Abstract: A laser diode firing circuit for a light detection and ranging device is disclosed. The firing circuit includes a laser diode coupled in series to a transistor, such that current through the laser diode is controlled by the transistor. The laser diode is configured to emit a pulse of light in response to current flowing through the laser diode. The firing circuit includes a capacitor that is configured to charge via a charging path that includes an inductor and to discharge via a discharge path that includes the laser diode. The transistor controlling current through the laser diode can be a Gallium nitride field effect transistor.

Abstract: A line monitoring system may include a laser source to launch a plurality of pulsed probe signals; an optical transmission system, comprising a plurality of loopbacks, to receive the plurality of pulsed probe signals, and direct the plurality of pulsed probe signals through the plurality of loopbacks. The system may include a receiver to receive a plurality of return signals, derived from the plurality of pulsed probe signals from the transmission system, and a perturbance detection system, coupled to the receiver, to measure a phase difference between a polarization of a pair of return signals of the plurality of return signals. The pair of return signals may be received from a pair of loopbacks of the plurality of loopbacks, from a first loopback and a second return signal from a second loopback. The perturbance detection system may determine a location of a perturbation, based upon the phase difference.

Abstract: An electro-optical system has a laser drive electronic circuit, a laser light source and an optical interferometer, forming a closed loop. The laser drive electronic circuit is arranged to receive a reference frequency as input, and a beat frequency as feedback. The laser drive electronic circuit generates a drive output based on a phase difference between the reference frequency and the beat frequency. The optical interferometer, coupled to the laser light, generates optical energy at the beat frequency.

Abstract: Location systems and methods for locating paint and other markings on a surface are disclosed. A paint marking stick may include a magnetic field sonde that is actuated in conjunction with dispensing of paint or other markers, where the sonde generates a magnetic field signal in conjunction with dispensing of paint or placement of a marker. A corresponding utility locator may receive the sonde magnetic field dipole signal and determine and store positional information and type information associated with the paint or other marker.

Abstract: An optical sensor system includes a set of epitaxial layers formed on a semiconductor substrate. The set of epitaxial layers defines a semiconductor laser having a first multiple quantum well (MQW) structure. Electromagnetic radiation is generated by the first MQW structure, emitted from the first MQW structure, and self-mixed with a portion of the emitted electromagnetic radiation that is returned to the first MQW structure. The set of epitaxial layers also defines a second MQW structure operable to generate a first photocurrent responsive to detecting a first emission of the semiconductor laser, and a third MQW structure operable to generate a second photocurrent responsive to detecting a second emission of the semiconductor laser. The optical sensor system also includes a circuit configured to generate a self-mixing interferometry (SMI) signal by combining the first photocurrent and the second photocurrent.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide an apparatus for emitting laser light and a system and method for detecting laser light returned from an object. The system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes one or more laser sources, at least one of the laser sources configured to provide a respective native laser beam having a wavelength above 1,100 nm. The transmitter also includes a wavelength converter configured to receive the native laser beams provided by the laser sources and convert the native laser beams into a converted laser beam having a wavelength below 1,100 nm. The transmitter further includes a scanner configured to emit the converted laser beam to the object in a first direction. The receiver is configured to detect a returned laser beam having a wavelength below 1,100 nm and returned from the object in a second direction.

Abstract: A Lidar system and method is provided for adaptive control. The Lidar system comprises: an array of emitters each of which is individually addressable and controlled to emit a multi-pulse sequence, at least a subset of the emitters are activated to emit multi-pulse sequences concurrently according to an emission pattern; an array of photosensors each of which is individually addressable, at least a subset of the photosensors are enabled to receive light pulses according to a sensing pattern, each of the subset of photosensors is configured to detect returned light pulses returned and generate an output signal indicative of an amount of optical energy associated with at least a subset of the light pulses; and one or more processors electrically coupled to the array of emitters and the array of photosensors and configured to generate the emission pattern and the sensing pattern based on one or more real-time conditions.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system to transmit an optical beam toward a target and receive a returned optical beam. The optical beam includes an up-chirp frequency and a down-chirp frequency, and is modulated to have phase non-linearities. The LIDAR system generates a baseband signal from the returned optical beam, which includes a plurality of peaks corresponding with the up-chirp frequency and the down-chirp frequency. The LIDAR system identifies a first true peak in the baseband signal, and identifies a second true peak in the baseband signal based, at least in part, on a spectral shape of the second true peak caused by the phase non-linearities. The LIDAR system is to determine the location of the target using the first true peak and the second true peak.

Abstract: An optical device provided by the present invention can comprise: a light transmitting unit for generating a first beam for photographing a certain area; a light receiving unit for sensing a second beam returning from the certain area; a light separating unit for distinguishing and transmitting the first beam from the second beam; and a detection unit including a micro electro-mechanical system mirror (MEMS mirror) for transmitting the first beam by changing an optical axis up to a first steering angle, and for receiving the second beam.

