Abstract: A LIDAR system has a laser emission unit configured to generate a plurality of laser beams. The LIDAR system also has an optical system configured to transmit the plurality of laser beams from the laser emission unit to a common scanning unit. The common scanning unit is configured to project the plurality of laser beams toward a field of view of the LIDAR system to simultaneously scan the field of view along a plurality of scan lines traversing the field of view.

Abstract: A LIDAR system has a laser emission unit configured to generate a plurality of laser beams. The system has a scanning unit configured to receive the plurality of laser beams. The common scanning unit projects the plurality of laser beams toward a field of view of the LIDAR system. The system has at least one processor. The processor is programmed to cause the scanning unit to scan the field of view of the LIDAR system by directing the plurality of beams along a first plurality of scan lines traversing the FOV. The processor is also programmed to displace the plurality of laser beams from a first set of locations associated with the first plurality of scan lines to a second set of locations associated with a second plurality of scan lines. Further, the processor is programmed to direct the plurality of laser beams along the second plurality of scan lines.

Abstract: In an optical distance measuring apparatus, a light source irradiates a target object with a light pulse having a first pulse width. A light receiver outputs a pulse signal that represents reflection light from the target object being incident on the light receiver, and has a second pulse width that is larger than or equal to the first pulse width. A histogram generator records, every predetermined period, a frequency representing the number of outputted pulse signals to thereby generate a histogram. A peak detector detects, from the histogram, an edge point of a peak figure included in the histogram. A distance calculator subtracts, from a time indicative of the edge point of the peak figure, a time length of the second pulse width to thereby calculate a target time, and calculates a distance to the target object as a function of the calculated target time.

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 laser radar device (1) includes: a light source array (10) for simultaneously emitting a plurality of laser light beams from a plurality of light emitting ends; an optical modulator (12) for modulating transmission light separated from the plurality of laser light beams to generate modulated transmission light; a transmission/reception optical system (14, 15) for receiving, as received light, the modulated transmission light reflected by a target, while scanning external space with the modulated transmission light; an optical combiner (16) for generating a plurality of interference light components by combining a plurality of local light components separated from the plurality of laser light beams and the received light; an optical receiver array (17) for generating a plurality of detection signals by detecting the plurality of interference light components; a switching circuit (18) for selecting a detection signal from the plurality of detection signals in accordance with a scanning speed with respect to t

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a controller onboard the vehicle, lidar data from the lidar device; receiving, by the controller, image data from the camera device; computing, by the controller, an edge map based on the lidar data; computing, by the controller, an inverse distance transformation (IDT) edge map based on the image data; aligning, by the controller, points of the IDT edge map with points of the lidar edge map to determine extrinsic parameters; storing, by the controller, extrinsic parameters as calibrations in a data storage device; and controlling, by the controller, the vehicle based on the stored calibrations.

Abstract: A system and method of LIDAR imaging to overcome scattering effects pulses a scene with light pulse sequences from a light source. Reflected light from the scene is measured for each light pulse to form a sequence of time-resolved signals. Time-resolved contrast is calculated for each location in a scene. A three-dimensional map or image of the scene is created from the time-resolved contrasts. The three-dimensional map is then utilized to affect operation of a vehicle.

Abstract: An integrated chip packaging for a LIDAR sensor mounted to a vehicle includes a laser assembly configured to output a beam, an optical amplifier array chip configured to amplify a beam, and a transceiver chip coupled to the laser assembly and the optical amplifier array chip. The transceiver chip may be configured to emit the beam with reference to a first surface of the transceiver chip through an optical window and receive a reflected beam from a target through the optical window. The integrated chip packaging for the LIDAR sensor defines the configuration of optical components for providing a path for the optical signal to travel in and out of the LIDAR sensor and dissipating the heat generated by the optical components for improved performance.

Abstract: An electromagnetic wave detection apparatus (10) includes a switch (16), a first detector (19), and a second detector (20). The switch (16) includes an action surface (as) with a plurality of pixels (px) disposed thereon. The switch (16) is configured to switch each pixel (px) between the first state and the second state. In the first state, the pixels (px) cause electromagnetic waves incident on the action surface (as) to travel in a first direction (d1). In the second state, the pixels (px) cause the electromagnetic waves incident on the action surface (as) to travel in a second direction (d2). The first detector (19) detects the electromagnetic waves that travel in the first direction (d1). The second detector (20) detects the electromagnetic waves that travel in the second direction (d2).

Abstract: A method of operating a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system is provided that includes performing a scene measurement using a LiDAR sensor capable of measuring Doppler per point. The method also includes estimating a velocity of the LiDAR sensor with respect to static points within the scene based on the scene measurement. The method may also include compensating for the velocity of the LiDAR sensor and compensating for a Doppler velocity of the LiDAR sensor.

Abstract: A LIDAR apparatus for scanning a scene, comprising a transmitter stage, a receiver stage, a beam-steering engine configured to steer the light beam received from the transmitter stage in different directions to scan at least a portion of the scene, the beam-steering engine being responsive to steering commands to produce corresponding deflections of the light beam and an operation monitor for monitoring a beam-steering function of the beam-steering engine.

