Abstract: A driver monitoring system of a vehicle includes: an infrared (IR) camera configured to capture an image of a driver on a driver's seat within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; an IR light source that is disposed between the IR camera and the driver, that is optically coaxial with the IR camera, and that is configured to output IR light to the driver; a gaze module configured to determine a gaze of the driver based on the image from the IR camera; and a monitor module configured to determine whether a location where the gaze of the driver intersects a vertical plane in front of the driver is within an area on the vertical plane.

Abstract: An example system includes a light source coated with a phosphor layer, a laser emitter to output a laser beam, and a controller to control a direction of the laser beam so that the laser beam hits a location on the phosphor layer. The laser beam excites the location on the phosphor layer to produce a spotlight at the location.

Abstract: An example system includes an infrared emitter to output infrared light towards a target, where the infrared light reflects from the target to produce reflected infrared light, and a detector to receive the reflected infrared light and to provide a signal based on the reflected infrared light. The system also includes a lighting system that includes a light emitter to output visible light, a mirror configured (i) to allow the visible light to pass through the mirror and to reflect the reflected infrared light onto the detector, or (ii) to allow the reflected infrared light to pass through the mirror and onto the detector and to reflect the visible light, and one or more optical elements configured to affect the visible light and the reflected infrared light.

Abstract: An example system includes a movable optical element configured to direct light along an optical path, a flat surface along the optical path, where the light from the movable optical element passes through the flat surface to an external environment, and a light-transmissive fluid that is present along the optical path. The light-transmissive fluid and the flat surface have a substantially same optical index.

Abstract: A driver monitoring system of a vehicle includes: an infrared (IR) camera configured to, via a windshield, capture an image of a driver on a driver's seat within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; and an IR light source configured to transmit IR light directly toward the driver and the driver's seat.

Abstract: An illumination system for a vehicle includes a headlight configured to emit a light beam along an optical path and into an environment. The illumination system includes an optical element having a body comprising four sides. The optical element is positioned along the optical path and configured to redirect the light beam. The illumination system includes a front lens positioned along the optical path and configured to receive the light beam from the optical element and collimate the light beam as the light beam passes into the environment. The optical element is configured to move around an optical element axis to translate the light beam relative to an azimuth plane of the environment.

Abstract: A sensing system includes a sensor with transmitters and detectors. A light source is optically coupled to a light guide disposed in the field of view of the sensor. The light guide is generally planar and the light source illuminates the light guide from an edge, or side, to illuminate the length of the light guide. A housing for the sensing system has a surface configured to reflect or diffract light from the light source towards the surrounding environment.

Abstract: According to one aspect, an optical transceiver includes a substrate and a laser fixed to a first surface of the substrate, the laser generating output light for transmission along a transmission axis into a region. An optical detection element is fixed to a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface, the optical detection element receiving input light reflected from the region along a reception axis through an opening in the substrate between the first and second surfaces of the substrate, the transmission axis and the reception axis being substantially parallel.

Abstract: A LiDAR apparatus includes a first substrate, a laser diode on a surface of the substrate for outputting light, a fast axis collimator (FAC) lens receiving the light and generating an at least partially collimated light beam, a polarizing beam splitter optically coupled to the FAC lens, at least a portion of the light beam passing through the polarizing beam splitter to a region being observed by the LiDAR apparatus. An opaque coating on the back side of an aperture element coupled to the polarizing beam splitter is patterned to provide a transparent aperture. At least a portion of light returning to the LiDAR apparatus from the region being observed is directed by the polarizing beam splitter, through the transparent aperture in the opaque coating on the aperture element, through the at least partially reflective optical element to an optical detector mounted on the substrate.

Abstract: An illumination system for a vehicle includes a headlight configured to emit a light beam along an optical path and into an environment. The illumination system includes an optical element having a body comprising four sides. The optical element is positioned along the optical path and configured to redirect the light beam. The illumination system includes a front lens positioned along the optical path and configured to receive the light beam from the optical element and collimate the light beam as the light beam passes into the environment. The optical element is configured to move around an optical element axis to translate the light beam relative to an azimuth plane of the environment.

Abstract: A detection system, and method of using the same, for a vehicle in an environment. The system includes a line detector with a plurality of optical receiver elements arranged in a line. The optical receiver elements receive light from the environment and the line detector captures an image of the environment in a series of line scans. An optical scanning element rotates around an axis to change a field of view of the line detector with respect to the environment. The optical scanning element has a glass body defined by four glass sides and a reflective member within the glass body.

