including a first series of scan lines and subsequently with a second scan pattern including a second series of scan lines that are interlaced with the first series of scan lines to provide a single frame scan pattern, and analyze reflection signals associated with the single frame scan pattern to determine whether at least one target object present in the field of view of the LIDAR system is moving.

Abstract: An electrooptical system may include a processor programmed to control a light source to enable light flux to vary over a scan of a field-of-view using light from the light source. The FOV may be divided into a plurality of segments, which may include a first set of non-contiguous segments, and each of the non-contiguous segments included in the first set may be separated from other non-contiguous segments in the first set by at least one segment. The scanning of the field-of-view may include sequentially illuminating the non-contiguous segments, which may proceed such that, during illumination of a particular non-contiguous segment in the first set of non-contiguous segments, other segments in the plurality of segments are not be illuminated, and such that other segments in the plurality of segments are not be illuminated between the illuminations of the non-contiguous segments in the first set of non-contiguous segments.

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.

Abstract: A deflector unit for a light scanning system includes a mirror and at least one actuator arm. The actuator arm may include an anchor end and a coupler end. The at least one actuator arm may include an anchor end, a coupler end, and an actuator axis that extends from a first midpoint to a second midpoint, the first midpoint being a midpoint of an edge of the at least one actuator arm at the coupler end and the second midpoint being a midpoint of an edge of the at least one actuator arm at the anchor end, the mirror being coupled to the coupler end of the at least one actuator arm, wherein the mirror is configured to tilt about at least one tilting axis in response to a movement of the at least one actuator arm, and wherein a shortest distance of the mirror from the first midpoint is less than a shortest distance of the mirror from the second midpoint.

Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) optical sensor may include a controller, a sensing array, and a readout unit. The sensing array may include a plurality of sensing cells. The readout unit may include a plurality of readout TOF modules. The number of the plurality of readout TOF modules may be less than the number of the plurality of sensing cells. The controller may be configured to trigger a connection of a first sensing cell of the plurality of sensing cells to a first readout TOF module of the plurality of readout TOF modules at a first time during a sampling period, thereby enabling the first readout TOF module to provide a first measurement of a change in output of the first sensing cell.

Abstract: A LIDAR system has a laser emission unit configured to generate a plurality of laser beams. The system has a scanning unit configured to receive the plurality of laser beams. The common scanning unit projects the plurality of laser beams toward a field of view of the LIDAR system. The system has at least one processor. The processor is programmed to cause the scanning unit to scan the field of view of the LIDAR system by directing the plurality of beams along a first plurality of scan lines traversing the FOV. The processor is also programmed to displace the plurality of laser beams from a first set of locations associated with the first plurality of scan lines to a second set of locations associated with a second plurality of scan lines. Further, the processor is programmed to direct the plurality of laser beams along the second plurality of scan lines.

Abstract: A replaceable antireflective sticker may include a substrate having a thickness less than 5 mm. The replaceable antireflective sticker may also include an antireflective coating on one side of the substrate. The antireflective sticker may further include a coupling surface for detachably coupling the antireflective sticker to a window of a LIDAR system.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is disclosed. The system has a laser light projection system to simultaneously project at least two laser light beams. The system also has a deflector to project the at least two laser light beams toward a field of view of the LIDAR system. Each of the at least two laser light beams has an energy density below an eye safe level. A total combined energy density of the at least two laser light beams is above an eye safe level. Further, the at least two laser light beams projected from the deflector are separated from one another by an angular spacing ranging from 2.5 mrad to 6 mrad.

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 pulsed laser diode driver may include at least one low side switching circuit connected to at least one laser diode. The at least one laser diode may generate at least one light pulse. The low side switching circuit may include an input for receiving energy. The low side switching circuit may also include an inductor configured to store at least a portion of the received energy. Further, the low side switching circuit may include a trigger switch. The trigger switch may cause the inductor to store the portion of the received energy when the trigger switch is closed, and the trigger switch may cause the portion of the received energy stored in the inductor to be delivered to the at least one laser diode after the trigger switch is opened.

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 vehicle-assistance system for classifying objects in a vehicle's surroundings is provided. The system may include at least one memory configured to store classification information for classifying a plurality of objects and at least one processor configured to receive, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, a plurality of measurements associated with LIDAR detection results. The measurements may include at least one of: a presence indication, a surface angle, object surface physical composition, and a reflectivity level. The at least one processor may also be configured to receive, on the pixel-by-pixel basis, at least one confidence level associated with each received measurement, and access the classification information. The at least one processor may further be configured to, based on the classification information and the received measurements with the at least one associated confidence level plurality, identify a of pixels as being associated with a particular object.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for calibrating LIDAR systems using internal light. In one implementation, at least one processor of a LIDAR system may control at least one light source; receive from a group of detectors a first plurality of input signals associated with light projected by the at least one light source and reflected from an object external to the LIDAR system; determine based on the first plurality of input signals a distance to the object; receive from the group of detectors a second plurality of input signals associated with light projected internal to the LIDAR system by the at least one light source; determine based on the second plurality of input signals that there is performance degradation in at least one detector of the group of detectors; and initiate a remedial action in response to the determined performance degradation.

Abstract: A LIDAR system including a MEMS scanning device is disclosed. The LIDAR system includes a light source, a light deflector, a sensor, and a processor. The light deflector deflects light from the light source or light received from an environment outside a vehicle in which the LIDAR system is installed. The sensor detects the light received from the light source or the environment. The processor determines a distance of one or more objects in the environment from the vehicle based on the signals from the sensor. The light deflector includes one or more actuators, which include one or more actuating arms. Connectors connect the actuating arms to an MEMS mirror or other deflector. The actuating arms move when subjected to an electrical field in the form of a voltage or current. Movement of the actuating arms causes movement of the MEMS mirror or deflector causing it to deflect light.

Abstract: Systems and methods use LIDAR technology.

Abstract: A vehicle-assistance system for classifying objects in a vehicle's surroundings is provided. The system may include at least one memory configured to store classification information for classifying a plurality of objects and at least one processor configured to receive, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, a plurality of measurements associated with LIDAR detection results. The measurements may include at least one of: a presence indication, a surface angle, object surface physical composition, and a reflectivity level. The at least one processor may also be configured to receive, on the pixel-by-pixel basis, at least one confidence level associated with each received measurement, and access the classification information. The at least one processor may further be configured to, based on the classification information and the received measurements with the at least one associated confidence level plurality, identify a of pixels as being associated with a particular 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.