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 for detecting a vehicle may include a processor configured to: scan a field of view (FOV) by controlling movement of at least one deflector at which at least one light source is directed; receive from at least one sensor signals indicative of light reflected from a particular object in the FOV; detect, based on time of flight in the received signals, portions of the particular object in the FOV that are similarly spaced from the light source; 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; and based on a spatial relationship and a reflectivity relationship between the first portion and the at least two additional portions, classify the particular object as a vehicle.

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 processor configured to control a LIDAR light source for illuminating a field of view (FOV), receive, from a group of light detectors, input signals indicative of reflections of light from objects in the FOV, and process a first subset of the input signals associated with a first region of the FOV to detect a first object in the first region. The processor may also process a second subset of the input signals associated with a second region of the FOV to detect a second object in the second region. The second object may be located at a greater distance from the light source than the first object.

Abstract: A LIDAR system may include a processor configured to control a LIDAR light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over scans of a field of view (FOV). The FOV may include foreground and background areas. The processor may be further configured to receive from a detector input signals indicative of light reflected from the FOV. A representation of a portion of the FOV associated with pixels may be constructible from the input signals associated with a first pixel that covers a portion of the foreground area, a second pixel that covers a portion of the foreground area and a portion of the background area, and a third pixel that covers a portion of the background area. The processor may be further configured to determine a distance to a first object located in the foreground area and a distance to a second object located in the background area.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control light emission of a light source; scan a field of view by repeatedly moving at least one light deflector located in an outbound path of the light source; while the at least one deflector is in a particular instantaneous position, receive via the at least one deflector, reflections of a single light beam spot along a return path to a sensor; receive from the sensor on a beam-spot-by-beam-spot basis, signals associated with an image of each light beam-spot, wherein the sensor includes a plurality of detectors and wherein a size of each detector is smaller than the image of each light beam-spot; and determine, from signals resulting from the impingement on the plurality of detectors, at least two differing range measurements associated with the image of the single light beam-spot.

Abstract: A LIDAR system for detecting a vehicle may include a processor configured to: scan a field of view (FOV) by controlling movement of at least one deflector at which at least one light source is directed; receive from at least one sensor signals indicative of light reflected from a particular object in the FOV; detect, based on time of flight in the received signals, portions of the particular object in the FOV that are similarly spaced from the light source; 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; and based on a spatial relationship and a reflectivity relationship between the first portion and the at least two additional portions, classify the particular object as a vehicle.

Abstract: A LIDAR system for use in a vehicle may include at least one light source configured to project light toward a field of view for illuminating a plurality of objects in an environment of a vehicle and at least one processor configured to control the at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux of light from the at least one light source to vary over scans of a plurality of portions of the field of view. The LIDAR system may receive information indicating that a temperature associated with at least one system component exceeds a threshold, and in response to the received information indicating the temperature exceeding the threshold, modify an illumination ratio between two portions of the field of view such that during at least one subsequent scanning cycle less light is delivered to the field of view than in a prior scanning cycle.

Abstract: A LIDAR system for use in a vehicle is provided. The LIDAR system may include at least one processor configured to control at least one light source for illuminating a field of view and scan a field of view by controlling movement of at least one deflector at which the at least one light source is directed. The at least one processor may also be configured to receive, from at least one sensor, reflections signals indicative of light reflected from an object in the field of view. The at least one processor may further be configured to detect at least one temporal distortion in the reflections signals, and determine from the at least one temporal distortion an angular orientation of at least a portion of the object.

Abstract: A LIDAR system for detecting a vehicle may include a processor configured to: scan a field of view (FOV) by controlling movement of at least one deflector at which at least one light source is directed; receive from at least one sensor signals indicative of light reflected from a particular object in the FOV; detect, based on time of flight in the received signals, portions of the particular object in the FOV that are similarly spaced from the light source; 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; and based on a spatial relationship and a reflectivity relationship between the first portion and the at least two additional portions, classify the particular object as a vehicle.