Abstract: A system including one or more waveguides to receive a first returned reflection having a first lag angle and generate a first waveguide signal, receive a second returned reflection having a second lag angle different from the first lag angle, and generate a second waveguide signal. The system includes one or more photodetectors to generate a first output signal within a first frequency range, and generate, based on the second waveguide signal and a second LO signal, a second output signal within a second frequency range. The system includes an optical frequency shifter (OFS) to shift a frequency of the second LO signal to cause the second output signal to shift from within the second frequency range to within the first frequency range to generate a shifted signal. The system includes a processor to receive the shifted signal to produce one or more points in a point set.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus being part of a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) module is provided. The apparatus comprises a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) and a substrate. The MEMS comprising an array of micro-mirror assemblies, each micro-mirror assembly comprises: a first flexible support structure and a second flexible support structure connected to the substrate; a micro-mirror comprising a first connection structure and a second connection structure, the first connection structure being connected to the first flexible support structure at a first connection point, the second connection structure being connected to the second flexible support structure at a second connection point, the first and second connection points being aligned with a rotation axis around which the micro-mirror rotates, the first flexible support structure and the second flexible support structure being configured to allow the first and second connection points to move when the micro-mirror rotates.

Abstract: An electromagnetic wave detection apparatus (10) includes a switch (16), a first detector (19), and a second detector (20). The switch (16) includes an action surface (as) with a plurality of pixels (px) disposed thereon. The switch (16) is configured to switch each pixel (px) between the first state and the second state. In the first state, the pixels (px) cause electromagnetic waves incident on the action surface (as) to travel in a first direction (d1). In the second state, the pixels (px) cause the electromagnetic waves incident on the action surface (as) to travel in a second direction (d2). The first detector (19) detects the electromagnetic waves that travel in the first direction (d1). The second detector (20) detects the electromagnetic waves that travel in the second direction (d2).

Abstract: A laser scanner has multiple measuring beams for optical surveying of an environment. The laser scanner is configured to provide scanning with at least two different multi-beam scan patterns. Each multi-beam scan pattern is individually activatable by a computing unit of the laser scanner.

Abstract: An apparatus of a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning system for at least partial integration with a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an optical core assembly including an oscillating reflective element, an optical polygon element, and transmitting and collection optics. The apparatus includes a first exterior surface at least partially bounded by at least a first portion of a vehicle roof or at least a portion of a vehicle windshield. A surface profile of the first exterior surface aligns with a surface profile associated with at least one of the first portion of the vehicle roof or the portion of the vehicle windshield. A combination of the first exterior surface and the one or more additional exterior surfaces form a housing enclosing the optical core assembly including the oscillating reflective element, the optical polygon element, and the transmitting and collection optics.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to imaging LiDARs with separate transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) optical antennas fed by different optical waveguides. This pair of optical antennas can be activated at the same time through a dual-channel optical switch network, with the Tx antenna connected to a laser source and the Rx antenna connected to a receiver. The Tx and Rx antennas can be positioned adjacent to each other, so they point to approximately the same far-field angle. No optical alignment between the Tx and Rx is necessary. This LiDAR configuration, referred to herein as pseudo-monostatic LiDAR, eliminates spurious reflections and increases the dynamic range of the LiDAR.

Abstract: An automated threat detection and deterrence apparatus includes an imaging device configured to detect a subject in a subject area, a deterrent component including a directed light deterrent, wherein the directed light deterrent includes a first deterrent mode and a second deterrent mode, the directed light deterrent is configured to perform a first deterrent action on the subject when in the first mode, the directed light deterrent is configured to perform a second deterrent action on the subject when in the second mode, and a processor communicatively connected to the imaging device and the deterrent component, wherein the processor is configured to identify the subject as a function of the detection of the subject, determine a behavior descriptor associated with the subject, select one of the first deterrent mode and the second deterrent mode and command the directed light deterrent to perform an action based on the selection.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transceiver includes optical antenna arrays and an optical switch. Some of the optical antenna arrays include a number of optical antennas and an optical splitter coupled to the optical antennas. The optical splitter may include a number of passive optical splitters. The optical splitter provides a portion of an input signal to the optical antennas. The optical switch is configured to selectively provide the input signal to at least one of the plurality of optical antenna arrays. The optical switch enables addressable field of view scanning by selectively providing the input signal to the plurality of antenna arrays, one array at a time.

Abstract: A method for providing a detection-signal for objects to be detected—at least a first and second light-beam including different frequencies being generated with a first optical non-linear 3-wave-process from a light-beam of a light-source including an output-frequency, and the first light-beam including a reference-frequency being detected, and the second light-beam including an object-frequency being emitted and received after reflection on an object, and the light-beam including the output-frequency and the second light-beam including the object-frequency being superposed, and a reference-beam including a reference-frequency being generated with a second optical non-linear 3-wave-process from the two superposed light-beams including the output-frequency and including the object-frequency, and a detection-signal being generated so that the object-distance is determinable due to the aforementioned superposition based on the time-difference between the detection of the first light-beam including the reference-