Abstract: A laser radar device performs control to make a focus distance of transmission light equal to a measurement distance by switching a plurality of laser light sources that emit beams of oscillation light having wavelengths different from each other to switch emission directions of the transmission light while maintaining the focus position of optical antennas, and changing the wavelength of the beams of oscillation light according to the measurement distance.

Abstract: An optical system, a method and an apparatus for diagnosing the optical system are provided. The optical system includes a laser sensor, and a tubular sleeve surrounding the laser sensor and configured to move upwards or downwards relative to the laser sensor to cover or expose the laser sensor. The method includes: driving the tubular sleeve to cover the laser sensor to form an enclosed chamber; filling the enclosed chamber with fluid; controlling at least one of the one or more transmitters to emit an optical signal into the fluid; controlling at least one of the one or more receivers to detect a scattered signal of the optical signal; determining whether the at least one of the one or more transmitters or the at least one of the one or more receivers has a fault based on the scattered signal.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided for enhanced multispectral sensor calibration. A device may include a first layer having copper, a second layer having solder material, the second layer above the first layer, and a third layer having a white silkscreen material, the third layer above the second layer. Regarding the device, the first layer may be used for calibration of a thermal sensor, the second layer may be used for calibration of an image sensor and calibration of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor, and the third layer may be used for the calibration of the image sensor and the calibration of the LIDAR sensor.

Abstract: An indirect time of flight range calculation apparatus comprises a light source, a photonic mixer that generates a plurality of output signals corresponding to a first plurality of phase values. A signal processor is also provided to calculate a first vector and a first angle from the first vector. The photonic mixer generates a second plurality of electrical output signals corresponding to a second plurality of phase values. Each phase value of the second plurality of phase values is respectively offset with respect to each phase value of the first plurality of phase values by a predetermined phase offset value. The signal processor processes the second plurality of electrical output signals in order to calculate a second vector, and de-rotates the second vector calculated and calculates a second angle from the de-rotated vector before offsetting the second angle against the first angle, thereby generating a corrected output angle.

Abstract: An efficient approach to reconstruct the scanner trajectory of the mobile LIDAR system from the point cloud with minimal user parameters. The process of reconstructing trajectory comprises four steps: (1) spin rate estimation, (2) scan plane estimation, (3) scan origin estimation, and (4) global smoothing.

Abstract: A heater is provided to heat an optical window. The inner face of the optical window is partitioned by the shield plate into a first part for the phototransmitter and a second part for the photoreceiver, the first part for the phototransmitter being arranged to face the first space, the second part for the photoreceiver being arranged to face the second space. The heater includes a first film, a second film, two phototransmitter electrodes, and two photoreceiver electrodes. The first film is a transparent conductive film arranged to cover the first part for the phototransmitter. The second film is a transparent conductive film arranged to cover the second part for the photoreceiver. The two phototransmitter electrodes are configured to energize the first film. The two photoreceiver electrodes are configured to energize the second film.

Abstract: An optical system is described, in particular for a LIDAR device, which includes a lens array having a multitude of microlenses and a lens system for deflecting beams out of a scanning area or into the scanning area, the lens system being situated in the beam path between the scanning area and the lens array, the system including at least one wedge array having a multitude of wedge elements situated upstream or downstream from the lens array in the radiation direction, a number of wedge elements equaling a number of microlenses. A LIDAR device is also described.

Abstract: A multiple target tracker and beam steerer utilizes a MEMs MMA for beam steering to simultaneously illuminate multiple tracked targets per frame. The MMA can be adaptively segmented to change the number of output beams, and the power in a given beam, based on a list of tracked targets, range to targets, threat level etc. The MMA can be adaptively configured to simultaneously perform one or more Designation, Range Finding and Active Imaging modes on the same or different tracked targets. The MMA can be segmented so that each segment includes a plurality of mirrors to “oversample” the input beam. The mirrors in a given segment may be controlled to provide wavefront correction to the corresponding output beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser rangefinder having common optical path comprising a housing assembly, a control and display assembly mounted in the housing assembly, a mounting device mounted in the housing assembly, an imaging module mounted on the mounting device and a laser module movably mounted on the mounting device longitudinally next to the imaging module, the laser module being electrically connected with the control and display assembly, the laser module comprising a laser emitting apparatus, a laser receiving apparatus and a reference point indicating apparatus, wherein a light path of the laser emitting apparatus and a light path of the laser receiving apparatus are configured to be independent to a light path of the reference point indicating apparatus, an optical axis of light path of the laser emitting apparatus shooting at the target object and an optical axis of the reference point indicating apparatus are collinear.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for a vibrated polarizing beam splitter for improved return light. An example method may involve emitting, by an emitter, a first light pulse. The example method may also involve reflecting, by a polarizing beam splitter in a first position, the first light pulse, wherein the polarizing beam splitter is at a first angle of incidence in the first position. The example method may also involve adjusting, subsequent to the polarizing beam splitter reflecting the first light pulse, a position of the polarizing beam splitter from the first position to a second position, wherein the polarizing beam splitter is at a second angle of incidence in the second position. The example method may also involve transmitting, by the polarizing beam splitter, a return light pulse through the polarizing beam splitter, the return light pulse based on the first light pulse. The example method may also involve detecting, by a detector, the return light pulse.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and systems to alternate power-level scanning for ToF lidar systems. The described lidar system transmits an initial signal having a first power level of an alternating pattern of power levels. The initial signal is associated with an initial pixel of consecutive pixels. The lidar system then transmits a subsequent signal, which is associated with a subsequent pixel of the consecutive pixels, having a second power level. The transmission of the initial signal and the subsequent signal with the alternating pattern of power levels limits a total power level emitted by the lidar system during a time interval to comply with safety regulations. The alternating pattern of power levels also permits the lidar system to switch between a long-detection range and a short-detection range for consecutive pixels.

