Abstract: A measurement apparatus including a laser apparatus that outputs a frequency-modulated laser beam with a plurality of modes of a main lobe, branch that splits the frequency-modulated laser beam into a reference light, a measurement light, and a monitor light, beat signal generator that generates a beat signal by mixing the reference light and a reflected light that is reflected by radiating the measurement light onto an object to be measured, extraction circuitry that extracts a signal component including a plurality of self-beat signals based on the main lobe from the monitor light, identification circuitry that identifies a cavity frequency of the optical cavity on the basis of the signal component, and calculation circuitry that calculates a difference between propagation distances between the reference light and the measurement light on the basis of the cavity frequency and the beat signal.

Abstract: A light signal redirection device (26) for an optical measurement system (12) for capturing objects (18) in a monitoring region (14), a measurement system (12), and a method for operating a light signal redirection device (26) are described. The light signal redirection device (26) comprises at least one redirection body (32) having at least one redirection region (34) for redirecting light signals (22, 22I, 22II). Furthermore, the light signal redirection device (26) comprises at least one drive device (36) with which the at least one redirection body (32) can be driven in such a way that the at least one redirection region (34) can be moved relative to respective propagation axes (23, 23I, 23II) of light signals (22, 22I, 22II) which are incident on the at least one redirection region (34). At least one redirection region (34) is displaceable along at least one at least partially curved displacement path (38).

Abstract: A LIDAR system for a vehicle can include a receiver die having one or more light sensitive components and one or more optical isolation trenches configured to optically isolate the one or more light sensitive components on the receiver die; wherein the one or more optical isolation trenches are arranged such that light does not pass in a direct path through the receiver die.

Abstract: A distance measuring device of the present disclosure is a device measuring a distance to a target, and includes: a near-infrared laser optical system generating a near-infrared laser pulse having a predetermined NAR (Non-Ambiguity Range) value to be emitted toward a target and receiving the near-infrared laser pulse reflected from the target to be converted into a near-infrared electrical signal, a visible laser optical system generating visible laser light to be emitted toward the target and receiving the visible laser light reflected from the target to be converted into a visible electrical signal, and a calculator calculating a first distance value from the visible electrical signal to obtain a number of repetitions of the NAR while measuring a distance to the target and using a second distance value calculated from the number of repetitions and the near-infrared electrical signal to obtain a distance to the target.

Abstract: Systems and methods may detect an object within a minimum predetermined distance of a LIDAR system. The LIDAR system may comprise a processor configured to control a light source and a light deflector to illuminate objects located in a space illuminated by the light source; determine a distance to a first object based located within a field of view of a LIDAR sensor; receive, from a supplementary sensor, reflection signals indicative of light reflected from a second object outside the field of view; determine, based on the second reflection signals that the second object is located within a predetermined distance; and regulate, based on the determination, at least one of the light source and the light deflector to prevent an accumulated energy density of light emitted by the light source from exceeding a maximum permissible exposure level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a position capturing device (60) for a light signal redirection device (34, 40) of an optical measurement apparatus (12) for capturing objects (18) in a monitoring region (16), to a light signal redirection device (34, 40), to an optical measurement apparatus (12) and to a method for operating a position capturing device (60). The position capturing device (60) is designed for providing at least one position signal (68) corresponding to a deflection (72) of at least one redirection region (42a, 42b) of the light signal redirection device (34, 40). The at least one redirection region (42a, 42b) is used to redirect at least one light signal (20, 22) and is rotatable at least in a partially circumferential manner with respect to at least one pivot (46) in at least one direction of rotation (48).

Abstract: A system in a vehicle includes a lidar system to transmit incident light and receive reflections from one or more objects as a point cloud of points. The system also includes processing circuitry to identify feature points among the points of the point cloud, the feature points being horizontal feature points reflected from a horizontal surface or vertical feature points reflected from a vertical surface. The processing circuitry processes the point cloud by obtaining a normal vector corresponding to each of the points of the point cloud. The normal vector includes a first component associated with a first dimension, a second component associated with a second dimension, and a third component associated with a third dimension.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for scanning ascertainment of a distance to an object are disclosed. Lasers of a light source emit a plurality of optical signals each having a time-varying frequency. At a given time, the frequencies of the optical signals are different. An evaluation device ascertains the distance to the object on the basis of measurement optical signals that were emitted by the light source and reflected or scattered at the object, and of reference optical signals that were emitted by the light source and were not reflected or scattered at the object. A dispersive scanning device simultaneously deflects the optical signals in different frequency-dependent directions.

Abstract: Among other things, techniques are described for controlling, using a control circuit, motion of a vehicle based objects identified using LiDAR. For example, respective classes of points of a point cloud are determined, and based on the determined respective classes of the points of the point cloud, objects in the vicinity of the vehicle are identified.

