Abstract: A LiDAR system includes one or more light sources configured to emit a set of light pulses in a temporal sequence with randomized temporal spacings between adjacent light pulses, one or more detectors configured to receive a set of return light pulses, and a processor configured to: determine a time of flight for each return light pulse of the set of return light pulses; and obtain a point cloud based on the times of flight of the set of return light pulses. Each point corresponds to a respective return light pulse. The processor is further configured to, for each respective point of the set of points in the point cloud: analyze spatial and temporal relationships between the respective point and a set of neighboring points in the set of points; and evaluate a quality factor for the respective point based on the spatial and temporal relationships.

Abstract: A multiplexed LiDAR system generates an image of an object based on the distance of various point measurements to the object. The multiplexed LiDAR utilizes at least two sets of light source emissions to a scanner to simultaneously form multiple scanning patterns that effectively increase the scanning speed, scanning area, or image pixel density of the LiDAR system.

Abstract: A system and method for combining multiple functions of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes receiving a second optical beam generated by the laser source or a second laser source, wherein the second optical beam is associated with a second local oscillator (LO); splitting the second optical beam into a third split optical beam and a fourth split optical beam; transmitting, to the optical device, the third split optical beam and the fourth split optical beam; receiving, from the optical device, a third reflected beam that is associated with the third split optical beam and a fourth reflected beam that is associated with the fourth split optical beam; and pairing the third reflected beam with the second LO signal and the fourth reflected beam with the second LO signal.

Abstract: An imaging subsystem is disclosed, wherein the imaging subsystem is coherent and it generally includes an optical phased array (OPA), frequency modulation (FM) and/or amplitude modulation (AM). The imaging subsystem is operable with a Super System on Chip (SSoC) or a photonic neural learning processor (PNLP). The Super System on Chip (SSoC) includes memristors. The imaging subsystem is further operable with a camera (e.g., a metamaterial camera, wherein the metamaterial camera includes one or more metasurfaces). Furthermore, the imaging subsystem may be included with a vehicle system, wherein the vehicle system can recommend a service or an offer to a user/driver by anticipating any need of the user/driver.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a transmitter configured to output a number of output pulses to a target object; a receiver configured to receive a plurality of input pulses corresponding to the number of output pulses; and a signal processor including a signal converter configured to convert the plurality of input pulses into discrete signals and an encoder configured to encode amplitude information of the plurality of input pulses converted into the discrete signals.

Abstract: A method of measuring a structure includes acquiring azimuth and tilt readings at a first location and second location. Images of the structure are also acquired from the first and second location. The respective distances from the first and second locations to a first and second point on the structure are measured. A scale is established from two positions of the structure depicted in the first or second image of the structure. The distance between the first and second points on the structure is found using the established scale. This distance is used with the azimuth and tilt readings and measured distances from the first and second location to build an epipolar model of the structure. The structure may be a utility pole. Also disclosed are methods of assisting photogrammetric measurements and estimating the class of a utility pole, and methods of determining the compliance status of a utility pole.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor system for a vehicle includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a scanner. The transmitter is configured to output a transmit beam. The transmitter includes a first grating coupler. The receiver includes a plurality of second grating couplers spaced apart from the first grating coupler.

Abstract: A rangefinder includes a housing detachably mounted and fixed on a sighting telescope; a power supply, a control module, a laser ranging module, a visible laser indicator, a display module and an optical visibility adjustment system which are accommodated in the housing, an optical path of laser ranging module is coaxial with an optical path of visible laser indicator, the visible laser indicator is used for a position indication when a ranging and aiming position of the laser ranging module coincides with a center of a reticle of the sighting telescope, an image shown by the display module is adjusted by the optical visibility adjustment system to meet observation habits of different users and make a ranging data visible in an eyepiece field of the sighting telescope, the image displayed by display module shows ranging and related information of the laser ranging module.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a system for characterizing surroundings of a vehicle, the system comprising: projection means (210) arranged for projecting a pattern of laser light towards said surroundings in a sequence of pulses; a detector (220) comprising a plurality of pixels, said detector (220) being configured for detecting light representing said pattern of laser light as reflected by said surroundings in synchronization with said sequence of pulses; and processing means (240) configured to calculate distances to objects (99) in said surroundings as a function of exposure values generated by said pixels in response to said detected light; wherein said detector (220) is further configured for detecting light forming a two-dimensional image of said surroundings at points in time that do not coincide with said sequence of pulses or at pixels that do not receive said light representing said pattern of laser light as reflected by said surroundings.

