Abstract: A method and a device for classifying sensor data are proposed, wherein the method comprises providing a respective averaged feature vector for a multiplicity of classes wherein the method further comprises the following steps by means of a classifier, wherein the classifier comprises at least one neural network trained on the basis of training data: determining a feature vector on the basis of sensor data, respective determining of a cosine similarity between the feature vector and a respective averaged feature vector for the multiplicity of classes, comparing the respective cosine similarity with a threshold value established for each class beforehand, detecting a scenario not represented by the multiplicity of classes if the threshold values are not reached for all classes, and wherein the device comprises a classifier and is designed for carrying out the method.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit (i) local-oscillator light and (ii) pulses of light. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect the local-oscillator light and a received pulse of light, the received pulse of light including a portion of one of the emitted pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The receiver includes a detector configured to produce a photocurrent signal corresponding to a coherent mixing of the local-oscillator light and the received pulse of light. The detector includes a first input side and a second input side located opposite the first input side, where the received pulse of light is incident on the first input side of the detector, and the local-oscillator light is incident on the second input side of the detector.

Abstract: A system comprises a light source, a scanner, a reference reflectivity material, a detector, and a processor. The light source is configured to emit light, and the scanner is configured to scan the emitted light across at least a portion of a reachable region including a field of regard through a window. The reference reflectivity material is included internally within a housing of the system and located in the reachable region but outside the field of regard. The detector is configured to detect at least a portion of the emitted light scattered by the reference reflectivity material. The processor is configured to analyze detected information from the detector to determine an electrical property of the emitted light.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit a first set of optical signals that include a first optical signal. The lidar system also includes a scanner that includes a polygon mirror configured to: rotate around an axis of rotation at a rotation rate, and direct the first set of emitted optical signals into a field of regard of the lidar system with the polygon mirror rotating at a first rotation rate. The lidar system further includes a receiver configured to detect a first received optical signal that includes a portion of the first optical signal that is scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The lidar system also includes a controller configured to adjust the rotation rate of the polygon mirror for a second set of optical signals emitted by the light source.

Abstract: A light source for a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) LiDAR device is formed by a photonic integrated circuit and comprises a substrate and a multilayer structure. Formed in the multilayer structure is a semiconductor laser that is received in a recess etched into the multilayer structure. An optical path between the semiconductor laser and a reflector forms an external cavity for the semiconductor laser. The external cavity includes a variable attenuator causing an attenuation of light guided in the cavity optical waveguide. The external cavity may also or alternatively include an optical phase modulator.

Abstract: A device for scanning frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) LiDAR range measurement has a light source producing light having a varying frequency, a splitter splitting the light into reference light and output light, and an optical system having an optical axis. A plurality of free space couplers are arranged along a line such that the distance between adjacent free space couplers increases with increasing distance from the optical axis. Each free space coupler outcouples the output light into the free space and receives input light that was reflected at an object. A detector detects a superposition of the input light with the reference light, and a calculation unit determines the range to the object from the superposition detected by the detector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reading device for determining a signal propagation time of a light pulse between a lidar transmission unit and a lidar receiving unit of a lidar measuring device in a focal plane array arrangement, comprising: an input interface for receiving detections from multiple sensor elements of the lidar receiving unit, said sensor elements being arranged in a macrocell paired with a transmission element of the lidar transmission unit; a weighting unit for determining a respective individual weighting parameter for each of the plurality of sensor elements, said weighting parameter being based on a signal-to-noise ratio of the sensor element; a summation unit for generating a histogram with an allocation of the detections to the detection times of the detections, said summation unit being configured to weight the detections on the basis of the individual weighting parameters; a propagation time unit for determining the signal propagation time on the basis of the generated histogram;

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a LIDAR measurement system that includes a transmitter module, a transmitter lens system, a receiver module, and a receiver lens system. The transmitter module and receiver module are positioned within a housing, and the transmitter lens system and receiver lens system protrude through a bezel outside the housing. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, temperature compensation for angle estimation in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices. A plurality of piezoelectric strain sensors are arranged in a Wheatstone bridge that produces a voltage that varies with torsional movement of the MEMS device. Temperature dependent coefficients that represent temperature dependency of substrate materials and temperature dependency of the voltage produced by the Wheatstone bridge in response to the torsional movement. The temperature dependent coefficients are used to scale the voltage produced by the Wheatstone bridge to provide temperature compensated angle estimation. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating backscatter histogram data for determining a diffuse backscatter during an optical runtime measurement, comprising: At least one histogram accumulation unit, which has several signal inputs, so as to receive time-correlated histogram data; and wherein the histogram accumulation unit is set up to generate backscatter histogram data based upon the time-correlated histogram data received at the signal inputs.