Abstract: A method is provided that is performed by at least one first apparatus with the method including obtaining or causing obtaining information indicative of a variation in intensity of light emitted from at least two light sources positioned along a segment of a road; and obtaining or causing obtaining information indicative of a velocity of the at least one first apparatus based at least on the information indicative of the variation in intensity. A corresponding apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A method of using an imaging system including a focal plane with one or more detectors, a lens optically coupled to the focal plane, a transparent plate optically coupled to the focal plane and lens, and an actuator coupled to the transparent plate, includes receiving, at a first area of the focal plane through the lens, light from an object at a first time. The imaging system is located in a first position relative to the object at the first time. The method also includes causing the actuator to move the transparent plate in response to movement of the imaging system relative to the object and receiving, at the first area of the focal plane through the lens, light from the object at a second time. The imaging system is located in a second position relative to the object at the second time.

Abstract: One example method involves obtaining a plurality of images using a camera located at a given position relative to a light detection and ranging device (LIDAR). A first image of the plurality may be indicative of a view, via one or more optical elements of the LIDAR, of a receiver of the LIDAR. The method also involves determining simulated detector positions for intercepting reflections of simulated light beams associated with a plurality of light sources in a transmitter of the LIDAR. The method also involves determining one or more alignment offsets between the transmitter and the receiver based on at least the simulated detector positions and the plurality of images.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a laser apparatus, a branch that branches a frequency-modulated laser beam into a reference light and a measurement light, a beat signal generator that generates a beat signal by mixing the reference light and a reflected light that is the measurement light radiated onto an object to be measured, a first analyzer that analyses a first signal component corresponding to a difference in a propagation distance between the reference light and the measurement light on the basis of the beat signal, a second analyzer that analyses a second signal component corresponding to a cavity frequency of an optical cavity on the basis of the beat signal, and calculation circuitry that calculates the difference in the propagation distance between the reference light and the measurement light.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a plurality of light sources of a Lidar is provided. The apparatus comprises: a plurality of mounting units held by a base structure and a fixation component that is disposed away from the base structure along a longitudinal direction of a mounting unit, the base structure and the fixation component configured to allow an adjustment of the plurality of mounting units along a horizontal direction. The plurality of the mounting units includes structures that accept the plurality of the light sources and control directions of light beams emitted by the plurality of light sources along a vertical direction.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus including: a laser that outputs a frequency-modulated laser beam; a branch that splits the frequency-modulated laser beam into a reference light and a measurement light; a 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; a frequency analyzer that frequency-analyzes the beat signal; a storage that stores a reference frequency signal which is a frequency signal obtained by converting a reference signal output by the beat signal generator in a state without the object to be measured; and calculation circuitry that calculates a difference between propagation distances of the reference light and the measurement light.

Abstract: What is disclosed are systems and methods for measurement, pre-distortion, and linearization of FMCW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave) LiDAR chirped laser signals, in which I/Q channels of an IF optical signal of a combination of delayed and undelayed versions of the laser signal are generated and used in the process of pre-distorting waveform data for linearization.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is configured to output a system output signal and to receive a system return signal. The system return signal includes light that was included in the system output signal and that was reflected by an object located outside of the LIDAR system. A time delay occurs between the light being output from the LIDAR system and returning to the LIDAR system. The LIDAR system also includes electronics that use a portion of the system return signal that returns to the LIDAR system during a data window to generate LIDAR data that indicates a radial velocity and/or distance between the LIDAR system and the object. The electronics tune the duration of the data window in response to the amount of the time delay.

Abstract: A device comprises three elements. The first element, comprising an optical gain structure and a laser cavity mirror structure, couples light to the second element, comprising a phase tuner. The second element couples phase tuned light to the third element. The third element, comprising an optical resonator with first and second coupler/splitter structures, provides a primary optical output from the second coupler/splitter structure. Light coupled into the optical resonator through the first coupler/splitter structure and then coupled out of the optical resonator though the first coupler/splitter structure is injected back into the optical gain structure through the second element. Light coupled out of the optical resonator through the second coupler/splitter structure is provided as the primary optical output.

Abstract: A multi-function sensor system including an auto-alignment system. The multi-function sensor system includes a laser module configured to provide a transmit beam and an auto-alignment beam, a shared aperture component, a first channel configured to direct the transmit beam and the auto-alignment beam to the shared aperture component, a second channel configured to receive the transmit beam from the shared aperture component and provide a receive beam to the shared aperture component, and a third channel including a passive imager configured to receive the auto-alignment beam and a first portion of the receive beam from the shared aperture component, wherein the auto-alignment beam propagates through the passive imager to provide an indication of a line of sight (LOS) of the transmit beam relative to a field of view (FOV) of the passive imager.

Abstract: An apparatus is presented for refractive beam steering in a LIDAR system. The apparatus includes a first scanner that receives a beam transmitted along an optical axis and projects the beam as a plurality of scan lines in a first plane between a first angle and a second angle, wherein the first angle and the second angle are defined with respect to the optical axis; a motor that is coupled to the first scanner; one or more processors that are configured to generate rotation information based on one or more components of a particular waveform and transmit a signal to the motor, the signal causing the motor to rotate the first scanner based on the rotation information.