Abstract: A detection system and method for characterizing targets in an environment around vehicle. Signals are transmitted into the environment and return signals that have reflected off targets are received. The targets are initial characterized based on their return signals and the ego-motion of vehicle as determined from sensors on the vehicle. Corrections are determined based on the position of targets with respect to the azimuth range of the detection system and the side of the target with respect to a boresight. The initial characterizations are then adjusted to obtain a final target characterization.

Abstract: A differential antenna includes a substrate formed of non-radio-frequency material and a pair of conductive microstrip lines formed on the substrate. A metallic sheet is supported and spaced apart from the pair of conductive microstrip lines by a plurality of support elements to form an air gap. The metallic sheet is patterned to include a plurality of differential radiating gaps disposed along the longitudinal axis of the antenna and above a gap between the pair of conductive microstrip lines. Multiple rows of metallic vias are formed in the substrate disposed and spaced apart laterally with respect to the gap between the pair of conductive microstrip lines to define two propagation air cavities in which radiation can propagate. The differential antenna is configured such that the radiation is differential-mode, second-order radiation, which is emitted from the differential antenna at the differential radiating gaps in the metallic sheet.

Abstract: A method of mitigates RF interference from an RF interferer. An RF signal is received at an RF transceiver during a time period. The RF signal that includes, for at least a portion of the time period, an interference signal having a cyclic transmission pattern with at least one deterministic feature. The received RF signal is analyzed in order to determine timing information for the at least one deterministic feature and the associated interference signal cyclic transmission pattern. Transmission of the RF signals from the RF transceiver are synchronized with the interference signal transmission pattern based on the determined timing information to mitigate interference between the RF signals and the interference signal.

Abstract: Waveguide module assemblies for vehicles, such as radar sensor waveguide feed to waveguide transition assemblies. In some embodiments, an antenna module may comprise an antenna assembly that includes a resonating element and a waveguide component that defines, at least in part, a waveguide configured to guide electromagnetic energy radiating from the resonating element. The resonating element of the antenna assembly may directly feed electromagnetic energy into the waveguide defined by the waveguide component.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a base assembly, a gasket and a housing assembly. The base assembly may have a locking feature and a bearing feature. The locking feature may have a first passage in communication with an exterior of the apparatus. The gasket may be disposed on the base assembly and may have (i) a base portion, (ii) a column portion and (iii) a second passage in communication with the first passage. The housing assembly may have a sealing feature and may be configured to hold a sensor. The sealing feature (a) may mate with the bearing feature and (b) may compress the base portion of the gasket. The sensor (a) may seal to the column portion of the gasket and (b) may be in communication with the exterior of the apparatus through the first passage and the second passage.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a sensor, a navigation circuit and a control circuit. The sensor may be configured to generate surrounding road information of a road. The road may have a plurality of available lanes. The navigation circuit may be configured to determine a current position of the apparatus on the road. The control circuit may be configured to (i) access map data that identifies a number of the available lanes in the road proximate the position, (ii) determine a current lane among the available lanes that the apparatus is within based on all of the position, the surrounding road information and the map data and (iii) generate feedback data based on both the position and the current lane. The navigation device may be further configured to adjust the current position to a center of the current lane in response to the feedback data.

Abstract: An apparatus including a first linear contact, a second linear contact and a support contact. The first linear contact and the second linear contact may each be connected to corresponding electrical terminals. The support contact may be connected to a housing. The first linear contact and the second linear contact may each provide an electrical connection between corresponding sensor contacts and the corresponding electrical terminals. The first linear contact, the second linear contact and the support contact may be arranged to create a support plane for a sensor package. The first linear contact and the second linear contact may each provide support for the sensor package along a linear peak. The apparatus may enable a secure compression fit of the sensor package within the housing.

Abstract: A device for emitting radiation includes a housing defining a cavity, an electrical connector formed on the housing, a heatsink having a flange, a circuit board located in the cavity having an emitter, and a filter located adjacent to the circuit board and opposite of the heatsink. The filter has at least one post that extends through a hole formed on the circuit board and through a hole formed on a flange of the heatsink. The at least one post has a press-fit termination end that engages the hole of the heatsink. The housing may be over-molded onto the heatsink.

Abstract: A LiDAR apparatus includes a first substrate and a unitary optical element mounted thereon. The unitary optical element includes: (i) a fast axis collimator (FAC) lens receiving light from a laser diode source and generating therefrom a collimated light beam; (ii) a polarizing beam splitter optically coupled to the FAC lens, at least a portion of the collimated light beam passing through the polarizing beam splitter to a region being observed by the LiDAR apparatus; (iii) an aperture element optically coupled to the polarizing beam splitter; and (iv) an opaque coating formed on a back side of the aperture element, the opaque coating being patterned to provide a transparent aperture. At least of portion of light returning to the LiDAR apparatus from the region being observed is directed by the polarizing beam splitter, through the transparent aperture in the opaque coating on the aperture element, to an optical detector.

