Abstract: A LIDAR assembly including a first portion and a second portion configured to rotate relative to one another, a first magnet located on the second portion and arranged with a north pole of the first magnet facing a first direction, a second magnet located on the second portion and arranged with a south pole of the second magnet facing the first direction, a first sensor located on the first portion, wherein the first sensor is further configured to measure a first magnetic field of the first magnet and a second magnetic field of the second magnet as the first portion and second portion rotate relative to one another, and a center rod extending between the first portion and the second portion, the center rod including a power cable connected to a printed circuit board located on the second portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for improved short range object detection in LiDAR systems. The associated systems may include a first portion and a second portion configured to rotate relative to one another. The system may also include a first magnet located on the second portion and arranged with a north pole of the first magnet facing a first direction. The system may also include a second magnet located on the second portion and arranged with a south pole of the second magnet facing the first direction. The system may also include a first sensor located on the first portion, wherein the first sensor is further configured to measure a first magnetic field of the first magnet and a second magnetic field of the second magnet as the first portion and second portion rotate relative to one another.

Abstract: A method of analyzing data includes analyzing characteristics of beams of reflected light received by a sensor system with the beams of the reflected light correspond to beams of light directed toward an object, then determining, using the characteristic of an intensity pattern of the beams of the reflected light, whether a reflection position is a position of the object or not. If the characteristic of the intensity pattern is continuity of the intensity pattern, the reflection position is not the position of the object. The beams of emitted light have substantially the same intensity. Analyzing characteristics of beams of reflected light further includes either analyzing a substantially similarity of a polarization of a received light with an expected polarization, or determining whether a depolarization ratio of the received light is near zero. The received light is the reflected light received by the sensor system.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system including a plurality of light emitters, wherein the plurality of light emitters are configured to emit a plurality of beams, and the plurality of light emitters are configured to form a beam polarization pattern of the plurality of beams to be emitted toward an object external to the LiDAR system, a receiver that is configured to receive light reflected from the object, and an analyzer that comprises a processor and programming instructions that are configured to cause the processor to determine characteristic differences between the beam polarization pattern of the beams emitted toward the object and an intensity pattern of the light reflected from the object, determine a reflection position that is associated with the light reflected from the object, and use the determined characteristic differences to determine whether the reflection position is a position of the object or a position of a ghost.

Abstract: An optical sensor assembly including a housing structure, a first optical sensor secured to the housing structure and arranged to sense in a first direction and a second optical sensor secured to the housing structure and arranged to sense in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: An optical sensor assembly including a housing structure, a first optical sensor secured to the housing structure and arranged to sense in a first direction and a second optical sensor secured to the housing structure and arranged to sense in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system including a plurality of light emitters, wherein the plurality of light emitters are configured to emit a plurality of beams, and the plurality of light emitters are configured to form a beam polarization pattern of the plurality of beams to be emitted toward an object external to the LiDAR system, a receiver that is configured to receive light reflected from the object, and an analyzer that comprises a processor and programming instructions that are configured to cause the processor to determine characteristic differences between the beam polarization pattern of the beams emitted toward the object and an intensity pattern of the light reflected from the object, determine a reflection position that is associated with the light reflected from the object, and use the determined characteristic differences to determine whether the reflection position is a position of the object or a position of a ghost.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system includes light emitters that emit beams of light of substantially equal intensities. The light emitters form a beam polarization pattern with beams having varying polarizations. The LiDAR system also will include a receiver to receive light reflected from the object. An analyzer will determine characteristic differences between the beam polarization pattern of the beams emitted toward the object and an intensity pattern of the light reflected from the object, determine a reflection position that is associated with the light reflected from the object, and use the determined characteristic differences to determine whether the reflection position is a position of the object or a position of a ghost.

Abstract: An optical sensor assembly including a housing structure, a first optical sensor secured to the housing structure and arranged to sense in a first direction and a second optical sensor secured to the housing structure and arranged to sense in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system and method embodiments for generating a signal indicative of light received by a lidar unit that has a high signal-to-noise ratio. For example, the system includes a focal plane assembly (FPA) with an array of detectors. The FPA includes a micro-lens array (MLA) with an input surface that is configured to receive light, and an array of optics forming an output surface arranged along a focal plane that is configured to focus the light on the array of detectors. A mask is disposed over an outer portion of at least one of the input surface and the output surface. The mask is configured to absorb stray light and reduce optical noise within the MLA.

Abstract: In some implementations, a desiccant assembly within a sensor housing may include a desiccant chamber configured to hold a desiccant element; a transfer window positioned between the desiccant chamber and a sensor chamber of the sensor housing; and a permeable membrane covering the transfer window and configured to allow water vapor to transfer from the sensor chamber to the desiccant chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for improved short range object detection in LiDAR systems. The associated systems may include a first portion and a second portion configured to rotate relative to one another. The system may also include a first magnet located on the second portion and arranged with a north pole of the first magnet facing a first direction. The system may also include a second magnet located on the second portion and arranged with a south pole of the second magnet facing the first direction. The system may also include a first sensor located on the first portion, wherein the first sensor is further configured to measure a first magnetic field of the first magnet and a second magnetic field of the second magnet as the first portion and second portion rotate relative to one another.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system includes light emitters that emit beams of light of substantially equal intensities. The light emitters form a beam polarization pattern with beams having varying polarizations. The LiDAR system also will include a receiver to receive light reflected from the object. An analyzer will determine characteristic differences between the beam polarization pattern of the beams emitted toward the object and an intensity pattern of the light reflected from the object, determine a reflection position that is associated with the light reflected from the object, and use the determined characteristic differences to determine whether the reflection position is a position of the object or a position of a ghost.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system includes light emitters that emit beams of light of substantially equal intensities. The light emitters form a beam polarization pattern with beams having varying polarizations. The LiDAR system also will include a receiver to receive light reflected from the object. An analyzer will determine characteristic differences between the beam polarization pattern of the beams emitted toward the object and an intensity pattern of the light reflected from the object, determine a reflection position that is associated with the light reflected from the object, and use the determined characteristic differences to determine whether the reflection position is a position of the object or a position of a ghost.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system includes a light emitter and a light detector comprising a photodetector. The light detector is configured to receive and detect one or more characteristics of light emitted by the light emitter. The system also includes a polarization filter that is configured to limit polarization of light that is received by the light detector to a single polarization, and thus filter noise and/or certain retroreflected light from reaching the light detector.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system includes light emitters that emit beams of light of substantially equal intensities. The light emitters form a beam polarization pattern with beams having varying polarizations. The LiDAR system also will include a receiver to receive light reflected from the object. An analyzer will determine characteristic differences between the beam polarization pattern of the beams emitted toward the object and an intensity pattern of the light reflected from the object, determine a reflection position that is associated with the light reflected from the object, and use the determined characteristic differences to determine whether the reflection position is a position of the object or a position of a ghost.