Abstract: Techniques described herein include performing a distributed device trust determination that includes determining trust scores for customer devices across multiple organizations. In one example, this disclosure describes a method that includes receiving data of a user device event including an organization confidence level for a user device associated with the user device event; updating common data in an entry for the user device in a device registry based on the received data of the user device event and the organization confidence level for the user device; determining a common confidence level for the user device based on the common data in the entry for the user device in the device registry; and outputting the common confidence level for the user device for use by the computing device of the first organization to determine how to handle an access request from the user device.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that may efficiently detect multi-return light signals. A light detection and ranging system, such as a LIDAR system, may fire a laser beam that may hit multiple objects with a different distance in one line, causing multi-return light signals to be received by the system. Multi-return detectors may be able to analyze the peak magnitude of a plurality of peaks in the return signals and determine a multitude of peaks, such as the first peak, the last peak and the maximum peak. One embodiment to detect the multi-return light signals may be a multi-return recursive matched filter detector. This detector comprises a matched filter, peak detector, centroid calculation and a zeroing out function. Other embodiments may be based on a maximum finder that algorithmically selects the highest magnitude peaks from samples of the return signal and buffers for regions of interests peaks.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for improving detection of a return signal in a light ranging and detection system. The system comprises a transmitter and a receiver. A first sequence of pulses may be encoded with an anti-spoof signature and transmitted in a laser beam. A return signal, comprising a second sequence of pulses, may be received by the receiver and the anti-spoof signature extracted from the second sequence of pulses. If based on the extraction, the first and second sequences of pulses match, the receiver outputs return signal data. If based on the extraction, the first and second sequence of pulses do not match, the return signal is disregarded. The system may dynamically change the anti-spoofing signature for subsequent sequences of pulses. Additionally, the first sequence of pulses may be randomized relative to a prior sequence of pulses.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that implement a dual axis resonant scanning mirror to support a sensor system such as a LIDAR system. The scanning mirror may comprise: 1) a small dual axis mirror, in which each axis is moving by similar electromagnetic mechanisms can generate crosstalk between each of these electromagnetic mechanisms causing perturbations in the motion; 2) a primary axis that may need to be driven independently of the motion of a secondary axis and vice versa; 3) an optical position sensor; 4) a scanning mirror assembly that may be mounted to a scanner base via the secondary axis. The scanning mirror assembly may comprise resonant spring, resonant spring assembly, the rocking chair (with electromagnetic drive coils), the scanner base with a set of two secondary axis propulsion magnets, the mirror with a spacer and primary axis propulsion magnets, and the optical sense board.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for aligning circuit boards (e.g., for LIDAR systems) are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an electronic device comprises a secondary device and a coupling device coupled to the secondary device. The coupling device comprises a plurality of conductive members, including a first conductive member and a second conductive member. Each of the conductive members comprises a first end configured to electrically and mechanically couple to a primary circuit board and a second end electrically and mechanically coupled to the secondary device. Each of the plurality of conductive members has an attribute adjustable in response to a condition being added to the respective conductive member, and is configured to maintain the adjusted attribute after the condition is removed.

Abstract: A method of detecting welded contacts in a relay. The method includes performing, at a first point in time, the applying of a drive to the activation coil to conduct a coil current through the activation coil, the coil current increasing to a first current level, the first current level being less than a pull-in current of the relay; responsive to the coil current reaching the first current level, turning off the drive to the activation coil to discharge the coil current at a first clamping voltage; and measuring a first discharge time corresponding to a first inductance from the turning off of the drive to the activation coil to the coil current reaching a second current level, the second current level being less than the first current level. These operations are repeated at a second point in time to obtain a second inductance. Comparison of the first inductance and second inductance determines whether a difference between the first and second inductances exceeds a comparison criterion.