Abstract: Provided is a lidar device for a vehicle including an optical transmitter configured to transmit an outgoing optical signal, an optical receiver configured to receive a plurality of return optical signals incident in different directions, at least one temperature sensor configured to identify a temperature of the lidar device, and a processor operatively coupled with the optical transmitter, the optical receiver, and the at least one temperature sensor. The processor is configured to control the optical transmitter to transmit the outgoing optical signal configured to detect an object, receive an object optical signal, reflected by the object, through the optical receiver, identify a temperature of the lidar device through the temperature sensor in response to the identifying of intensity of the object optical signal being less than reference intensity, and adjust a bandpass of an optical filter of the optical receiver based on the temperature of the lidar device.

Abstract: Lidar detection device based on a lens and an integrated beam transceiver, comprising a laser, a coupling fiber, a substrate, an input waveguide, a connection waveguide, a 1×N optical switch, a switch electrical interface, N switch output waveguides, N transceiving units, an off-chip processor and a lens, wherein N is a positive integer above 2. The invention can realize three-dimensional detection of a target, and the invention has the characteristics of two-dimensional beam steering independent of wavelength switching, low control complexity, low electric power consumption, receiving and emitting monolithic integration and high receiving efficiency, and being compatible with two laser ranging functions of ToF and FMCW.

Abstract: A Lidar system is provided. The Lidar system includes a laser emitter transmitting a first signal of a first wavelength. The Lidar system includes a filter receiving the first signal. The Lidar system includes a first dichroic filter switch filtering the first signal received by the variable waveplate or other filter. The Lidar system includes a receiver sensor receiving the filtered first signal. The Lidar system includes the laser emitter transmitting a second signal of a second wavelength. The Lidar system includes the variable waveplate or other filter receiving the second signal. The Lidar system includes the first dichroic filter switch filtering the second signal. The Lidar system includes the receiver sensor receiving the filtered second signal. A processor determines a distance of a target based on the received filtered first and second signals.

Abstract: A distance measurement device includes a light emitting unit; a light receiving unit; a distance calculation unit that calculates a distance to an object; and a controller that controls the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit to determine whether or not there is interference from another distance measurement device, from a distance calculation result from the distance calculation unit. The controller includes a light emission and exposure period-setting unit that sets a light emission and exposure period of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, a distance variation measurement unit that measures a variation of distance values repeatedly obtained in a predetermined duration by the distance calculation unit, and an interference determination unit that compares a distance variation value to a threshold value which is determined in advance, to determine whether or not there is interference.

Abstract: A method of acquiring distance information of an object by using a LiDAR apparatus includes: irradiating a first laser light of a first type toward surroundings of the LiDAR apparatus for a first time period; receiving a first reflected laser light of the first laser light reflected from a first object located around the LiDAR apparatus, by using an optical sensor of the LiDAR apparatus; irradiating a second laser light of a second type, which is different from the first type, toward the surroundings of the LiDAR apparatus for a second time period following the first time period; receiving a second reflected laser light of the second laser light reflected from a second object located around the LiDAR apparatus, by using the optical sensor; and acquiring an image frame including distance information representing a distance between the LiDAR apparatus and the first object and distance information representing a distance between the LiDAR apparatus and the second object, based on the first reflected laser light

Abstract: A monitoring device performs a method of detecting a need for maintenance of an exercise machine comprising a time-of-flight, ToF, sensor. The method comprises obtaining a measurement signal from the ToF sensor at a predefined operating condition of the exercise machine. Based on the measurement signal, the method determines a measured distance between the ToF sensor and a reflective element in the exercise machine. The measured distance has been found to be responsive to accumulation of deposits on the ToF sensor and is thus evaluated by the method to detect a need for cleaning. The method thereby enables preventive maintenance.

Abstract: Reselection of an instrument point, due to the limited emission range of a scanning laser light, is performed with decreased burden. A total station equipped with a laser scanner has a combined structure of a total station and a laser scanner. The total station equipped with the laser scanner includes a point cloud data acquiring unit, a distance acquiring unit, and an instrument point calculator. The point cloud data acquiring unit acquires point cloud data that is obtained through laser scanning performed by the laser scanner set up at a first instrument point. The distance acquiring unit acquires a distance to the laser scanner of each point in the point cloud data. The instrument point calculator calculates a location of a second instrument point on the basis of an upper limit of the distance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to calibrating an imaging and ranging subsystem. Sensor data indicative of one or more targets from the imaging and ranging subsystem, location data defining a geographical location of the imaging and ranging subsystem, orientation data defining an orientation of the imaging and ranging subsystem and stored translation and rotation values of the imaging and ranging subsystem are received. Estimated Doppler values for the target are provided by the sensor data and theoretical Doppler values for the targets are also calculated. The estimated Doppler values are compared to the theoretical Doppler values to determine if calibration of the imaging and ranging subsystem is required. If calibration is necessary, correction translation and correction rotation values are calculated in order to calculate updated translation and rotation values used to calibrate the imaging and ranging subsystem.

Abstract: A method for optical distance measurement is suggested, wherein a first distribution of times-of-flight of light of detected photons of transmitted measurement pulses is determined, which is stored in a first memory area of a memory unit. The first distribution of times-of-flight of light is assigned to time intervals of a first plurality of time intervals and frequency portions of the first distribution above a predetermined cut-off frequency are reduced or suppressed by means of a low pass filter in a reduction step, so that a second distribution of times-of-flight of light is generated. The second distribution is assigned to time intervals of a second plurality of time intervals and the blocking frequency of the low pass filter is selected to be smaller than or equal to half of the reciprocal value of a smallest interval width of the second plurality of time intervals.