Abstract: An optical sensor is provided for distance and/or velocity measurement including a light source module for generating a light signal and a detection module for detecting a light signal. The light source module includes a modulator for modulating the light signal, the modulator being configured in such a way that the light signal includes a piece of identification information after the modulation, the detection module being configured to detect and identify a piece of identification information of the detected light signal.

Abstract: A light deflection system for a LIDAR system on an aerial vehicle and method of use are herein disclosed. The light deflection system includes a light deflection element having a first end and a second end. The light deflection element is rotatable and balanced about an axis extending from the first end to the second end. The light deflection element has a first side with a first reflective surface at a first angle in relation to the axis and deflects light in a nadir direction relative to the aerial vehicle. The light deflection element also has a second side having a second reflective surface at a second angle in relation to the axis. The first angle is different from the second angle and configured to deflective light at an oblique angle relative to the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted dual-oblique asymmetric laser velocity measurement device is provided. A small-angle splitting prism (9) is installed on a laser path where the laser beam of the reference-beam LDV probe is incident onto a driving surface. The laser beam is split by the small-angle splitting prism (9) into two emergent beams having an included angle ? for incidence onto the driving surface. Two ground-scattered light beams returning along the original direction of the two emergent beams are used as signal light together. Reference light is mixed with the signal light on a photosensitive surface of a photodetector of the reference beam LDV probe. The photodetector mixes the reference light and the signal light to form Doppler signals for transmission to a signal processing unit (10). The signal processing unit (10) extracts the Doppler frequencies corresponding to the two emergent beams separately, to implement velocity calculation.

Abstract: Time-of-flight (TOF) systems and techniques whereby a first exposure obtains pixel measurements for a first subset of pixels of a pixel array, using a first reference signal. For a second exposure, the first subset of the pixels, e.g., every second line of the pixel array, are set to a “hold” state, so that values obtained from the first measurement are maintained. A second exposure using a second reference signal is performed for a second subset of the pixels. The first and second reference signals may have different phase shifts relative to a signal modulating an optical signal being measured. The result is an array of pixels in which the first and second subsets hold results of the first and second exposures, respectively. These pixel values can then be read out all at once, with certain calculations being performed directly as pixel values are read from the pixel array.

Abstract: A TOF camera apparatus for transmitting light signals and recording the light that is scattered back at an object and also for determining the distance of the TOF camera apparatus from the object is proposed, wherein the TOF camera apparatus comprises: a transmitter for transmitting light signals, a receiver for detecting the light scattered back at the object, embodied in the form of a pixel matrix having at least one pixel, a modulation device for producing a modulation signal in order to modulate light signals that are to be transmitted by the transmitter, an evaluation device for evaluating the light detected by the receiver, which evaluation device is connected to the modulation device to obtain the modulation signal for evaluating and determining the distance. In order to make possible particularly reliable error detection, a check apparatus for error detection in at least one of the pixels is provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide receivers for a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanner. The receiver includes a photodetector configured to receive a laser beam, and convert the received laser beam to an electrical signal including a plurality of pulses. The receiver also includes an amplifier configured to amplify the electrical signal. The receiver further includes a pulse equalizer configured to sharpen the plurality of pulses in the amplified electrical signal. Each pulse is sharpened to have a narrower width and an increased amplitude.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of vehicle correction, and provides a calibration system and a calibration bracket thereof. The calibration bracket includes: a base, a stand assembly and a beam assembly. The stand assembly is fixedly connected to the base. The beam assembly is supported by the stand assembly, and includes a beam, the beam being configured to mount a calibration element and including a left beam portion, a right beam portion and a connecting portion, the connecting portion being supported by the stand assembly, one end of the connecting portion being pivotally connected to the left beam portion, and the other end of the connecting portion being pivotally connected to the right beam portion. In the foregoing structure, the left beam portion and the right beam portion can respectively rotate toward each other relative to the connecting portion, to fold the beam assembly, so that a volume of the calibration bracket can be reduced to facilitate shipment.

Abstract: Generally, the disclosed systems and methods implement improved detection of objects in three-dimensional (3D) space. More particularly, an improved 3D object detection system can exploit continuous fusion of multiple sensors and/or integrated geographic prior map data to enhance effectiveness and robustness of object detection in applications such as autonomous driving. In some implementations, geographic prior data (e.g., geometric ground and/or semantic road features) can be exploited to enhance three-dimensional object detection for autonomous vehicle applications. In some implementations, object detection systems and methods can be improved based on dynamic utilization of multiple sensor modalities. More particularly, an improved 3D object detection system can exploit both LIDAR systems and cameras to perform very accurate localization of objects within three-dimensional space relative to an autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A LIDAR system that identifies, from a channel output, a false positive return and/or suppressing a corresponding false positive detection caused, in some cases, a strong reflection by a highly reflective surface that caused light to leak from a first channel to a second channel. The LIDAR system described herein may identify, as a false return, a return detected in the second channel that has an intensity that is much less than a return in the first channel and indicates a distance that is the same or very close to a distance indicated the return in the first channel. Based at least in part on identifying a return as a false return, the LIDAR system may suppress a false detection associated with the false return by modifying a detection threshold.

Abstract: A micromachining device that utilizes a solid state laser beam scanner to steer and scan laser beams onto a moveable stage. There are no moving parts as in the galvometric scanner devices in current use. The laser beam scanner has two components, a variable frequency signal generator that is electrically connected to at least one substantially transparent and partially conductive substrate plate (hereinafter plate) with a generally planar face thereon that has a series of quantum dots (of an arbitrary size but narrow size distribution) affixed with the plate, where each of the quantum dots possess an inducible dipole moment, and each of the quantum dots are in electrical contact with the plate, where the quantum dots undergo an excitation and successive recombination (or relaxation) by the input of magnetic, optical or electrical signals.

