Abstract: A sensor comprises a detector defining a zone axis and adapted to receive a signal from within a zone around the zone axis and to generate an electrical signal, and a display module defining a display plane and adapted to display a pattern in the display plane based on the electrical signal, the display being oriented along an axis forming an angle with the zone axis such that the pattern is visible both from a direction parallel to the zone axis and from a direction perpendicular to the zone axis. In certain examples, the angle is about 45°, 40°-50°, 35°-55° or 25°-65°.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing distance information of a scene with a time-of-flight camera, comprising the steps of emitting a modulated light pulse towards the scene, receiving reflections of the modulated light pulse from the scene, evaluating a time-of-flight information for the received reflections of the modulated light pulse, and deriving distance information from the time-of-flight information for the received reflections, whereby a spread spectrum signal is applied to a base frequency of the modulation of the light pulse, and the time-of-flight information is evaluated under consideration of the a spread spectrum signal applied to the base frequency of the modulation of the light pulse. The invention further relates to a time-of-flight camera for providing distance information from a scene, whereby the time-of-flight camera performs the above method.

Abstract: A charge-modulation element includes a first charge-accumulation region, a second charge-accumulation region, a third charge-accumulation region, and a fourth charge-accumulation region, provided symmetric with respect to a center position of a light-receiving area, and a first field-control electrode pair, a second field-control electrode pair, a third field-control electrode pair, and a fourth field-control electrode pair, arranged on both sides of respective charge transport paths, for changing depletion potentials of the charge transport paths, which extend from the center position of the light-receiving area to the first charge-accumulation region, the second charge-accumulation region, the third charge-accumulation region, and the fourth charge-accumulation region.

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: A distance camera includes at least one photo element, a trigger generator activating the photo element during a temporal integration gate, a light source illuminating an object with light pulses having a predetermined temporal intensity profile with a duration Tp, and an intensity sensor determining the intensity Ip of the light pulses arriving on the photo element. The integration gate has a predetermined delay to the light pulse emission start point in order to capture the light pulses back reflected from the object. The photo element outputs a signal value U at an integration end point in time T1e and in accordance with an intensity Ip and a duration of the light pulse arriving on the photo element during its activation.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for improved scanning ladar transmission, including but not limited to an example embodiment where a dynamic scan pattern for a scanning ladar transmission system includes interline skipping and detouring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surveying apparatus, in particular tachymeter, laser scanner, profiler or laser tracker, comprising an electronic laser distance measuring module, which comprises an optical transmission channel and an optical reception channel for laser measurement radiation, wherein a variable optical attenuation unit for the laser measurement radiation is provided in the optical transmission channel and/or optical reception channel. According to the invention, light impinging on the attenuation unit is attenuated by means of liquid crystals. The attenuation unit comprises at least one polarizer, in particular comprising a polarization sheet, a liquid crystal shutter, in particular comprising nematic liquid crystals, having a variable transmission, a first analyzer, in particular comprising a polarization sheet.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an optical amplifier includes a first pump laser diode and a second pump laser diode. The first pump laser diode is configured to produce pump light that includes a first amount of optical power at a first wavelength, and the second pump laser diode is configured to produce pump light that includes a second amount of optical power at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. The optical amplifier also includes an optical gain fiber configured to receive the pump light from the first and second pump laser diodes and provide optical gain for an optical signal propagating through the optical gain fiber. The optical amplifier further includes a controller configured to adjust the first amount of optical power produced by the first pump laser diode and the second amount of optical power produced by the second pump laser diode.

Abstract: A technique for is presented for locating at least one object illuminated by a laser designator. A detector and an optical unit are provided. The one optical unit is configured for receiving a beam of laser light scattered by the at least one object being illuminated by the laser designator, for creating two secondary beams, and for focusing the two secondary beams to respective foci along an optical axis of the at least one optical unit. The detector is located between the two foci, divided into an even number of portions, and is configured for measuring an intensity of impinging light at each portion. The optical unit is configured for causing the received laser light to impinge the detector, such that an upright image and an inverted image of the scattered laser light beam having substantially equal sizes and substantially equal energies are projected on the detector.

Abstract: A system and a method for determining a position and an orientation of an object relative to a defined reference frame is disclosed. A plurality of targets are disposed at known locations relative to the defined reference frame. A head assembly is disposed on the object, where the head assembly includes a plurality of cameras. The head assembly determines the position and the orientation of the object from location data associated with the plurality of targets and image data from the plurality of cameras.

Abstract: Solid-state electronic light detection and ranging (LIDAR) is disclosed. In one aspect, an electronic device for use in a LIDAR system is provided. The electronic device includes a plurality of electrically controllable light-direction-changing elements. The electronic device is configured to receive, from a laser, a beam of light. The electronic device also receives, from a controller, a series of signals that control the electrically controllable light-direction-changing elements to generate a successive series of different diffraction grating patterns configured to move at least one intensity maxima to a corresponding successive series of locations across a field of view (FOV).

