Abstract: A situation awareness sensor includes a plurality of N sensor channels, each channel including an optical phased array (OPA) having a plurality of solid-state laser emitters, a command circuit and a detector. The command circuit controls the relative phase between the laser emitters to command a divergence, shape and exit angle of a spot-beam to scan a channel field-of-view (FOV). The OPAs may be controlled individually or in combination to command one or more spot-beams to scan an aggregate sensor FOV and to track one or more objects.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes optoelectronic modules that, in some implementations, address the need to combine precise measurements of scenes over a range of near and far distances. For example, an optoelectronic module can include a light emitter operable to direct modulated structured light onto a scene. The module includes an imager to receive reflected light signals from the scene. The imager includes demodulation pixels operable to provide amplitude and phase information based on the reflected light signals. Various techniques can be used to derive distance or three-dimensional information about the scene based on the signals from the pixels.

Abstract: A distance measuring device includes a plurality of image taking parts, a first distance information acquisition part that acquires distance information of an object for distance measuring from taken images that are taken by the plurality of image taking parts, an electromagnetic wave emission part that emits an electromagnetic wave, a reflected-wave receiving part that receives a reflected wave of an electromagnetic wave emitted from the electromagnetic wave emission part, and a second distance information acquisition part that acquires distance information of the object for distance measuring from a reflected wave received by the reflected-wave receiving part, wherein irradiation with an electromagnetic wave emitted from the electromagnetic wave emission part is executed under optical axes of the plurality of image taking parts.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a ladar system that includes a ladar transmitter, ladar receiver, and camera, where the camera that is co-bore sited with the ladar receiver, the camera configured to generate image data corresponding to a field of view for the ladar receiver. In an example embodiment, a mirror can be included in the optical path between a lens and photodetector in the ladar receiver, where the mirror (1) directs light within the light from the lens that corresponds to a first light spectrum in a first direction for reception by the camera and (2) directs light within the light from the lens that corresponds to a second light spectrum in a second direction for reception by the photodetector, wherein the second light spectrum includes ladar pulse reflections for processing by the ladar system.

Abstract: Panoramic videos are generated from multiple video feeds in real time received from multiple video cameras, such as an array of video cameras having overlapping fields of view. Texture mapping techniques are employed to correct lens distortion or other defects or deficiencies in the video frames in each of the video feeds caused by optical properties of the corresponding video camera. Video frames of related video feeds, such as the video feeds of cameras in an array of cameras having adjacent and overlapping fields of view, are seamlessly stitched automatically based on an initial manual configuration, again employing texture mapping techniques. A colour profile of the different video frames is normalized to provide a uniform and seamless colour profile of the video panoramic view.

Abstract: A light emitting element emits a modulated light modulated in a pattern having a repetitive period toward a space. A driving unit drives the light emitting element. A light receiving element distributes charges corresponding to an incident light containing a reflected light obtained by reflecting the modulated light on an object to storage capacitors and stores the distributed charges. A control unit controls an exposure of the light receiving element. A signal processing unit measures a distance to the object by using a value sampled by the light receiving element. The control unit controls the exposure of the light receiving element to give a sensitivity to at least one high-order harmonic. The signal processing unit linearly combines a component of a fundamental wave with a component of the at least one high-order harmonic to measure the distance to the object.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are examples of ladar systems and methods where data about a plurality of ladar returns from prior ladar pulse shots gets stored in a spatial index that associates ladar return data with corresponding locations in a coordinate space to which the ladar return data pertain. This spatial index can then be accessed by a processor to retrieve ladar return data for locations in the coordinate space that are near a range point to be targeted by the ladar system with a new ladar pulse shot. This nearby prior ladar return data can then be analyzed by the ladar system to help define a parameter value for use by the ladar system with respect to the new ladar pulse shot. Examples of such adaptively controlled parameter values can include shot energy, receiver parameters, shot selection, camera settings, and others.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium can be configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform a process. The process can include transmitting a plurality of laser beams at a feature on an object, and calculating a candidate shape parameter representing the feature based on a plurality of laser beams reflected from the feature. The process can include determining that the candidate shape parameter matches a measured shape parameter stored in a shape parameter database and representing a measured feature of the object, and identifying an absolute location corresponding with the measured feature of the object.

Abstract: A scanning optical system, includes a mirror unit equipped with a first mirror surface and a second mirror surface each of which inclines to a rotation axis; and a light projecting system which includes at least one light source to emit a light flux toward the first mirror surface. A light flux emitted from the light source is reflected on the first mirror surface of the mirror unit, thereafter, reflected on the second mirror surface, and then, projected so as to scan in a main scanning direction onto an object in accordance with rotation of the mirror unit, and in a case where a direction included in a main scanning plane is set to 0 degree, the light flux reflected on the second mirror surface is polarized in a range within an angle of ±30 degrees to the main scanning plane.

Abstract: Representative embodiments of the present technology include a device for measuring distance to an object. The device comprises a light emitter configured to emit an outbound light pulse and a light sensor configured to receive a returning light pulse and output a pulse signal representing the returning light pulse. The device further comprises a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) coupled to the light sensor and including a time-to-digital converter (TDC) having a series of sequentially coupled delay units. Individual sequentially coupled delay units are associated with corresponding individual delay times. At least some of the sequentially coupled delay units have different individual delay times. The TDC is configured to measure timing information of the pulse signal based at least in part on the individual delay times of the sequentially coupled delay units. The device further includes a controller configured to calculate the distance to the object based on the timing information.

