Abstract: A lidar system comprises an optical amplification laser source, a mirror, and a control circuit. The optical amplification laser source can generate laser pulses for transmission as laser pulses shots into a field of view, the optical amplification laser source comprising a seed laser, a pump laser, and an optical amplifier. The mirror can be is scannable to control where the laser pulse shots are fired into the field of view, and the control circuit can control the seed laser to adjust its seed energy to control energy levels for a first laser pulse shot and a second laser pulse shot within a pulse burst to be transmitted from the optical amplification laser source via the mirror.

Abstract: A laser ranging device includes a laser transceiving apparatus, a rotation apparatus, and a power supply control apparatus. The laser transceiving apparatus is used for transmitting a projection beam to a target to be measured and receiving a reflection beam reflected by the target to be measured. As there are no problems of the reflectivity of the reflector itself and the angle offset of the reflection beam, the light utilization is effectively improved. The rotation apparatus drives the laser transceiving apparatus to rotate by electromagnetic induction transmission, making the laser ranging device smaller in size. The power supply control apparatus supplies power to the rotation apparatus, increasing the service life of the laser ranging device, and the power supply control apparatus transmit data with the laser transceiving apparatus through photoelectric conversion.

Abstract: A laser rangefinder may include a housing supporting an objective optic, an eyepiece optic, and a view-thru display. The view-thru display may be located along an optical path between the objective optic and the eyepiece optic. The view-thru display may comprise a first transparent sheet and a plurality of electrodes disposed on a first inner surface of the first transparent sheet. The view-thru display may be disposed rearward of the objective optic and the eyepiece optic may be disposed rearward of the view-thru display assembly so that a scene or subject can be viewed through the eyepiece optic and a plurality of display elements selectively displayed by the view-thru display assembly are superimposed on the scene or subject being viewed. Information regarding wind in proximity to the laser rangefinder may be presented on the view-thru display.

Abstract: A vehicular collision avoidance system comprising a system controller, pulsed laser transmitter, a number of independent ladar sensor units, a cabling infrastructure, internal memory, a scene processor, and a data communications port is presented herein. The described invention is capable of developing a 3-D scene, and object data for targets within the scene, from multiple ladar sensor units coupled to centralized LADAR-based Collision Avoidance System (CAS). Key LADAR elements are embedded within standard headlamp and taillight assemblies. Articulating LADAR sensors cover terrain coming into view around a curve, at the crest of a hill, or at the bottom of a dip. A central laser transmitter may be split into multiple optical outputs and guided through fibers to illuminate portions of the 360° field of view surrounding the vehicle. These fibers may also serve as amplifiers to increase the optical intensity provided by a single master laser.

Abstract: A pulsed light source illuminates a scene with a virtual array of points. Light reflected by the scene is detected by a small pixel array, allowing generation of a three-dimensional map of the scene. A processing element processing data output by the small pixel array uses a multipath resolution algorithm to resolve individual objects in the scene.

Abstract: The invention relates to a long range optical device with at least a first visual optical path and a focusing device for focusing the at least first visual optical path. The long range optical device may also include a laser distance meter with a laser transmitter and a laser receiver, wherein a part of an optical path of the laser receiver extends in the at least first visual optical path to the objective lens. A region of the deflection of the optical path of the laser receiver out of the at least first visual optical path may be disposed on at least one optical component. The focusing device may be disposed between the at least one optical component for deflecting of the optical path of the laser receiver and the objective lens.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device includes a waveguide, cladding, and a scattering array. The waveguide is configured to route an infrared optical field. The cladding is disposed around the waveguide. The scattering array is formed in the cladding. The scattering array is configured to perturb the infrared optical field routed by the waveguide to direct the infrared optical field into an infrared beam propagating toward a surface of the cladding.

Abstract: A system and method for correcting a Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) return signal is disclosed. The LiDAR return signal is digitized by a converter. An exemplary signal correction system includes a signal processor configured to identify saturated samples from the LiDAR return signal, determine a correction parameter based on non-saturated samples in the LiDAR return signal and corresponding samples in a reference signal, and correct the saturated samples in the LiDAR return signal using the correction parameter.

Abstract: A depth camera assembly for depth sensing of a local area includes a structured light generator, an imaging device, and a controller. The structured light generator illuminates a local area with structured light and includes an illumination source, a mounting element, and a diffractive optical element (DOE) mounted on the mounting element. The mounting element can have a plurality of adjustable positions relative to the illumination source based on emission instructions from the controller. The DOE generates, using light emitted from the illumination source, diffracted scanning beams that are projected as the structured light into the local area. A pattern of the structured light is dynamically adjustable and unique for each adjustable position of the mounting element. The imaging device captures image(s) of the structured light reflected from object(s) in the local area. The controller determines depth information for the object(s) based in part on the captured image(s).

Abstract: A beam scanner for use in conjunction with the operational guidance system of a vehicle. The beam scanner can be used as part of an electromagnetic signal transmit module or an electromagnetic signal receive module in either a transmissive or reflective mode. The beam scanner is a substantially transparent and partially conductive substrate plate having at least one generally planar face thereon with a series of particles affixed with said plate, each of said particles of an arbitrary size, and each of said particles possessing an induced dipole moment, and each of said particles in electrical contact with said partially conductive substrate plate.