Abstract: A Lidar measuring system for detecting an object in an environment of a vehicle, with a first Lidar measuring device, which is configured to scan a first visual field with a first vertical resolution; and a second Lidar measuring device, which is configured to scan a second visual field with a second vertical resolution, wherein the second visual field lies in a vertical direction within the first visual field, and comprises an area of a roadway in front of the vehicle; and the second vertical resolution is higher than the first vertical resolution. Further, a vehicle with a Lidar measuring system and a method for detecting an object in an environment of a vehicle.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a light detection and ranging system that includes a laser light source, scanning mirrors, light-sensitive devices, and time-of-flight measurement circuits. The angular velocity of the scanning mirrors is adjusted in a region of interest to modify resolution. A scanning mirror on a fast scan axis slows down entering the region and speeds up exiting, while a scanning mirror on a slow scan axis does the opposite. The system may also increase a laser pulse repetition rate in the region of interest for enhanced data acquisition. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for classifying targets is proposed, which comprises the extraction of features from measurement data of one or several receiving elements of a sensor by means of a neuronal network or by means of a Gaussian Mixture Model, wherein the respective measurement data of the at least one receiving element of the sensor involve at least one section of a photon histogram, and wherein the neuronal network involves a fully connected neuronal network or a convolutional neuronal network.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide systems and methods that can improve performance in scanning laser devices. Specifically, the systems and methods utilize a non-uniform variation in optical expansion coupled with variation in the energy level of laser light pulses to provide an improved effective range over a scanning area. In general, the improved effective range varies over the scan field, with relatively long effective range in some areas of the scan field and relatively short effective range in other areas of the scan field. This varying range over the scan field is facilitated by expansion optics that provide a non-uniform variation in optical expansion for laser light pulses relative to position along a first axis in the scan field and by a light source controller that varies the energy level of the laser light pulses according to position along the first axis of the scan field.

Abstract: A method for analyzing backscatter histogram data in an optical pulse runtime method, including the steps of receiving backscatter histogram data; and analyzing the received backscatter histogram data.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide systems and methods that can facilitate improved velocity estimation in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems and other scanning laser devices. Specifically, the systems and methods utilize laser light pulses to determine estimates of velocity for multiple measurement points in a scanned region. For example, a scanning laser device can be adapted to scan measurement points during temporally adjacent measurement sweeps and generate distance measurements based on the scans made during those sweeps. The scanning laser device is further adapted to interpolate distance measurements to determine distance estimates for measurement points not directly scanned during at least one of the sweeps, and to compare the generated distance estimates to distance measurements taken in the other sweep to determine radial velocity estimates for corresponding measurement points based on the comparison.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide systems and methods that can facilitate improved velocity estimation in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems and other scanning laser devices. Specifically, the systems and methods utilize laser light pulses to determine estimates of velocity for multiple measurement points in a scanned region. For example, a scanning laser device can be adapted to scan measurement points during temporally adjacent measurement subframes and generate distance measurements based on the scans made during those subframes. The scanning laser device is further adapted to interpolate distance measurements to determine distance estimates for measurement points not directly scanned during at least one of the subframes, and to compare the generated distance estimates to distance measurements taken in the other subframe to determine radial velocity estimates for corresponding measurement points based on the comparison.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein include strain sensors with piezoresistive elements that are formed proximate opposite surfaces of the substrate. Specifically, the strain sensors include piezoresistive elements in a Wheatstone bridge where two piezoresistive elements are disposed proximate one surface, while the other two piezoresistive elements are disposed proximate the opposite surface. This can provide increased sensitivity to certain types of motion (e.g., torsional motion) and/or reduced sensitivity to other types of motion (e.g., lateral motions).

Abstract: A method for generating combined scenarios for testing an object detection unit, wherein the method comprises provision of first sensor data of a first scenario and of second sensor data of a second scenario, wherein the first sensor data and the second sensor data in each case are a point cloud comprising a plurality of points, wherein the method further comprises a classification of the respective points of the first sensor data and of the respective points of the second sensor data into relevant or not relevant and merging of the first sensor data and of the second sensor data for obtaining third sensor data of a combined scenario, wherein only relevant points of the first sensor data and relevant points of the second sensor data are merged to form third sensor data of the combined scenario.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for operating a light source for the optical time-of-flight measurement. The light source operating device includes a light source, which is configured to emit light pulses according to a pulse signal sequence and a monitoring circuit for monitoring a light output emitted by the light source based on a current signal and/or voltage signal of the light source.