Abstract: A method of detecting welded contacts in a relay. The method includes performing, at a first point in time, the applying of a drive to the activation coil to conduct a coil current through the activation coil, the coil current increasing to a first current level, the first current level being less than a pull-in current of the relay; responsive to the coil current reaching the first current level, turning off the drive to the activation coil to discharge the coil current at a first clamping voltage; and measuring a first discharge time corresponding to a first inductance from the turning off of the drive to the activation coil to the coil current reaching a second current level, the second current level being less than the first current level. These operations are repeated at a second point in time to obtain a second inductance. Comparison of the first inductance and second inductance determines whether a difference between the first and second inductances exceeds a comparison criterion.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic detection system that uses frequency-modulation or phase-modulation coding to distinguish emitted bursts from multiple transducers, a receiver associated with a transducer uses peak search, peak buffer, and peak rank stages in one or more receiver signal processing paths to identify valid received ultrasonic signal envelope peaks in correlator outputs. The peak rank stage can support different modes respectively designed to handle one code, two or more codes, or two or more codes with support for Doppler frequency shift detection. Valid peak information (e.g., amplitude and time) can be reported to a central controller and/or stored locally in a fusion stage to generate more intelligent information for targets or obstacles using peaks from multiple bursts.

Abstract: Examples of contactor controllers, systems and methods time-modulate levels of high-side (HS) and low-side (LS) clamp voltages in a contactor controller to switch a path through which current flows during quick-turn-off (QTO) of the contactor controller. One of the clamp voltages is at a high level and the other is at a low level. The output voltage of the contactor controller is held at the low level. The path switching may be a function of one or more parameters. In a configuration, the level of a supply voltage of the contactor controller is monitored and used to control the path switching. In a configuration, temperatures of HS and LS transistors of the contactor controller are monitored and used to control the path switching. Control of the path switching may be performed to dissipate power in a larger area to increase thermal performance of the contactor controller. Both clamps may remain active throughout the QTO process, providing redundancy and safety.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing three dimensional LIDAR measurements with an integrated LIDAR measurement device are described herein. In one aspect, a return signal receiver generates a pulse trigger signal that triggers the generation of a pulse of illumination light and data acquisition of a return signal, and also triggers the time of flight calculation by time to digital conversion. In addition, the return signal receiver also estimates the width and peak amplitude of each return pulse, and samples each return pulse waveform individually over a sampling window that includes the peak amplitude of each return pulse waveform. In a further aspect, the time of flight associated with each return pulse is estimated based on a coarse timing estimate and a fine timing estimate. In another aspect, the time of flight is measured from the measured pulse due to internal optical crosstalk and a valid return pulse.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for configuring architectures for a sensor, and more particularly for light detection and ranging (hereinafter, “LIDAR”) systems based on ASIC sensor architectures supporting autonomous navigation systems. Effective ASIC sensor architecture can enable an improved correlation between sensor data as well as configurability and responsiveness of the system to its surrounding environment and avoid any unnecessary delay within the decision-making process that may result in a failure of the autonomous driving system. It may be essential to integrated multiple functions within an electronic module and implement the functionality with one or more ASICs.

