Abstract: A system for reducing or eliminating wavelength variations of laser light is provided. The system comprises a semiconductor-based laser source emitting laser light, an optical scanner, and one or more optical elements disposed between the laser source and the optical scanner. The optical scanner is configured to direct the laser light to a field-of-view. The one or more optical elements are configured to direct the laser light from the laser source to the optical scanner. The system further comprises a grating structure mounted to, or integrated with, an optical element of the one or more optical elements. One or more characteristics of the grating structure are configured to reduce or eliminate wavelength variations of the laser light caused by variations of one or more operational conditions of the laser source.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging system is provided. The system includes a Galvanometer mirror; a multiple-facet light steering device; and a controller device comprising one or more processors, memory, and processor-executable instructions stored in memory. The processor-executable instructions comprise instructions for receiving a first movement profile of the Galvanometer mirror of the LiDAR scanning system; receiving calibration data of the multiple-facet light steering device of the LiDAR scanning system; generating a second movement profile of the Galvanometer mirror based on the calibration data and the first movement profile; and providing one or more control signals to adjust movement of the Galvanometer mirror based on the second movement profile.

Abstract: A rotatable optical reflector device of a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanning system used in a motor vehicle is disclosed. The rotatable optical reflector device comprises a glass-based optical reflector including a plurality of reflective surfaces and a flange. The rotatable optical reflector device further comprises a metal-based motor rotor body at least partially disposed in an inner opening of the glass-based optical reflector. The rotatable optical reflector device further comprises an elastomer piece having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface of the elastomer piece is in contact with a second mounting surface of the flange. The rotatable optical reflector device further comprises a clamping mechanism compressing the elastomer piece at the second surface of the elastomer piece, wherein movement of the metal-based motor rotor body causes the glass-based optical reflector to optically scan light in a field-of-view of the LiDAR scanning system.

Abstract: A system for light ranging and detection (LiDAR) integrated with vehicle light fixtures is provided. The system includes one or more light sources configured to generate transmission light; a window; and a steering mechanism. The steering mechanism is controlled to: steer a detection portion of the transmission light toward a field-of-view (FOV) of the LiDAR via the window, and receive return light formed based on the detection portion of the transmission light in the FOV. A non-detection portion of the transmission light is transmitted in a visible light spectrum to a field-of-illumination (FOI) via the window.

Abstract: A LiDAR system having two-dimensional transmitter array is provided. The LiDAR system comprises a light scanner, and a plurality of transmitter groups optically couplable to the light scanner. Each transmitter group of the plurality of transmitter groups comprises a plurality of transmitters. At least two transmitter groups of the plurality of transmitter groups are disposed at different positions with respect to the light scanner, such that scanning areas corresponding to the at least two transmitter groups are different. The LiDAR further comprises a control device configured to selectively control one or more of the plurality of transmitter groups to emit transmission beams toward the light scanner. The light scanner is configured to steer the transmission beams both vertically and horizontally to a field-of-view (FOV), and receive return light formed based on the steered transmission beams.

Abstract: A device for transceiver alignment in the LiDAR system is provided. The device comprises a detector package and a plurality of detector elements mounted to the detector package. The device further comprises one or more light forming markers mounted to the detector package at predetermined positions with respect to the plurality of detector elements. The predetermined positions of the one or more light forming markers are configured to facilitate alignment of each of the plurality of detector elements to a corresponding transmitter channel of a plurality of transmitter channels.

Abstract: A method for reducing interference in a light ranging and detection (LiDAR) system is provided. The method comprises receiving noise by a light detector of the LiDAR system, determining whether the received noise is caused by interference from at least one other LiDAR system, and in accordance with a determination that the detected noise is caused by interference from the at least one other LiDAR system, de-synchronizing the LiDAR system with the at least one other LiDAR system.

Abstract: A light scanning device comprises a rotatable polygon-shaped structure comprising a frame, a plurality of mirror bonding plates configured to reflect light, and one or more flexures. At least some mirror bonding plates of the plurality of mirror bonding plates are adjustably attached to the frame based on corresponding flexures of the one or more flexures. A plurality of adjustment mechanisms is inserted between the frame and corresponding mirror bonding plates of the plurality of mirror bonding plates, where the plurality of adjustment mechanisms is configured to adjust tilt angles of the corresponding mirror bonding plates.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system includes a rotatable polygon having a plurality of reflective sides including a first reflective side. The rotatable polygon configured to scan one or more first light signals in a first direction. The LiDAR system also includes a scanning optic configured to scan the one or more first light signals in a second direction different than the first direction. A first light source is configured to direct the one or more first light signals to one or more of the plurality of reflective sides of the rotatable polygon or the scanning optic. A first detector is configured to detect a first return light signal associated with a signal of the one or more first light signals. One or more optics are configured to focus the first return light signal on the first detector.

Abstract: A depth sensor is provided. The depth sensor comprises one or more light sources configured to provide a plurality of light beams; and one or more optical structures coupled to the one or more light sources. The one or more optical structures are configured to receive the plurality of light beams. At least one of the one or more light sources or the one or more optical structures are configured to unevenly distribute the plurality of light beams in a vertical field-of-view (FOV) such that the vertical FOV comprises a dense area and a sparse area. The dense area of the vertical FOV has a higher beam density than the sparse area of the vertical FOV, and the depth sensor comprises no mechanically movable parts configured to scan light.

Abstract: An optical scanning device for light ranging and detection (LiDAR) is provided. The optical scanning device comprises a rotatable polygon reflector having a plurality of reflective facets. The rotatable polygon reflector is configured to rotate about a first rotation axis in a first rotation direction. The optical scanning device further comprises one or more fluid circulation devices disposed alongside the rotatable polygon reflector or attached to the rotatable polygon reflector. The one or more fluid circulation devices are configured to rotate about a second rotation axis to form a fluid circulation surrounding the plurality of reflective facets of the rotatable polygon reflector. The fluid circulation is at least partially in the first rotation direction.

