Abstract: Depth-sensing apparatus includes a laser, which is configured to emit pulses of optical radiation toward a scene. One or more detectors are configured to receive the optical radiation that is reflected from points in the scene and to output signals indicative of respective times of arrival of the received radiation. Control and processing circuitry is coupled to drive the laser to emit a succession of output sequences of the pulses with different, respective temporal spacings between the pulses within the output sequences in the succession, and to match the times of arrival of input sequences of the signals to the temporal spacings of the output sequences in order to find respective times of flight for the points in the scene.

Abstract: An example method involves rotating a sensor that emits light pulses and detects reflections of the emitted light pulses based on a pointing direction of the sensor. The method also involves identifying a range of pointing directions of the sensor that are associated with a target region of an environment. The method also involves determining whether a current pointing direction of the sensor is within the identified range. The method also involves modulating the emitted light pulses according to a first modulation scheme in response to a determination that the current pointing direction is within the identified range. The method also involves modulating the emitted light pulses according to a second modulation scheme in response to a determination that the current pointing direction is outside the identified range. The second modulation scheme is different than the first modulation scheme.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having improved obstacle detection precision. The vacuum cleaner includes a main casing, driving wheels, control unit, cameras, an image generation part, and a discrimination part. The driving wheels enable the main casing to travel. The control unit controls drive of the driving wheels to make the main casing autonomously travel. The cameras are disposed apart from each other in the main casing to pick up images on a traveling-direction side of the main casing. The image generation part generates a distance image of an object positioned on the traveling-direction side based on the images picked up by the cameras. The discrimination part discriminates whether or not the picked-up object is an obstacle based on the distance image generated by the image generation part.

Abstract: A laser scanner comprises a distance measuring component for measuring a distance to a measuring point, a frame unit which horizontally rotates, a scanning mirror which scans a distance measuring light by rotating vertically, angle detecting components for detecting a horizontal angle of the frame unit and a vertical angle of the scanning mirror and an arithmetic control component, wherein the arithmetic control component sets a distance between measuring points adjacent in a radial direction as a first distance between measuring points, sets a distance between measuring points adjacent in a circumferential direction as a second distance between measuring points, calculates a first interval of measuring angles which becomes the first distance between measuring points and a second interval of measuring angles which becomes the second distance between measuring points at a measuring point and acquires point cloud data of a plane to be measured based on the first interval of measuring angles and the second inter

Abstract: An optical system for measuring a distance to an object furnished with a plane mirror is disclosed. The optical distance measuring system includes a coherent light source projecting a laser beam, optical elements, and a one-dimensional photosensor. The optical elements split the laser beam into two laser beams and spread out the laser beam into a sheet of light whose orientation is perpendicular to a plane created by the propagation directions of the laser beams. The laser beams are reflected by the mirror and back to the photosensor. The photosensor detects incident light intensity distribution of the reflected laser beams with two local maxima, whose position can be employed to calculate the distance of the mirror and its momentary tilt angle.

Abstract: A vehicle-assistance system for classifying objects in a vehicle's surroundings is provided. The system may include at least one memory configured to store classification information for classifying a plurality of objects and at least one processor configured to receive, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, a plurality of measurements associated with LIDAR detection results. The measurements may include at least one of: a presence indication, a surface angle, object surface physical composition, and a reflectivity level. The at least one processor may also be configured to receive, on the pixel-by-pixel basis, at least one confidence level associated with each received measurement, and access the classification information. The at least one processor may further be configured to, based on the classification information and the received measurements with the at least one associated confidence level plurality, identify a of pixels as being associated with a particular object.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for improved scanning ladar transmission, including but not limited to an example embodiment where feedback control is used to finely control mirror scan positions.

Abstract: In one embodiment a LIDAR generates high-intensity laser pulses with intensities above a threshold intensity (e.g. above an eye-safe intensity) in a 2-D angular range in a field of view. The LIDAR further generates low-intensity (e.g. eye-safe) laser pulses in a protective guard region (e.g. a guard ring) that surrounds the high-intensity laser pulses. In response to detecting an aspect of an object using reflections from the low-intensity laser pulses (e.g. a person on a trajectory that will intersect the high-intensity laser pulses) the LIDAR modifies the angular range of subsequent high-intensity laser pulses. In this way the LIDAR can adapt or steer the angular range of the high-intensity laser pulses to avoid an object detected within the low-intensity guard region.

Abstract: An apparatus in accordance with the invention for the recording of distance images each having a plurality of distance image points comprises a plurality of transmitters arranged in an array respectively for the transmission of electromagnetic radiation into a recording region and at least one reception unit for the detection of radiation reflected from the recording region, an evaluation unit for determining distances of objects at which the transmitted radiation is reflected, with the distances each forming a distance image point, a deflection unit which repeatedly deflects the transmitted radiation within a scanning angle region into a scanning direction in order to consecutively generate a plurality of scanning patterns of distance image points per distance image, and a displacement unit that displaces consecutive scanning patterns against one another in a displacement direction by way of relative movements of optical elements, wherein each distance image comprises a plurality of scanning patterns of dist

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring a distance between an object of a scene and a Time-Of-Flight camera system, and providing a depth map of the object, the Time-Of-Flight camera system comprising an illumination unit, an imaging sensor having a matrix of pixels and image processing means, the method being characterized by the following steps: modifying in a discrete way the illumination of said illumination unit in order to illuminate elementary areas of the scene with different incident intensities, respectively, for distinguishing the direct incident light beams from the indirect incident light beams; receiving onto the pixels of the matrix of the sensor the beams reflected by said elementary areas and providing the image processing means with corresponding data; processing the said corresponding data for eliminating the influence of the indirect light beams in the depth map of the object.

Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) includes a polarized structured light generator, an imaging device and a controller. The structured light generator illuminates a local area with one or more polarized structured light patterns in accordance with emission instructions from the controller. The structured light generator comprises an illumination source, an acousto-optic device, and a polarizing element. The acousto-optic device generates a structured light pattern from an optical beam emitted from the illumination source. The polarizing element generates the one or more polarized structured light patterns using the structured light pattern. The imaging device captures portions of the one or more polarized structured light patterns scattered or reflected from the local area. The controller determines depth information, degree of polarization and index of refraction map for the local area based at least in part on the captured portions of the one or more scattered or reflected polarized structured light patterns.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of positioning a target object in a target space by means of a ranging apparatus, the method comprises: acquiring a first size parameter of the target space on a first dimension; acquiring a second size parameter of the target object on the first dimension; and determining a first layout indication according to the first size parameter, the second size parameter and a first predetermined rule, the first layout indication containing information regarding a first target position of the target object on the first dimension of the target space. By means of the method in accordance with the invention, a desired positioning of the target object in the target space by means of a ranging apparatus may be implemented, such as being placed at the center or being placed at a one-third aliquot point, thus implementing the object placement and layout in the object space.

Abstract: An optical emission circuit includes a power supply source and a regulation circuit coupled to control the power supply source. An optical source and a first switch are coupled in series to the power supply source. A square pulse signal source has an output coupled to a control input of the first switch. The square pulse signal source is configured to provide a square pulse signal. The regulation circuit regulates the current supplied by the power supply source according to a product of a peak current set point by a duty cycle of the square pulse signal.

Abstract: A LIDAR sensor assembly includes a main board, a board-to-board connector assembly, and a sensor component board. The main board has an edge. The board-to-board connector assembly is located on the main board and includes a housing. The housing includes a feature that aligns an angular orientation of the housing relative to the main board by engagement of the feature of the housing with the edge of the main board. The board-to-board connector also includes connector pins that are connected to the main board and are disposed within the housing. The sensor component board is connected to the main board by the connector pins of the board-to-board connector assembly to allow pivoting of the sensor component board relative to the main board over a limited angular range.

Abstract: A vehicle measurement station utilizing one or more displacement sensors disposed on each opposite side of an inspection region of a vehicle inspection lane to acquire displacement measurement data along associated measurement axes. At least a portion of the displacement measurement data is associated with the outermost wheel assemblies on an axle of a moving vehicle passing through the inspection region, and utilized to determine one or more vehicle characteristics, such as an axle total toe condition.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit an optical signal. The light source includes a seed laser diode configured to produce a seed optical signal and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) configured to amplify the seed optical signal to produce an amplified seed optical signal, where the emitted optical signal includes the amplified seed optical signal. The lidar system also includes a scanner configured to direct the emitted optical signal into a field of regard of the lidar system and a receiver configured to detect a portion of the emitted optical signal scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The lidar system further includes a processor configured to determine the distance from the lidar system to the target.

Abstract: Embodiments herein disclose a range detection system that includes a line-of-sight (LOS) emitter that outputs a LOS signal (e.g., visible light, infrared, etc.) which is detected at a receiver (e.g., a photodiode). The receiver outputs a signal representing the intensity of the LOS signal at the receiver. The output signal is converted into a digital signal which is then used to identify a distance value corresponding to the intensity of the LOS signal. For example, the range detection system may include a data structure that maps a plurality of digital signals to respective distance values. In this manner, the intensity of the LOS signal measured at the receiver can be correlated to a distance between the emitter and the receiver.

Abstract: A Lidar system may comprise a rotor and a stator. The rotor is configured to rotate with respect to the stator. The rotor comprises at least one supporting body and a plurality of light sources disposed on the at least one supporting body, the plurality of light sources configured to emit a plurality of first light beams. The plurality of light beams are non-uniformly distributed along a vertical direction in a vertical field of view of the Lidar system.

Abstract: Provided herein are a measurement device and an operation method thereof. The measurement device senses a distance variation between the measurement device and an object using a built-in proximity sensor and accordingly determines whether to turn on or turn off a track sensing module and an optical ranging module such that the measurement device provides intelligent selection to achieve energy saving without being interfered with by other sensors being turned on.

Abstract: Provided is a three-dimensional position measuring system, a three-dimensional position measuring method, and a measuring module with which measurement can be performed without a special operation constraint even in state where a measuring module is inclined. The three-dimensional position measuring system includes a measuring module that includes a target, an omnidirectional camera, and a triaxial accelerometer, and is grasped a positional relationship among the target, the omnidirectional camera, and a measurement point, and a surveying instrument including a light output section that outputs light toward the target and a measurement section that performs distance measuring and angle measuring to the target. Since the measuring module including the target is equipped with the omnidirectional camera and the triaxial accelerometer, a posture direction of the measuring module can be identified.