Abstract: A transmitter unit of a lidar device for a scanning system includes at least two radiation sources in the form of semiconductor lasers for generating and emitting electromagnetic beams in the form of a line in a scanning region, the at least two radiation sources being individual emitters directly interconnected mechanically and electrically.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a first receive optical coupler, a second receive optical coupler, a first optical mixer, a second optical mixer, and an optical switch. The first optical mixer is configured to receive a first receive signal from the first receive optical coupler. The second optical mixer is configured to receive a second receive signal from the second receive optical coupler. The optical switch is configured to switch an oscillator light signal between the first optical mixer and the second optical mixer.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a deflector configured to deflect illumination light from a light source unit to scan an object and to deflect reflected light from the object, and a controller configured to control the deflector. A first divergence angle of the illumination light in a first cross section is larger than a second divergence angle in a second cross section orthogonal to the first section. The controller controls the deflector so that the illumination light moves in the first cross section at a first speed and moves in the second cross section at a second speed higher than the first speed.

Abstract: In some implementations, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a laser source configured to provide an optical signal at a first signal power, an amplifier having a plurality of gain levels, at which the amplifier is configured to amplify the optical signal, and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to, based on the first signal power and a duty cycle of the optical signal, vary a gain level of the amplifier from the plurality of gain levels to generate a pulse signal, transmit the pulse signal from the amplifier to an environment, receive a reflected signal that is reflected from an object, responsive to transmitting the pulse signal, and determine a range to the object based on an electrical signal associated with the reflected signal.

Abstract: The invention describes a laser sensor or laser sensor module (100) using self-mixing interference for particle density detection, a related method of particle density detection and a corresponding computer program product. The invention further relates to devices comprising such a laser sensor or laser sensor module. It is a basic idea of the present invention to detect particles by means of self-mixing interference signals and determine a corresponding particle density. In addition at least a first parameter related to at least one velocity component of a velocity vector of the particles is determined in order to correct the particle density if there is the relative movement between a detection volume and the particles. Such a relative movement may for example be related to a velocity of a fluid transporting the particles (e.g. wind speed). Furthermore, it is possible to determine at least one velocity component of the velocity of the particles based on the self-mixing interference signals.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a vehicle computer system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions, and a method for online light detection and ranging (Lidar) intensity normalization. Consistent with some embodiments, the method may include accumulating point data output by a channel of a Lidar unit during operation of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle. The accumulated point data includes raw intensity values that correspond to a particular surface type. The method further includes calculating a median intensity value based on the raw intensity values and generating an intensity normalization multiplier for the channel based on the median intensity value. The intensity normalization multiplier, when applied to the median intensity value, results in a reflectivity value that corresponds to the particular surface type.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a detector and a light source configured to emit light. The apparatus further includes a disk with a set of prisms and that is configured to rotate, arranged to receive and direct the emitted light, and arranged to receive and direct backscattered light. The apparatus further includes a reflecting apparatus with multiple reflective facets and configured to rotate, arranged to reflect the emitted light, and arranged to reflect the backscattered light. A focusing apparatus is arranged to focus the backscattered light from the disk towards the detector.

Abstract: A communication system may communicate by backscattered acoustic signals that propagate through a liquid or solid. In this system, one or more transmitters may transmit acoustic signals that travel to, and are reflected by, an acoustic backscatter node. The backscatter node may modulate the amplitude and/or phase of the reflected acoustic signals, by varying the acoustic reflectance of a piezoelectric transducer onboard the node. The modulated signals that reflect from the backscatter node may travel to a microphone and may be decoded. The backscatter node may include sensors, and the uplink signals may encode sensor readings. The backscatter node may harvest energy from the downlink acoustic signals, enabling the node and the sensors to be battery-free. Multiple backscatter nodes may communicate concurrently at different acoustic frequencies. To achieve this, each node may have a matching circuit with a different resonant frequency.

Abstract: A light beam steering transmissive element with an arbitrarily sized aperture comprising at least one layer of a insulating matrix modified for increased polarizability under electrical, magnetic or optical stimulation, between two or more substrates that can be electrically configured to provide signal modulation (optical, magnetic or electrical) that will control the wavefronts of incident light, thereby taking off-axis electromagnetic signals and aligning them to the aperture of a receiving element positioned near the device, or the reverse, sending signals originating behind the steering device to a variety of user-defined angles in two or more dimensions.

Abstract: A laser range finder system to determine the range of a target including a laser pulse generating device and a laser amplifier for amplifying laser pulses to produce amplified laser pulses. Amplified laser pulses are transmitted toward a target and a laser pulse echoes reflected by a target are received by a receiver. The receiver includes a laser light detector and dual signal conditioning channels to condition and amplify signals derived from detected laser light and output conditioned signals. A high-gain channel amplifies laser pulse echoes having relatively lower signal power and a low-gain channel amplifies laser pulse echoes having relatively higher signal power. A digitizer produce samples of laser pulses and converts the samples to digital signals. A processing element processes the digital signals to determine an echo signature, a time of flight to the target and a range to the target.