Abstract: A LiDAR apparatus includes a first substrate and a unitary optical element mounted thereon. The unitary optical element includes: (i) a fast axis collimator (FAC) lens receiving light from a laser diode source and generating therefrom a collimated light beam; (ii) a polarizing beam splitter optically coupled to the FAC lens, at least a portion of the collimated light beam passing through the polarizing beam splitter to a region being observed by the LiDAR apparatus; (iii) an aperture element optically coupled to the polarizing beam splitter; and (iv) an opaque coating formed on a back side of the aperture element, the opaque coating being patterned to provide a transparent aperture. At least of portion of light returning to the LiDAR apparatus from the region being observed is directed by the polarizing beam splitter, through the transparent aperture in the opaque coating on the aperture element, to an optical detector.

Abstract: A detection system includes a signal transmitter for transmitting transmitted signals into a region and a receiver for receiving reflected signals generated by reflection of the transmitted signals and for generating receive signals indicative of the reflected signals. A processor coupled to the receiver receives the receive signals and processes the receive signals to generate detections of one or more objects in the region. The processing includes altering phase shift to generate phase-modulated signals from the receive signals and generating the detections from the phase-modulated signals.

Abstract: An illumination system for a vehicle includes a light source to emit light along an optical path and into an environment. A lens is positioned along the optical path and configured to collimate the light to a light beam. An optical element, having a body comprising four sides and a reflective member within the body, is positioned along the optical path and configured to redirect the light beam. The optical element is configured to move around an optical element axis to change a direction the light beam is transmitted into the environment. The illumination system is configured to receive a target position within the environment and move the optical element to fixate the light beam onto the target position.

Abstract: A LiDAR system includes an optical source for generating a continuous wave (CW) optical signal. A control processor generates a pulse-position modulation (PPM) signal, and an amplitude modulation (AM) modulator generates a pulse-position amplitude-modulated optical signal, which is transmitted through a transmit optical element into a region. A receive optical element receives reflected versions of the pulse-position amplitude-modulated optical signal reflected from at least one target object in the region. An optical detector generates a first baseband signal. A signal processor receives the first baseband signal and processes the first baseband signal to generate an indication related to a target object in the region.

Abstract: A detection system for a vehicle in an environment has a reflective member positioned along an x-y plane for rotation around a rotational axis orthogonal to the x-y plane. The reflective member has a plurality of reflective sides, each of the reflective sides sloping towards the rotational axis at a slope angle different than the slope angle of at least one of the others of the reflective sides. At least one detector is positioned offset from the rotational axis and the x-y plane, an active side of the plurality of reflective sides positioned to provide a field of view between the detector and the environment. An actuator is configured to rotate the reflective member around the rotational axis to change the active reflective side to a different one of the plurality of reflective sides.

Abstract: A LiDAR detection system includes optical sources generating a plurality of output optical signals disposed along a first direction. A modulation circuit applies an output signal from a signal generator to the optical sources to modulate the output optical signals such that the output optical signals are envelope-modulated output optical signals having frequency-modulated modulation envelopes. A scanning device scans the output optical signals into a region over a second direction. A receiver comprising a two-dimensional array of optical detectors receives return optical signals and generates receive signals indicative of the return optical signals. The return optical signals impinge on a mask between the region and the array, the mask comprising a plurality of apertures aligned with a first dimension of the array. The receive signals are generated for a set of detectors in the array disposed along the first dimension of the array and aligned with the mask apertures.

Abstract: A detection system for a vehicle in an environment includes LiDAR transmitters and receivers configured to operate along an optical path. A reflective mirror is positioned along the optical path and configured to move to redirect light beams to scan the environment in a first direction. An optical scanning element has a glass body in the shape of a rectangular prism and a reflective member within the glass body. The optical scanning element is positioned along the optical path and configured to move around an axis to redirect the light beams to scan the environment in a second direction.

Abstract: A LiDAR system includes an optical source for generating a continuous wave (CW) optical signal. A control processor generates a pulse-position modulation (PPM) signal, and an amplitude modulation (AM) modulator generates a pulse-position amplitude-modulated optical signal, which is transmitted through a transmit optical element into a region. A receive optical element receives reflected versions of the pulse-position amplitude-modulated optical signal reflected from at least one target object in the region. An optical detector generates a first baseband signal. A signal processor receives the first baseband signal and processes the first baseband signal to generate an indication related to a target object in the region.

Abstract: A LiDAR apparatus includes a first substrate, a laser diode on a surface of the substrate for outputting light, a fast axis collimator (FAC) lens receiving the light and generating an at least partially collimated light beam, a polarizing beam splitter optically coupled to the FAC lens, at least a portion of the light beam passing through the polarizing beam splitter to a region being observed by the LiDAR apparatus. An opaque coating on the back side of an aperture element coupled to the polarizing beam splitter is patterned to provide a transparent aperture. At least a portion of light returning to the LiDAR apparatus from the region being observed is directed by the polarizing beam splitter, through the transparent aperture in the opaque coating on the aperture element, through the at least partially reflective optical element to an optical detector mounted on the substrate.