Abstract: A flow velocity determining apparatus (10) includes an irradiating unit (20) that emits irradiation light (L1) toward a liquid mixture (BL) which contains a non-spherical solid (BC) and a liquid (BP) and flows through a flow path (TB), a detecting unit (30) that detects reflected light (L2) emitted by the irradiating unit (20) and reflected by the liquid mixture (BL) flowing through the flow path (TB), the detecting unit (32) being disposed on at least one side of an optical axis (L2A) of the reflected light (L2) when seen in a plan view of an imaginary plane including an optical axis (L1A) of the irradiation light (L1) and the optical axis (L2A) of the reflected light (L2), and a determining unit (40) that determines a flow velocity of the liquid mixture (BL) by using a light amount of the reflected light (L2) detected by the detecting unit (32).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for the modulation of an acoustic field for providing tactile sensations. A method of creating haptic feedback using ultrasound is provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of ultrasound waves with a common focal point using a phased array of ultrasound transducers, the common focal point being a haptic feedback point, and modulating the generation of the ultrasound waves using a waveform selected to produce little or no audible sound at the haptic feedback point.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling illumination power of a LIDAR based, three dimensional imaging system based on discrete illumination power tiers are described herein. In one aspect, the illumination intensity of a pulsed beam of illumination light emitted from a LIDAR system is varied in accordance with a set of illumination power tiers based on the difference between a desired and a measured return pulse. In a further aspect, the illumination power tier is selected based on whether an intensity difference exceeds one of a sequence of predetermined, tiered threshold values. In this manner, the intensity of measured return pulses is maintained within a linear range of the analog to digital converter for objects detected over a wide range of distances from the LIDAR system and a wide range of environmental conditions in the optical path between the LIDAR system and the detected object.

Abstract: In some aspects, a device may receive, from a radar scanner or a LIDAR scanner of a vehicle, point data that identifies a first point and a second point. The device may receive grid information that identifies cells of a grid that is associated with mapping a physical environment of the vehicle. The device may designate, based on determining that a distance between the first point and the second point satisfies a distance threshold, a subset of the cells as an occupied cluster that is associated with the first point and the second point. The device may perform an action associated with the vehicle based on location information associated with the occupied cluster. Numerous other aspects are described.

Abstract: In one example, a LIDAR device includes a light sources that emits light and a transmit lens that directs the emitted light to illuminate a region of an environment with a field-of-view defined by the transmit lens. The LIDAR device also includes a receive lens that focuses at least a portion of incoming light propagating from the illuminated region of the environment along a predefined optical path. The LIDAR device also includes an array of light detectors positioned along the predefined optical path. The LIDAR device also includes an offset light detector positioned outside the predefined optical path. The LIDAR device also includes a controller that determines whether collected sensor data from the array of light detectors includes data associated with another light source different than the light source of the device based on output from the offset light detector.

Abstract: Techniques for realizing compound semiconductor (CS) optoelectronic devices on silicon (Si) substrates for vehicle applications are disclosed. The integration platform is based on heteroepitaxy of CS materials and device structures on Si by direct heteroepitaxy on planar Si substrates or by selective area heteroepitaxy on dielectric patterned Si substrates. Following deposition of the CS device structures, device fabrication steps can be carried out using Si complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication techniques to enable large-volume manufacturing. The integration platform can enable manufacturing of optoelectronic devices including photodetector arrays for image sensors and vertical cavity surface emitting laser arrays.

Abstract: A structure of a silicon photonics device for LIDAR includes a first insulating structure and a second insulating structure disposed above one or more etched silicon structures overlying a substrate member. A metal layer is disposed above the first insulating structure without a prior deposition of a diffusion barrier and adhesion layer. A thin insulating structure is disposed above the second insulating structure. A first configuration of the metal layer, the first insulating structure and the one or more etched silicon structures forms a free-space coupler. A second configuration of the thin insulating structure above the second insulating structure forms an edge coupler.

Abstract: In a measuring device, a position of a laser scanner on a top plate (201) of a housing has been decided by pins (220) and a fixing member (210), and the laser scanner has been attached to the housing, and also the laser scanner that has been in a attached state can be detached, and again the position on the top plate (201) can be decided by the pins (220) and the fixing member (210), and the laser scanner can be attached to the top plate (201).

Abstract: An example system includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device that scans a field-of-view defined by a pointing direction of the LIDAR device. The system also includes an actuator that adjusts the pointing direction of the LIDAR device. The system also includes one or more sensors that indicate measurements related to motion of a vehicle associated with the LIDAR device. The system also includes a controller that causes the actuator to adjust the pointing direction of the LIDAR device based on at least the motion of the vehicle indicated by the one or more sensors.

Abstract: A vehicle window with an integrated sensor module, includes a pane main body having a cutout, a sensor module designed as a prefabricated assembly with a module housing, which forms a hollow space, in which at least one sensor is accommodated, wherein the module housing forming the hollow space is inserted into the cutout and is fastened on the pane main body, wherein, together, an outer surface of the module housing and an outer surface of the pane main body form an outer surface of the vehicle window.

Abstract: A LiDAR system includes a fixed frame, a first platform, an electro-optic assembly including one or more laser sources and one or more detectors mounted on the first platform; a flexure assembly flexibly coupling the first platform to the fixed frame; a drive mechanism configured to translate the first platform with respect to the fixed frame in two dimensions in a plane substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the LiDAR system; and a controller configured to cause the drive mechanism to translate the first platform in a first direction with a first frequency and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction with a second frequency that is different from the first frequency, acquire a point cloud, and output the point cloud at a frame rate that is an integer times a difference between the second frequency and the first frequency, the integer being greater than one.