Abstract: The invention provides a laser scanner, which comprises a light source unit, a light receiving unit, a distance measuring unit, an angle measuring unit, a telescope unit capable of rotating in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, a rotation driving unit, a directional angle detector, and a control arithmetic unit, wherein the light source unit is an MOPA type and has an oscillator control circuit, a main oscillator, and an optical amplifier, wherein the oscillator control circuit has a repetition frequency setting component, a pulse peak output setting component, a pulse width setting component and an amplification factor calculating component and oscillates the main oscillator corresponding to a measured distance, and wherein the amplification factor calculating component calculates an amplification factor based on a repetition frequency, a pulse peak output, and a pulse width and amplifies the optical amplifier based on a calculated amplification factor.

Abstract: A surveying instrument comprises a base; an alidade rotatable about a first axis relative to the base; and an optical measuring instrument having a measuring axis rotatable about a second axis relative to the alidade. A beam path can be provided for a light beam using components including a light source, lenses, mirrors, beam splitters, and a position-sensitive detector. The surveying can be calibrated by performing plural measurements at different orientations of the alidade relative to the base and different orientations of the measuring instrument relative to the alidade using the above components.

Abstract: A laser scanner comprising a main base, a distance measuring optical assembly for measuring a distance to the object to be measured, a rotation irradiating assembly for performing the rotary irradiation of the distance measuring light, a case which accommodates the distance measuring optical assembly and the rotation irradiating assembly, and an adapter, wherein a case includes a case frame, a left case, and a right case, the case frame includes a lower frame portion, the lower frame portion includes a left partition and a right partition, a liquid-tight space to accommodate the distance measuring optical assembly is formed when the left case is mounted, and the distance measuring optical assembly is exposed when the left case is removed, liquid-tight space to accommodate the rotation irradiating assembly is formed when the right case is mounted, and the rotation irradiating assembly is exposed when the right case is removed.

Abstract: A lidar sensing system for a vehicle includes a sensor module having a laser unit, a sensor unit, and a cover unit. The laser unit includes a housing with reference surfaces machined thereat for positioning laser tubes. The laser unit includes a tension spring that urges the laser tubes against the reference surfaces of the housing. The sensor unit includes a holder with reference surfaces machined thereat for positioning receiver tubes. The sensor unit includes a tension spring that urges the receiver tubes against the reference surfaces of the holder. The holder is attached at the housing and the cover unit is attached at the housing. An output of the sensor module is communicated to a control that, responsive to the output of the sensor module, determines the presence of one or more objects exterior the vehicle and within the field of sensing of the sensor module.

Abstract: A LiDAR system for tracking small flying objects. Multitude of individual LiDAR heads are placed on arcuate frames that intersect to define a dome. Each LiDAR head can be independently rotated with six degrees of freedom. Optical data signals are routed from each LiDAR to a central mirror disposed within the dome and then to a spectrometer for data processing. Upon detection of a possible target by one or more of the LiDAR heads, additional LiDAR heads are rotated to also focus on the possible target, thereby enhancing imaging of the target.

Abstract: A lidar receiver can employ multiple processors to distribute the workload of processing returns from laser pulse shots. Activation/deactivation times of pixel sets that are used by the lidar receiver to sense returns can be used to define which samples in a return buffer will be used for processing to detect each return, and multiple processors can share the workload of processing these samples in an effort to improve the latency of return detection.

Abstract: A sensor assembly may include a housing and a collection of optical sensors. The housing may include a base portion, and a raised portion defining a summit of the housing. A collection of optical sensors may include a first set of forward-facing optical sensors individually aligned with a corresponding opening in a front segment of the base portion for the housing, a second set of rear-facing optical sensors individually aligned with a corresponding opening in a rear segment of the base portion for the housing, and multiple sets of lateral optical sensors. Each set of lateral optical sensors may be aligned with a corresponding opening in one of multiple lateral segments of the base portion of the housing. Additionally, at least a first long distance sensor may be mounted on the summit.

Abstract: A lidar system that includes a laser source and a scannable mirror can be controlled to fire laser pulse shots from the laser source toward targeted range points via the scannable mirror at a variable rate of firing those laser pulse shots. A control circuit for the lidar system can determine a shot order of the targeted laser pulse shots for the variable rate firing based on a plurality of simulations of different shot order candidates with respect to a laser energy model that models how much energy is available from the laser source for laser pulse shots over time as compared to a plurality of energy requirements for the targeted laser pulse shots. Parallelized logic resource in the control circuit can be used to perform the simulations in parallel to support low latency shot scheduling.

Abstract: Transit location systems and methods using LIDAR are provided. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a 3D image captured from a vehicle on a pathway; transforming the 3D image into a first 2D image; and determining a location of the vehicle along the pathway, comprising: comparing the first 2D image to a plurality of second 2D images each captured at a respective known location along the pathway, selecting one or more of the second 2D images based on the comparing, and determining the location of the vehicle along the pathway based on the known location where the selected one or more of the second 2D images was captured. The 3D image may be captured by capturing LIDAR data with a LIDAR unit mounted on the vehicle.

Abstract: Provided are a multi-axis scanning system and method that utilize a single scanner. The scanner radially projects an output beam in a first angular plane over a range of scan angles. At least one reflector is fixed relative to the scanner to receive the output beam in at least one portion of the range of scan angles and redirects the received output beam in at least one other angular plane extending at least partially beneath the first angular plane. The first angular plane can be substantially parallel to a ground surface and the at least one other angular plane can include a plane that extends from the reflective surface to the ground surface. The scanner can be configured to detect a reflection of the output beam, to determine a distance to an object reflecting an incident output beam.