Abstract: A laser scanner device adapted to be mounted to a vehicle, the device comprising a LIDAR module, the LIDAR module comprising at least one laser source, characterized by a horizontal field of view of at least 60°, an instantaneous vertical field of view of at least ±2°, a scan resolution of at least one point per 0.8° in horizontal and vertical direction, and a frame rate of at least 10 Hz for scanning at least the entire horizontal and instantaneous vertical field of view with said scan resolution.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device and method for conducting measurement of a Doppler shift caused by molecular and aerosol movement while simultaneously providing measurement of temperature using LIDAR. The device incorporates a light source; and a Fabry-Perot etalon having a resonant cavity formed with two plane parallel reflecting surfaces, wherein the light source is positioned relative to the a Fabry-Perot etalon such that light is injected into a plane parallel resonant cavity of the Fabry-Perot etalon at an angle of incidence other than normal to the reflecting surfaces. The Fabry-Perot etalon may be formed with each of the parallel reflecting surfaces having different reflectivities. The light source may be positioned to direct the light to bypass a first reflective surface of the plane parallel resonator cavity, and/or implemented using a divergent light source.

Abstract: A method for controlling at least a first vehicle sensor includes receiving sensor data generated by one or more vehicle sensors that are configured to sense an environment through which the vehicle is moving, and identifying, based on the received sensor data, one or more current and/or predicted positions of one or more dynamic objects that are currently moving, or are capable of movement, within the environment. The method also includes causing, based on the current and/or predicted positions of the dynamic objects, an area of focus of the first sensor to be adjusted, at least by causing (i) a field of regard of the first sensor, and/or (ii) a spatial distribution of scan lines produced by the first sensor, to be adjusted.

Abstract: An apparatus for laser distance measurement includes: a light-projecting circuit for projecting laser light emitted from a laser diode; a filter for transmitting a specific wavelength and suppressing a wavelength other than the specific wavelength; a photodetector including a plurality of photodetector elements, and configured to receive the laser light projected from the light-projecting circuit and reflected from a measurement object through the filter; and a controller for controlling a relative incidence angle of the reflected laser light with respect to the filter, wherein the controller causes a photodetector signal, which is to be used for calculating a distance to the measurement object, to be outputted from a photodetector element of the photodetector at a position to which a shift of a light-condensing position of the reflected laser light occurs as a result of the control of the relative incidence angle from the light-condensing position before the control.

Abstract: A Lidar system is provided. The Lidar system comprise: a light source configured to emit a multi-pulse sequence to measure a distance between the Lidar system and a location in a three-dimensional environment, and the multi-pulse sequence comprises multiple pulses having a temporal profile; a photosensitive detector configured to detect light pulses from the three-dimensional environment; and one or more processors configured to: determine a coding scheme comprising the temporal profile, wherein the coding scheme is determined dynamically based on one or more real-time conditions including an environment condition, a condition of the Lidar system or a signal environment condition; and calculate the distance based on a time of flight of a sequence of detected light pulses, wherein the time of flight is determined by determining a match between the sequence of detected light pulses and the temporal profile.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to limitation of noise on light detectors using an aperture. One example implementation includes a system. The system includes a lens that focuses light from a scene toward a focal plane. The system also includes an aperture defined within an opaque material. The system also includes a plurality of waveguides. A given waveguide of the plurality has an input end that receives a portion of light transmitted through the aperture, and guides the received portion toward an output end of the given waveguide. A cross-sectional area of the guided portion at the output end is greater than a cross-sectional area of the received portion at the input end. The system also includes an array of light detectors that detects the guided light transmitted through the output end.

Abstract: SPADs detect photons of a return light pulse and output corresponding pulse signals. First and second counters, when enabled in response to phase measurement value, are configured to count the pulse signals. The phase measurement value is set for a subsequent iteration of the return light pulse in response to processing of first and second count values of the first and second counters, respectively, for a current iteration. If the first count value exceeds the second count value by more than a difference threshold limit, the phase measurement value is decremented for the subsequent iteration. Otherwise, the phase measurement value is incremented for the subsequent iteration. If the difference threshold limit is not satisfied, the phase measurement value may be maintained for the subsequent iteration, but one of the counters is preloaded for the subsequent iteration with a value equal to a magnitude of the difference between the count values.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit pulses of light. The lidar system also includes multiple optical links and multiple sensor heads. Each optical link couples the light source to a corresponding sensor head, and each optical link is configured to convey at least a portion of the emitted pulses of light from the light source to the corresponding sensor head. Each sensor head includes a scanner configured to scan pulses of light across a field of regard of the sensor head, where the scanned pulses of light include the portion of the emitted pulses of light conveyed from the light source to the sensor head by the corresponding optical link. Each sensor head also includes a receiver configured to detect at least a portion of the scanned pulses of light scattered or reflected by a target located downrange from the sensor head.

Abstract: The present application generally relates communications and hazard avoidance within a monitored driving environment. More specifically, the application teaches a system for improved target object detection in a vehicle equipped with a laser detection and ranging LIDAR system by simultaneously transmitting multiple lasers in an array and resolving angular ambiguities using angle sensitive detection techniques.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein provide for substantially uniform steering of multiple laser beams of a laser rangefinder having different wavelengths, such as a rangefinder laser beam and a visible laser beam. This can allow a user of the laser rangefinder to use the visible laser beam to bore sight the range-finding laser beam to a weapon onto which the laser rangefinder is mounted. The uniform steering of the multiple laser beams can be done through the utilization of a Risley prism assembly with one or more Risley prisms having a center portion through which one laser beam travels and at least one annulus through which a second laser beam travels.