Abstract: A coherent imaging system produces coherent flood illumination directed toward a remote object and local oscillator (LO) illumination derived based on a same master oscillator as the flood illumination. A Doppler sensor receives the LO illumination and a return of flood illumination reflected off the object. Doppler shift data from the Doppler sensor, corresponding to a longitudinal velocity of the object relative to the imaging system, is used to produce Doppler-shifted LO illumination received by a low bandwidth, large format focal plane array (FPA), together with the return illumination from the object. Interference between the Doppler-shifted LO illumination and the return illumination facilitates producing an image of the object with the low bandwidth FPA despite the longitudinal velocity. Pixel intensities from the FPA are integrated over a period approaching the maximum interference frequency. The Doppler sensor and FPA may concurrently process return for a high energy laser target spot.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a laser apparatus, a branching part that branches a frequency-modulated laser beam output by the laser apparatus into a reference light and a measurement light; a beat signal generation part that generates a beat signal by mixing a reflected light and the reference light, a conversion part that converts the beat signal into a digital signal at a first sampling rate and frequency-analyses it, an extraction part that extracts a signal component corresponding to a cavity frequency from the frequency-modulated laser beam, a digital filter that digitally filters the extracted signal component at a second sampling rate; and a calculation part that calculates a difference in a propagation distance between the reference light and the measurement light.

Abstract: A method for computing a depth map of a scene in a structured light imaging system including a time-of-flight (TOF) sensor and a projector is provided that includes capturing a plurality of high frequency phase-shifted structured light images of the scene using a camera in the structured light imaging system, generating, concurrently with the capturing of the plurality of high frequency phase-shifted structured light images, a time-of-flight (TOF) depth image of the scene using the TOF sensor, and computing the depth map from the plurality of high frequency phase-shifted structured light images wherein the TOF depth image is used for phase unwrapping.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a 3D point cloud to generate a segmented point cloud in real time are disclosed, the method includes: receiving a sparse 3D point cloud captured by a detection and ranging sensor mounted to a vehicle, the 3D point cloud comprising a plurality of data points, each data point in the 3D point cloud having a set of coordinates in a coordinate system of the detection and ranging sensor; generating, from the 3D point cloud, a range map comprising a plurality of elements, each of the plurality of data points of the 3D point cloud occupying a respective element of the plurality of elements; labelling the data point in each respective element of the range map as one of a pole-like data point or a vertical-plane-like data point; and generating the segmented point cloud including one or more of the labeled data points.

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: A three-dimensional (3D) coordinate measurement device and method of operating combines tracker and scanner functionality. The method includes selecting an operating mode on the coordinate measurement device. A first light is emitted from the coordinate measurement device. At least two angles associated with the emitting of the first light are measured. A second light is received with an optical detector, wherein the second light is a reflection of the first light off of the retroreflector or the surface. A distance is determined based at least in part on the selected mode, the emitting of the first light, and the receiving of the second light. Three dimensional coordinates of at least one point in the environment are determined based at least in part on the measuring of the at least two angles and the determination of the distance.

Abstract: A targeting system operable to be used with a bow to assist an operator with striking a target with an arrow. The targeting system may comprise a processor, a target sighting window, a ranging module and a projector. The processor may be configured to control the projector to project a first sighting element onto the target sighting window to select the target, determine a range to the selected target based on the reflected beam, determine an orientation of the bow based at least partially on the determined range to the selected target, determine a location on the target sighting window to present a compensated sighting mark corresponding to the determined orientation, and control the projector to present the variable compensated sighting mark on the target sighting window.

Abstract: LiDAR (light detection and ranging) systems use one or more emitters and a detector array to cover a given field of view where the emitters each emit a single pulse or a multi-pulse packet of light that is sampled by the detector array. On each emitter cycle the detector array will sample the incoming signal intensity at the pre-determined sampling frequency that generates two or more samples per emitted light packet to allow for volumetric analysis of the retroreflected signal portion of each emitted light packet as reflected by one or more objects in the field of view and then received by each detector.

Abstract: An operating device and method for remotely controlling an arming device. The method includes confirming a tracking image at each firing time point of a laser beam transmitted by the range finder; based on an image correlation value of a target locked on by a tracking gate in the tracking image exceeding a threshold value, determining that the target is normally locked on; determining whether the laser beam from the range finder hits the target determined as being normally locked on based on a center value of the tracking image and a center value of the tracking gate; and based on the laser beam from the range finder hitting the target normally locked on, determining a range measurement value measured by the range finder as a true value of the target and determining other range measurement values as wrong measurement values.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are related to a Lidar device, comprising: a vibrating fiber optic cantilever system on a transmit (TX) path; and a two-dimensional (2D) light sensor array on a receive (RX) path.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multi-beam LiDAR system. The multi-beam LiDAR system includes a transmitter having an array of laser emitters. Each laser emitter is configured to emit a laser beam. The multi-beam LiDAR system also includes a receiver having an array of photodetectors. Each photodetector is configured to receive at least one return beam that is reflected by an object from one of the laser beams. The laser emitter array includes a plurality of laser emitter boards perpendicular to a horizontal plane. Each laser emitter board has a plurality of laser emitters. The plurality of laser emitters in the laser emitter array are staggered along a vertical direction. The photodetector array includes a plurality of columns of photodetectors. One of the laser emitter boards corresponds to one column of photodetectors.