Abstract: A LiDAR system having two-dimensional transmitter array is provided. The LiDAR system comprises a light scanner, and a plurality of transmitter groups optically couplable to the light scanner. Each transmitter group of the plurality of transmitter groups comprises a plurality of transmitters. At least two transmitter groups of the plurality of transmitter groups are disposed at different positions with respect to the light scanner, such that scanning areas corresponding to the at least two transmitter groups are different. The LiDAR further comprises a control device configured to selectively control one or more of the plurality of transmitter groups to emit transmission beams toward the light scanner. The light scanner is configured to steer the transmission beams both vertically and horizontally to a field-of-view (FOV), and receive return light formed based on the steered transmission beams.

Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein refer to a relatively compact and energy efficient LiDAR system that uses a multi-plane mirror in its scanning system.

Abstract: A method for tracking zero-angle position shift of a moveable mirror used in a LiDAR system is provided. The method comprises obtaining a first dataset based on a first intensity map. The first intensity map is associated with internal reflection pulses of a frame scanned by the LiDAR system. The frame comprises a plurality of scan positions. The internal reflection pulses are formed by scattering or reflecting one or more transmission light pulses at positions internal to a housing of the LiDAR system. The first dataset is a calibration dataset comprising representative intensity values and corresponding positions in the frame. The method further comprises obtaining a second intensity map of another frame at a subsequent time and obtaining a second dataset based on the second intensity map. The method further comprises determining the zero-angle position shift of the moveable mirror based on the first dataset and the second dataset.

Abstract: A light ranging and detection (LiDAR) system is provided. The system comprises a housing; a transmitter configured to transmit one or more light beams; and a beam steering apparatus optically coupled to the transmitter to receive the one or more light beams. The beam steering apparatus comprises one or more moveable optics configured to scan the one or more light beams to a field-of-view and to receive return light. The system further comprises a curved window mounted to, or integrated with, the housing of the LiDAR system. The curved window is shaped in a manner such that a thickness of the curved window varies along one or more dimensions of the curved window to facilitate bending at least some of the scanned one or more light beams to expand the field-of-view (FOV) in at least one of a horizontal direction or a vertical direction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide stray light filter structures in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems to attenuate stray light and reduce unwanted scattering. In some embodiments, a micro lens array is used together with a pinhole array to block stray light in the optical path just prior to the photodetector. In some embodiments, a bandpass optical filter is used in the optical path prior to the microlens array. In other embodiments, a slit filter is used further upstream in the optical path to block unwanted stray light and allow returning signal light to pass to imaging optics that provide a returning signal light image at a photodetector. In some embodiments, the imaging optics include a collimating lens and a focusing lens. In some embodiments, an optical bandpass filter is positioned on the optical path between the collimating lens and the focusing lens to reject light that is outside of a an expected wavelength range for returning signal light.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for compressing point cloud data obtained by a LiDAR system is provided. The method comprises obtaining uncompressed point cloud data. Each of the uncompressed point cloud data is represented by 3-dimensional coordinates identifying positions within a field-of-view of the LiDAR system. At least one of the 3-dimensional coordinates is derived from a ToF measured by transmitting a light beam and receiving return light formed based on the transmitted light beam. The method further comprises identifying one or more sub-groups of the uncompressed point cloud data for compression. The method further comprises encoding the one or more sub-groups of the uncompressed point cloud data using differential coordinates to obtain first encoded point cloud data, and providing the first encoded point cloud data to a processor to construct at least a part of a three-dimensional perception of the FOV.

Abstract: A light ranging and detection (LiDAR) system is provided. The LiDAR system comprises metasurface-based optics. The system comprises a transmitter comprising one or more transmitter optics. The transmitter is configured to provide one or more transmission light beams. The system further comprises a beam steering apparatus optically coupled to the transmitter. The beam steering apparatus comprises one or more steering optics configured to: scan the one or more transmission light beams in at least one of a horizontal and a vertical directions to a field-of-view, and direct return light formed based on the scanned one or more transmission light beams. The system further comprises a receiver comprising one or more receiver optics. At least one of the one or more transmitter optics, the one or more steering optics, and the one or more receiver optics comprise the one or more metasurface-based optics.

Abstract: A radiant heating device for removing and preventing condensation on an aperture window of a light ranging and detection (LiDAR) system is disclosed. The device comprises at least one electromagnetic radiation emitter emitting electromagnetic radiation of one or more frequencies. The electromagnetic radiation radiates at least one aperture surface of the aperture window of the LiDAR system. A portion of the electromagnetic radiation of one or more frequencies is absorbed by the aperture window of the LiDAR system and converted to heat. And the one or more frequencies are different from all frequencies of detection light of the LiDAR system.

Abstract: A low-profile LiDAR system is provided. The low-profile LiDAR system comprises a housing; a rotatable polygon mirror having a plurality of reflective facets; and a first oscillating mirror disposed laterally on one side of the rotatable polygon mirror. The first oscillating mirror is configured to direct one or more first transmission light beams to a first reflective facet of the rotatable polygon mirror. The LiDAR system may also include a second oscillating mirror disposed laterally on another side of the rotatable polygon mirror. The second oscillating mirror is configured to direct the one or more second transmission light beams to a second reflective facet. A combination of the first and second oscillating mirrors, and the rotatable polygon mirror is configured to: scan the first and second transmission light beams to a first field-of-view and a second field-of-view, respectively, and direct return light to one or more detectors.