Abstract: The present invention relates to a light detecting and ranging (LiDAR) device for obtaining information on a distance from an object using laser light.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a light detection and range (LIDAR) device includes an array of light transmitting and receiving (TX/RX) units arranged to sense a physical range associated with a target. Each of the light TX/RX units includes a mounting board having a light pass-through opening and a light emitter mounted adjacent to the light pass-through opening. The light emitter is configured to emit a light beam towards the target according to a transmitting path. The LIDAR device further includes a light detector positioned behind the mounting board to receive at least a portion of the light beam reflected from the target through the light pass-through opening according to a light receiving path. The light transmitting path and the light receiving path are substantially in parallel and close to each other.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (lidar) system for a vehicle may include an input optical path, a first optical path, a plurality of second optical paths, a first optical amplifier, and a plurality of second optical amplifiers. The input optical path may be configured to receive a beam from a laser source. The first optical path and the plurality of second optical paths may be respectively branched from the input optical path. The first optical amplifier may be coupled to the first optical path and configured to output a local oscillator (LO) signal. The plurality of second optical amplifiers may be respectively coupled to the plurality of second optical paths, one of the plurality of second optical amplifiers being selectively turned on to modulate the beam received through a second optical path and output a modulated optical signal of the beam.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a relatively low-cost sensor for use on an autonomous vehicle is capable of detecting moving objects in a range or a zone that is between approximately 80 meters and approximately 300 meters away from the autonomous vehicle. A substantially single fan-shaped light beam is scanned for a full 360 degrees in azimuth. Using frequency-modulated-continuous-wave (FMCW) or phase coded modulation on the beam, with back end digital signal processing (DSP), moving objects may effectively be distinguished from a substantially stationary background.

Abstract: The present application discloses a LiDAR, which includes a base including a bearing surface, an adjusting structure located on the bearing surface, and a laser transceiving module including a plurality of laser transceiving devices. A galvanometer module of the LiDAR is fixed on the bearing surface. Each laser transceiving device is fixed on the adjusting structure, respectively. Each laser transceiving device is able to generate an outgoing laser emitted to the galvanometer module, respectively. The adjusting structure is configured so that each of the laser transceiving devices has a corresponding distance from the bearing surface, and therefore, the outgoing lasers generated by each of the laser transceiving devices form a preset laser detection field of view outside the LiDAR.

Abstract: A system includes a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) unit comprising an atmospheric characterization transceiver module. The LiDAR unit is configured to transmit light into an external interaction air region, and collect scattered portions of the transmitted light from the external interaction air region. A robotic arm is operatively coupled to the atmospheric characterization transceiver module. A processor is in operative communication with the robotic arm. The processor is configured to control the robotic arm to position and point the atmospheric characterization transceiver module in a direction of interest to interrogate the external interaction air region.

Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein refer to LiDAR systems to focus on one or more regions of interests within a field of view.

Abstract: The invention relates to an emitter device (8) for an optical detection apparatus (3) of a motor vehicle (1), which is configured in order to scan a surrounding region (4) of the motor vehicle (1) by means of a light beam (10), and which comprises a light source (13) for emitting the light beam (10) and a guiding unit (15), the guiding unit (15) being configured in order to guide the light beam (10) emitted onto the guiding unit (15) by the light source (13) at different scanning angles (?). The light source (13) for emitting the light beam (10) comprises at least two separately driveable emitter elements (13a, 13b), which are configured in order to emit the light beam (10) onto the guiding unit (15) at angles of incidence (?1, ?2) corresponding to predetermined setpoint values (??3, ??2, ??1, ?0, +?1, +?2, +?3) of the scanning angle (?) in order to generate a predetermined setpoint field of view (16) of the emitter device (8).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light detecting and ranging (LiDAR) device for obtaining information on a distance from an object using laser light.

Abstract: Techniques for Doppler correction of chirped optical range detection include obtaining a first set of ranges based on corresponding frequency differences between a return optical signal and a first chirped transmitted optical signal with an up chirp that increases frequency with time. A second set of ranges is obtained based on corresponding frequency differences between a return optical signal and a second chirped transmitted optical signal with a down chirp. A matrix of values for a cost function is determined, one value for each pair of ranges that includes one in the first set and one in the second set. A matched pair of one range in the first set and a corresponding one range in the second set is determined based on the matrix. A Doppler effect on range is determined based on combining the matched pair of ranges. A device is operated based on the Doppler effect.

Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein refer to LiDAR systems that use avalanche photo diodes for detecting returns of laser pulses. The bias voltage applied to the avalanche photo diode is adjusted to ensure that it operates at desired operating capacity.

Abstract: Example vehicle includes a first headlight and a second headlight. The second headlight includes a laser configured to produce first light and an illumination source configured to produce second light. The second headlight also includes a spatial light modulator (SLM) optically coupled to the illumination source and a controller coupled to the SLM. The controller is configured to control the SLM to direct a reflection of the first light during a first operating mode and control the SLM to direct the second light during a second operating mode.

Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein refer to LiDAR systems to focus on one or more regions of interests within a field of view.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (lidar) system may include a transceiver, a first device including a laser source configured to generate a beam, and one or more optical components, a second device including one or more analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and a processor configured to alternately turn on the first device and turn on the transceiver. The first device may be configured to generate, based on the beam, an optical signal associated with a local oscillator (LO) signal. The transceiver may be configured to transmit the optical signal to an environment, in response to transmitting the optical signal, receive a returned optical signal that is reflected from an object in the environment, and pair the returned optical signal with the LO signal to generate an electrical signal. The second device may be configured to generate, based on the electrical signal, a digital signal.

Abstract: An optical sensor module for time-of-flight measurement comprises an optical emitter, a main detector and a reference detector which are arranged in or on a carrier. An opaque housing of the optical sensor module has a first chamber and a second chamber which are separated by a light barrier. The housing has a cover section and is arranged on the carrier such that the optical emitter is located inside the first chamber, the main detector is located inside the second chamber and the reference detector is located outside the first chamber. Furthermore, a main surface of the cover section is positioned opposite the carrier. The optical emitter is arranged and configured to emit light through a first aperture in the cover section, and the main detector is arranged and configured to detect light entering the second chamber through a second aperture in the cover section.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes optical source configured to emit a laser beam in a first direction, a polarization wave plate configured to transform polarization state of the laser beam headed in the first direction toward a target environment, and a reflective optical component to return a portion of the laser beam toward the optical source along a return path and through the polarization wave plate as a local oscillator signal. A polarization selective component to separate light in the return path based on the optical polarization, wherein the polarization selective component refracts orthogonally polarized light along the return path to a divergent path, wherein the polarization selective component is further configured to enable interference between the local oscillator signal and the target signal to generate a combined signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are examples of ladar systems and methods where data about a plurality of ladar returns from prior ladar pulse shots gets stored in a spatial index that associates ladar return data with corresponding locations in a coordinate space to which the ladar return data pertain. This spatial index can then be accessed by a processor to retrieve ladar return data for locations in the coordinate space that are near a range point to be targeted by the ladar system with a new ladar pulse shot. This nearby prior ladar return data can then be analyzed by the ladar system to help define a control parameter for use by the ladar receiver with respect to the new ladar pulse shot.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) device comprising: a laser emitting chip configured to emit laser, a laser detecting chip configured to detect laser, an emitting optic module configured to guide laser generated from the laser emitting chip to the outside of the LiDAR device, a detecting optic module configured to guide laser received from the outside of the LiDAR device to the laser detecting chip, an emitting optic holder located between the laser emitting chip and the emitting optic module, and an at least one emitting optic fixer located between the emitting optic holder and the emitting optic module, wherein the at least one emitting optic fixer is configured to fix a relative position between the laser emitting chip and the emitting optic module.

Abstract: One variation of a method for registering distance scan data includes: accessing a first distance scan recorded, at a first time, by a first depth sensor defining a first field of view; accessing a second distance scan recorded, at approximately the first time, by a second depth sensor defining a second field of view overlapping a portion of the first field of view; calculating a first set of lines represented by points in a first portion of the first distance scan overlapping a second portion of the second distance scan; calculating a second set of lines represented by points in the second portion of the second distance scan; calculating skew distances between each pair of corresponding lines in the first and second sets of lines; and calculating an alignment transformation that aligns the first distance scan and the second distance scan to minimize skew distances between corresponding pairs of lines.

Abstract: A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system integrated in a vehicle includes a LIDAR transmitter configured to transmit laser beams into a field of view, the field of view having a center of projection, and the LIDAR transmitter including a laser to generate the laser beams transmitted into the field of view. The LIDAR system further includes a LIDAR receiver including at least one photodetector configured to receive a reflected light beam and generate electrical signals based on the reflected light beam. The LIDAR system further includes a controller configured to receive feedback information and modify a center of projection of the field of view in a vertical direction based on the feedback information.