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 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: Systems and methods are provided related to LIDAR technology. In one implementation, a vibration suppression system for a LIDAR configured for use on a vehicle includes at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux of light from the at least one light source to vary over scans of a field of view; control positioning of at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source in order to scan the field of view; obtain data indicative of vibrations of the vehicle; based on the obtained data, determine adjustments to the positioning of the at least one light deflector for compensating for the vibrations of the vehicle; and implement the determined adjustments to the positioning of the at least one light deflector to thereby suppress on the at least one light deflector, at least part of an influence of the vibrations of the vehicle on the scanning of the field of view.

Abstract: A LIDAR system, comprising: (a) a plurality of anchored LIDAR sensing units, each anchored LIDAR sensing unit comprising at least: (i) a housing; (ii) at least one detector, mounted in the housing, configured to detect light signals arriving from objects in a field of view of the anchored LIDAR sensing unit; and (iii) a communication unit, configured to output detection information which is based on outputs of the at least one detector and which is indicative of existence of the objects; and (b) at least one integratory processing unit, configured to receive the detection information from two or more of the plurality of anchored LIDAR sensing units, and to process the received detection information to provide a three dimensional model of a scene which is larger than any of the field of views of the independent anchored LIDAR sensing units.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one deflector to deflect light from a plurality of light sources along a plurality of outbound paths, towards a plurality of regions forming a field of view while the at least one deflector is in a particular instantaneous position; control the at least one deflector such that while the at least one deflector is in the particular instantaneous position, light reflections from the field of view are received on at least one common area of the at least one deflector; and receive from each of a plurality of detectors, at least one signal indicative of light reflections from the at least one common area while the at least one deflector is in the particular instantaneous position.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system may include at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux of light from at least one light source to vary over a scan of a field of view; control at least one deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source in order to scan the field of view; receive from at least one sensor information indicative of ambient light in the field of view; identify in the received information an indication of a first portion of the field of view with more ambient light than in a second portion of the field of view; and alter a light source parameter such that when scanning the field of view, light flux of light projected toward the first portion of the field of view is greater than light flux of light projected toward the second portion of the field of view.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over a scan of a field of view, the field of view including a first portion and a second portion; receive on a pixel-by-pixel basis, signals from at least one sensor; estimate noise in at least some of the signals associated with the first portion of the field of view; alter a sensor sensitivity for reflections associated with the first portion of the field of view; estimate noise in at least some of the signals associated with the second portion of the field of view; and alter a sensor sensitivity for reflections associated with the second portion of the field of view based on the estimation of noise in the second portion of the field of view.

Abstract: A LIDAR system for use with a roadway vehicle traveling on a highway may include at least one processor configured to control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux of light from at least one light source to vary over a scanning cycle of a field of view. The processor may also be configured to control at least one deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source in order to scan the field of view. The processor may also be configured to coordinate the control of the at least one light source with the control of the at least one light deflector such that during scanning of the field of view that encompasses a central region, a right peripheral region, and a left peripheral region, more light is directed to the central region than to the peripheral regions.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over scans of a field of view using light from the at least one light source; control at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source; receive from at least one sensor, reflections signals indicative of light reflected from objects in the field of view; determine, based on the reflections signals of an initial light emission, whether an object is located in an immediate area of the LIDAR system and within a threshold distance from the at least one light deflector, and when no object is detected in the immediate area, control the at least one light source such that an additional light emission is projected toward the immediate area.

Abstract: A LIDAR system for use in a vehicle may include at least one processor configured to control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux of at least one light source to vary over scans of a field of view. The processor may also be configured to control at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source in order to scan the field of view. The processor may also be configured to receive input indicative of a current driving environment of the vehicle, and based on the current driving environment, coordinate the control of the at least one light source with the control of the at least one light deflector to dynamically adjust an instantaneous detection distance by varying an amount of light projected and a spatial light distribution of light across the scan of the field of view.