Abstract: Methods and systems for combining return signals from multiple channels of a LIDAR measurement system are described herein. In one aspect, the outputs of multiple receive channels are electrically coupled before input to a single channel of an analog to digital converter. In another aspect, a DC offset voltage is provided at the output of each transimpedance amplifier of each receive channel to improve measured signal quality. In another aspect, a bias voltage supplied to each photodetector of each receive channel is adjusted based on measured temperature to save power and improve measurement consistency. In another aspect, a bias voltage supplied to each illumination source of each transmit channel is adjusted based on measured temperature. In another aspect, a multiplexer is employed to multiplex multiple sets of output signals of corresponding sets of receive channels before analog to digital conversion.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic detection system that uses frequency-modulation coding to distinguish emitted bursts from multiple transducers, a receiver associated with a transducer uses dynamic thresholding to discriminate valid echoes from system and environmental noise in multiple envelope signals produced by multiple correlators. The time-varying dynamic thresholds are generated from the mean of noise in a respective envelope derived from the output of a respective correlator. Multiple thresholds can be combined together such that a single time-varying threshold is applied to all correlators' envelopes. Such thresholding has the benefits of a constant false-alarm rate with regard to detection of echoes (as opposed to false triggering from noise), and, owing to finer-resolution and adaptive thresholds, can detect targets or obstacles as further distances and with greater time responsiveness.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for generating, processing and correlating data from multiple sensors in an autonomous navigation system, and more particularly to the utilization of configurable and dynamic sensor modules within light detection and ranging systems that enable an improved correlation between sensor data as well as configurability and responsiveness of the system to its surrounding environment.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for improving detection of a return signal in a light ranging and detection system. The system comprises a transmitter and a receiver. A first sequence of pulses may be encoded with an anti-spoof signature and transmitted in a laser beam. A return signal, comprising a second sequence of pulses, may be received by the receiver and the anti-spoof signature extracted from the second sequence of pulses. If based on the extraction, the first and second sequences of pulses match, the receiver outputs return signal data. If based on the extraction, the first and second sequence of pulses do not match, the return signal is disregarded. The system may dynamically change the anti-spoofing signature for subsequent sequences of pulses. Additionally, the first sequence of pulses may be randomized relative to a prior sequence of pulses.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that may efficiently detect multi-return light signals. A light detection and ranging system, such as a LIDAR system, may fire a laser beam that may hit multiple objects with a different distance in one line, causing multi-return light signals to be received by the system. Multi-return detectors may be able to analyze the peak magnitude of a plurality of peaks in the return signals and determine a multitude of peaks, such as the first peak, the last peak and the maximum peak. One embodiment to detect the multi-return light signals may be a multi-return recursive matched filter detector. This detector comprises a matched filter, peak detector, centroid calculation and a zeroing out function. Other embodiments may be based on a maximum finder that algorithmically selects the highest magnitude peaks from samples of the return signal and buffers for regions of interests peaks.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for configuring architectures for a sensor, and more particularly for light detection and ranging (hereinafter, “LIDAR”) systems based on ASIC sensor architectures supporting autonomous navigation systems. Effective ASIC sensor architecture can enable an improved correlation between sensor data as well as configurability and responsiveness of the system to its surrounding environment and avoid any unnecessary delay within the decision-making process that may result in a failure of the autonomous driving system. It may be essential to integrated multiple functions within an electronic module and implement the functionality with one or more ASICs.

Abstract: Methods and systems for combining return signals from multiple channels of a LIDAR measurement system are described herein. In one aspect, the outputs of multiple receive channels are electrically coupled before input to a single channel of an analog to digital converter. In another aspect, a DC offset voltage is provided at the output of each transimpedance amplifier of each receive channel to improve measured signal quality. In another aspect, a bias voltage supplied to each photodetector of each receive channel is adjusted based on measured temperature to save power and improve measurement consistency. In another aspect, a bias voltage supplied to each illumination source of each transmit channel is adjusted based on measured temperature. In another aspect, a multiplexer is employed to multiplex multiple sets of output signals of corresponding sets of receive channels before analog to digital conversion.

Abstract: Ultrasonic sensing systems and associated methods provide side-lobe reduction to improve the acoustic detection of small objects, the signature envelope peaks of which can otherwise be obscured by subsidiary envelope peaks in side lobes that result from residual correlation between a signal received by an ultrasonic transducer and a template signal corresponding to a burst signal emitted by the ultrasonic transducer. A shaping signal by which the amplitude of the burst signal can be varied with respect to time is taken into account in the template signal, and correlator circuitry correlates a signal derived from the ultrasonic transducer with the template signal to produce a correlated output exhibiting the desired side-lobe reduction. The distance from the transducer to the detected object can thereby be determined with enhanced accuracy and responsiveness.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for generating, processing and correlating data from multiple sensors in an autonomous navigation system, and more particularly to the utilization of configurable and dynamic sensor modules within light detection and ranging systems that enable an improved correlation between sensor data as well as configurability and responsiveness of the system to its surrounding environment.