Abstract: A LiDAR apparatus includes a first substrate, a laser diode on a surface of the substrate for outputting light, a fast axis collimator (FAC) lens receiving the light and generating an at least partially collimated light beam, a polarizing beam splitter optically coupled to the FAC lens, at least a portion of the light beam passing through the polarizing beam splitter to a region being observed by the LiDAR apparatus. An opaque coating on the back side of an aperture element coupled to the polarizing beam splitter is patterned to provide a transparent aperture. At least a portion of light returning to the LiDAR apparatus from the region being observed is directed by the polarizing beam splitter, through the transparent aperture in the opaque coating on the aperture element, through the at least partially reflective optical element to an optical detector mounted on the substrate.

Abstract: An antenna system includes a printed circuit board (PCB) on which electronic components are mounted and an antenna module mounted on the PCB. A coupling element on the PCB couples the antenna module to at least one of the electronic components. The antenna module comprises a radio-frequency (RF)-compatible antenna substrate and an antenna structure plurality of antenna patches formed on the RF-compatible antenna substrate.

Abstract: A squib driver circuit for deployment of an active safety restraint in a vehicle. The squib driver circuit may include a high side protection circuit. The high side protection circuit may include a comparator circuit to compare the input voltage to a reference voltage and activate a timer in response to the input voltage exceeding the reference voltage, the timer generating a disable signal to disable the high side driver after a predetermined period of time The high side protection circuit may disable the high side driver after a short is detected and elapse of the predetermined period of time. The squib driver circuit may be formed on a single chip.

Abstract: A mountable sensor assembly for mounting on the sheet metal of a vehicle assembly. The mountable sensor assembly may include a sensor circuit and a sensor housing. The sensor housing may include a first portion with a cavity that receives the sensor circuit and a second portion that includes an anti-rotation tab. The sensor housing having a locking interface that fixes the location and orientation of first portion to the second portion.

Abstract: A system having a transceiver and a receiver. The transceiver may be configured to generate a light signal having a plurality of bands of light across a number of defined angles. Each of the light bands relates to a height of the transceiver relative to a road. The receiver may be configured to (i) receive the light signal and (ii) calculate a distance to the transceiver based on a detected one of the bands of light. The distance is used to provide localization in an autonomous vehicle application.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises one or more metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors, a charge pump, and a driver circuit. The one or more metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors are generally connected in series between a supply voltage and an output terminal. The charge pump may be configured to generate a voltage of sufficient magnitude relative to the supply voltage to switch the one or more metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors into a conductive state. The driver circuit is generally coupled between the charge pump and the one or more metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors. The driver circuit may be configured to drive the one or more metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors to provide at least one of power switching, reverse polarity protection, power switching with reverse polarity protection, or over voltage inhibition.

Abstract: A radar sensor module includes a substrate, at least one transmit antenna formed on a surface of the substrate, and at least one receive antenna formed on the surface of the substrate. A radome is disposed over the surface of the substrate and the at least one transmit antenna and the at least one receive antenna, such that a gap is located between the surface of the substrate and an underside of the radome in which a portion of radiation emitted from the at least one transmit antenna can propagate. At least one trench is formed in the underside of the radome and is electromagnetically coupled to the gap, the at least one trench being sized, shaped and positioned with respect to the gap such that the portion of radiation emitted from the at least one transmit antenna is substantially prevented from propagating toward the receiving antenna.

Abstract: An assembly for a detection system for a vehicle in an environment has a radar sensor positioned around a central boresight axis. The radar sensor includes an RF board with at least one antenna and a support bracket configured to secure the detection system to the vehicle. The support bracket has sloped walls forming a radiation aperture between the RF board and the environment. The sloped walls have distal ends distal to the radar sensor. A plurality of sloped flaps extend from the distal ends and slope inwardly from the distal ends towards the boresight axis to intercept radiation within the radiation aperture.

Abstract: A squib driver circuit for deployment of an active safety restraint in a vehicle. The squib driver circuit may include a high side protection circuit. The high side protection circuit may include a comparator circuit to compare a voltage at a high side feed terminal to a reference voltage and activate a timer in response to the voltage at the high side feed terminal exceeding the reference voltage, the timer generating a disable signal to disable the high side driver after a predetermined period of time. The high side protection circuit may disable the high side driver after the short is detected and elapse of the predetermined period of time. The squib driver circuit may be formed on a single chip.

Abstract: A squib driver circuit for deployment of an active safety restraint in a vehicle. The squib driver circuit may include a low side protection circuit. The low side protection circuit may include a comparator circuit to compare a voltage at a low side return terminal to a reference voltage and activate a timer in response to the voltage at the low side return terminal exceeding the reference voltage, the timer generating a disable signal to disable the low side driver after a predetermined period of time. The low side protection circuit may disable the low side driver after the short is detected and elapse of the predetermined period of time. The squib driver circuit may be formed on a single chip.

Abstract: A LiDAR detection system includes optical sources disposed along a first direction and a scanning device for scanning optical signals over a second direction different than the first direction into the region. A receiver receives reflected optical signals generated by reflection of the transmitted optical signals and generates receive signals indicative of the reflected optical signals. A mask is disposed near the receiver between the region and the receiver, the mask comprising a plurality of optically transparent slits through which at least a substantial portion of the reflected optical signals pass and an optically opaque portion adjacent to the slits being adapted to substantially block ambient light from reaching the receiver. A processor coupled to the receiver receives and processes the receive signals to generate detections of one or more objects in the region.