Abstract: A laser submodule for generating rapid laser pulses comprises a linear array of n lasers. Each laser of the n lasers has an anode and a cathode. Each of the cathodes is electrically connected to a common reference node. The submodule further comprises n charging capacitors. Each charging capacitor is electrically connected to the anode of a corresponding laser of the n lasers through a respective discharging inductance. The laser module further comprises n charging circuits. Each charging circuit is configured to charge one of the n charging capacitors through a respective charging inductance. The charging inductance for each charging capacitor is greater than the discharging inductance for the respective charging capacitor.

Abstract: A laser module comprises a plurality of laser submodules with a respective plurality of lasers. Each laser submodule has a driver IC. Each driver IC controls several lasers. The driver ICs of the laser module can use the received signals of photodetectors to homogenize and readjust the real emission amplitude of the laser pulses for all lasers of the laser module and regulate the emission point in time of the respective real laser pulses to a synchronization signal. The driver IC can detect a failure of a laser by the photodetector belonging to it and output an error signal. The lasers directly coupled with the photodetectors in a compact design.

Abstract: A lidar receiver circuit for receiving optical signals using photodetectors to detect events or objects in the surrounding area, with a redundancy of receiver circuits for reducing failure probability, including a photodetector array for receiving optical signals and outputting a measurement signal, wherein the photodetectors are arranged as a two-dimensional matrix, a plurality of receiver circuits for receiving the measurement signal; a plurality of multiplexers, which are electrically arranged between the array and circuits and are connected thereto; wherein at least one of the multiplexers is connected to a column of photodetectors and at least two receiver circuits; each circuit is configured to receive and process the measurement signals of a column; a column of photodetectors is assigned to each receiver circuit by default; and the multiplexers connect a column to a receiver circuit other than the receiver circuit, which is assigned to the column of photodetectors by default.

Abstract: A lidar receiver circuit for receiving optical signals using photodetectors to detect events or objects in the surrounding area, with a redundancy of receiver circuits for reducing failure probability, including a photodetector array for receiving optical signals and outputting a measurement signal, wherein the photodetectors are arranged as a two-dimensional matrix, a plurality of receiver circuits for receiving the measurement signal; a plurality of multiplexers, which are electrically arranged between the array and circuits and are connected thereto; wherein at least one of the multiplexers is connected to a column of photodetectors and at least two receiver circuits; each circuit is configured to receive and process the measurement signals of a column; a column of photodetectors is assigned to each receiver circuit by default; and the multiplexers connect a column to a receiver circuit other than the receiver circuit, which is assigned to the column of photodetectors by default.

Abstract: A light receiver circuit with compensation of propagation times has at least one light sensor, one control circuit, one connecting line to a TDC circuit, and a test circuit. The test line is connected to a test signal source. The test circuit connects the test line to the control circuit and forwards the test signal to the control circuit. The control circuit routes a measurement signal of the light sensor to the TDC circuit and a test signal to the connecting line and to the TDC circuit to evaluate the test signal and propagation time of test signal from test circuit to TDC circuit. The light sensor array further includes a plurality of light receiver circuits of such kind. The invention also relates to a Lidar receiver for capturing optical events with a light sensor array with a TDC circuit and a test signal source and with a timecode generator.

Abstract: A timing generator as master clock for an electronic circuit includes a coarse code and a plurality of fine codes, has a ring oscillator with an uneven number n of delay elements, each of which has a delay output at which clock signal is present; clock dividers which are connected to the delay outputs and at whose output a clock divider output signal is output; start circuit for generating initialization signal to trigger clock dividers, and clock generator that further processes clock signal and generates a coarse code, and an output at which generated timestamp is output, wherein the fine codes of timestamp are formed from clock divider output signals of the clock dividers, and the coarse code and the fine codes contain redundant information that a time shift of the fine codes relative to the coarse code by at most (n?1)/2 time differences results in a correct timestamp.

Abstract: A timing generator as master clock for an electronic circuit includes a coarse code and a plurality of fine codes, has a ring oscillator with an uneven number n of delay elements, each of which has a delay output at which clock signal is present; clock dividers which are connected to the delay outputs and at whose output a clock divider output signal is output; start circuit for generating initialization signal to trigger clock dividers, and clock generator that further processes clock signal and generates a coarse code, and an output at which generated timestamp is output, wherein the fine codes of timestamp are formed from clock divider output signals of the clock dividers, and the coarse code and the fine codes contain redundant information that a time shift of the fine codes relative to the coarse code by at most (n?1)/2 time differences results in a correct timestamp.

Abstract: A laser module comprises a plurality of laser submodules with a respective plurality of lasers. Each laser submodule has a driver IC. Each driver IC controls several lasers. The driver ICs of the laser module can use the received signals of photodetectors to homogenize and readjust the real emission amplitude of the laser pulses for all lasers of the laser module and regulate the emission point in time of the respective real laser pulses to a synchronization signal. The driver IC can detect a failure of a laser by the photodetector belonging to it and output an error signal. The lasers directly coupled with the photodetectors in a compact design.

Abstract: The device executes a method for determining the delay time of a first wavelet in a transmission path (I1). For this purpose, the first wavelet is transmitted into the transmission path (I1) at a time after a reference time. After passing through the transmission path (I1), the delayed and typically deformed transmission wavelet is scalar-multiplied with a second (analysis) wavelet. The result is compared to a reference value. The scalar product value adopts the reference value at a time (ts). The delay of the first and/or second wavelet in relation to the reference time is adjusted according to said time (ts) in relation to the reference time. An amplitude adjustment is not carried out.

Abstract: The device executes a method for determining the delay time of a first wavelet in a transmission path (I1). For this purpose, the first wavelet is transmitted into the transmission path (I1) at a time after a reference time. After passing through the transmission path (I1), the delayed and typically deformed transmission wavelet is scalar-multiplied with a second (analysis) wavelet. The result is compared to a reference value. The scalar product value adopts the reference value at a time (ts). The delay of the first and/or second wavelet in relation to the reference time is adjusted according to said time (ts) in relation to the reference time. An amplitude adjustment is not carried out.