Abstract: To solve depth of field issues when scanning, transmitting, and receiving light pulses in a lidar system, a receiver in the lidar system may include a lens having a lens plane in front of one or several photodetectors arranged on a detector plane. The lens plane and the detector plane may be nonparallel with respect to each other creating a wedge shaped depth of field. In this manner, return light pulses from far away and nearby targets may stay in focus.

Abstract: In one embodiment a laser range finder generates high-intensity laser pulses with intensities above a threshold intensity (e.g. above an eye-safe intensity) in an adaptive-intensity region of the field of view. The laser range finder further generates lower intensity (e.g. eye-safe) laser pulses in a protective guard region (e.g. a guard ring) that surrounds the high-intensity laser pulses. The guard region is located in the FOV such that ingress paths to the adaptive-intensity region must first traverse the lower-intensity guard region. The laser range finder analyzes laser reflections from the guard region to improve timely prediction of object intrusion into the adaptive-intensity region, thereby providing time to determine object trajectory or object classification. Upon determination that an object is likely to intersect the high-intensity laser pulses the laser range finder can discontinue the high-intensity laser pulses and instead generate laser pulses below the threshold intensity (e.g.

Abstract: The ACASS 3D LIDAR system operates in a fundamentally new manner combining features of flash LIDARS and scanning LIDARS simultaneously which enables mission and performance trades to be conducted by varying the sizes of illumination patches within the scenes being observed. Further the combination of these modes of operation into a single LIDAR system enables multiple modes of operation and multiple missions to be accomplished with single lasers obviating the need for multiple lasers and enabling significant simplification of beam control modes. Systems which result from the new, expanded size, weight, power, cost trade space enabled by the ACASS concept can provide new levels of performance at significantly reduced risks and costs The achievement of wide area, three dimensional imaging using a LIDAR sensor system is accomplished with one laser which operates using an eye safe fiber laser with very high puke 13 rates but very low energy per pulse.

Abstract: Laser radar systems include a pentaprism configured to scan a measurement beam with respect to a target surface. A focusing optical assembly includes a corner cube that is used to adjust measurement beam focus. Target distance is estimated based on heterodyne frequencies between a return beam and a local oscillator beam. The local oscillator beam is configured to propagate to and from the focusing optical assembly before mixing with the return beam. In some examples, heterodyne frequencies are calibrated with respect to target distance using a Fabry-Perot interferometer having mirrors fixed to a lithium aluminosilicate glass-ceramic tube.

Abstract: A mobile three-dimensional (3D) measuring system includes a 3D measuring device, a multi-legged stand coupled to the 3D measuring device, and a motorized dolly detachably coupled to the multi-legged stand.

Abstract: A laser detection and ranging device for detecting an object under a water surface, the laser detection and ranging device having a laser transmitter being configured to modulate a laser beam by a binary pseudo-random coding sequence to obtain a modulated laser beam, and to transmit the modulated laser beam towards the water surface, a laser detector for detecting a reflected laser beam, the reflected laser beam forming a reflected version of the transmitted laser beam, and a processor for detecting the object under the water surface upon the basis of the reflected laser beam.

Abstract: An atmospheric turbulence data optical LIDAR system for computation of wind velocity includes a laser (16) to transmit one or more beams to a target, an optical head (10) including a transmitting optics (12) and a collecting lens (14) for receiving one or more corresponding beam returns from the target. A detection system (18) includes a multi-element detector array at near a focal plane of the collecting lens. For each element of the multi-element detector array there is a specific optical path in the atmosphere leading from the laser to the target and back from the target to the element. A processor measures (20) signal fluctuations of an element of the multi-element detector array and computes therefrom crosswind velocity of wind in the atmosphere. The processor calculates turbulence strength changes.

Abstract: Disclosed are a laser range finding sensor and a range finding method therefor. The laser range finding sensor comprises a motor (120), a control box (130), and a coded disc (150). Under a drive of the motor, the control box rotates relative to the coded disc. The coded disc comprises a plurality of range finding teeth (151). The control box comprises a range finding unit (142), a detection portion (144), and a control unit (140). The detection portion comprises a light transmitter (1440) and a light receiver (1441) disposed opposite to each other. The control box rotates relative to the coded disc, so that the range finding teeth pass between respective positions of the light transmitter and the light receiver. The control box rotates under the drive of the motor for scanning and distance measuring and records a measured distance value in the control unit. The control unit automatically calculates a corresponding local rotation speed when the coded disc rotates by a set angle.

Abstract: An FM LIDAR system is described that includes a frequency modulated LIDAR system that incorporates a laser source that is optically coupled to a whispering gallery mode optical resonator. Light from the laser that is coupled into the whispering gallery mode optical resonator is coupled back out as a returning counterpropagating wave having a frequency characteristic of a whispering gallery mode of the optical resonator. This returning wave is used to reduce the linewidth of the source laser by optical injection. Modulation of the optical properties of the whispering gallery mode optical resonator results in modulation of the frequency of the frequencies supported by whispering gallery modes of the resonator, and provides a method for producing highly linear and reproducible optical chirps that are highly suited for use in a LIDAR system. Methods of using such an FM LIDAR system and vehicle assisting systems that incorporate such FM LIDAR systems are also described.