Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: access an optical budget stored in memory, the optical budget being associated with at least one light source and defining an amount of light that is emittable in a predetermined time period by the at least one light source; receive information indicative of a platform condition for the LIDAR system; based on the received information, dynamically apportion the optical budget to a field of view of the LIDAR system based on at least two of: scanning rates, scanning patterns, scanning angles, spatial light distribution, and temporal light distribution; and output signals for controlling the at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over scanning of the field of view in accordance with the dynamically apportioned optical budget.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light intensity to vary over a scan of a field of view using light from the at least one light source; control at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source; obtain an identification of at least one distinct region of interest in the field of view; and increase light allocation to the at least one distinct region of interest relative to other regions, such that following a first scanning cycle, light intensity in at least one subsequent second scanning cycle at locations associated with the at least one distinct region of interest is higher than light intensity in the first scanning cycle at the locations associated with the at least one distinct region of interest.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over a scan of a field of view; control projection of at least a first light emission directed toward a first portion of the field of view to determine an absence of objects in the first portion of the field of view at a first distance; when an absence of objects is determined in the first portion of the field of view, control projection of at least a second light emission directed toward the first portion of the field of view; and control projection of at least a third light emission directed toward the first portion of the field of view to determine an existence of an object in the first portion of the field of view.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over a scan of a field of view using light from the at least one light source; control at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source; use first detected reflections associated with a scan of a first portion of the field of view to determine an existence of a first object in the first portion at a first distance; determine an absence of objects in a second portion of the field of view at the first distance; alter a light source parameter; and use second detected reflections in the second portion of the field of view to determine an existence of a second object at a second distance greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A LIDAR system for use with a roadway vehicle traveling on a highway may include at least one processor configured to control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux of light from at least one light source to vary over a scanning cycle of a field of view. The processor may also be configured to control at least one deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source in order to scan the field of view. The processor may also be configured to coordinate the control of the at least one light source with the control of the at least one light deflector such that during scanning of the field of view that encompasses a central region, a right peripheral region, and a left peripheral region, more light is directed to the central region than to the peripheral regions.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux of light from at least one light source to vary over a scanning cycle of a field of view; receive from at least one sensor reflections signals indicative of light reflected from objects in the field of view; coordinate light flux and scanning in a manner to cause at least three sectors of the field of view to occur in a scanning cycle, a first sector having a first light flux and an associated first detection range, a second sector having a second light flux and an associated second detection range, and a third sector having third light flux and an associated a third detection range; and detect an object in the second sector.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one deflector to deflect light from a plurality of light sources along a plurality of outbound paths, towards a plurality of regions forming a field of view while the at least one deflector is in a particular instantaneous position; control the at least one deflector such that while the at least one deflector is in the particular instantaneous position, light reflections from the field of view are received on at least one common area of the at least one deflector; and receive from each of a plurality of detectors, at least one signal indicative of light reflections from the at least one common area while the at least one deflector is in the particular instantaneous position.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: access an optical budget stored in memory, the optical budget being associated with at least one light source and defining an amount of light that is emittable in a predetermined time period by the at least one light source; receive information indicative of a platform condition for the LIDAR system; based on the received information, dynamically apportion the optical budget to a field of view of the LIDAR system based on at least two of: scanning rates, scanning patterns, scanning angles, spatial light distribution, and temporal light distribution; and output signals for controlling the at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over scanning of the field of view in accordance with the dynamically apportioned optical budget.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over a scan of a field of view using light from the at least one light source; control at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source; use first detected reflections associated with a scan of a first portion of the field of view to determine an existence of a first object in the first portion at a first distance; determine an absence of objects in a second portion of the field of view at the first distance; alter a light source parameter; and use second detected reflections in the second portion of the field of view to determine an existence of a second object at a second distance greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over a scan of a field of view; control projection of at least a first light emission directed toward a first portion of the field of view to determine an absence of objects in the first portion of the field of view at a first distance; when an absence of objects is determined in the first portion of the field of view, control projection of at least a second light emission directed toward the first portion of the field of view; and control projection of at least a third light emission directed toward the first portion of the field of view to determine an existence of an object in the first portion of the field of view.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control light emission of a light source; scan a field of view by repeatedly moving at least one light deflector located in an outbound path of the light source; while the at least one deflector is in a particular instantaneous position, receive via the at least one deflector, reflections of a single light beam spot along a return path to a sensor; receive from the sensor on a beam-spot-by-beam-spot basis, signals associated with an image of each light beam-spot, wherein the sensor includes a plurality of detectors and wherein a size of each detector is smaller than the image of each light beam-spot; and determine, from signals resulting from the impingement on the plurality of detectors, at least two differing range measurements associated with the image of the single light beam-spot.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over scans of a field of view using light from the at least one light source; control at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source; receive from at least one sensor, reflections signals indicative of light reflected from objects in the field of view; determine, based on the reflections signals of an initial light emission, whether an object is located in an immediate area of the LIDAR system and within a threshold distance from the at least one light deflector, and when no object is detected in the immediate area, control the at least one light source such that an additional light emission is projected toward the immediate area.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light intensity to vary over a scan of a field of view using light from the at least one light source; control at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source; obtain an identification of at least one distinct region of interest in the field of view; and increase light allocation to the at least one distinct region of interest relative to other regions, such that following a first scanning cycle, light intensity in at least one subsequent second scanning cycle at locations associated with the at least one distinct region of interest is higher than light intensity in the first scanning cycle at the locations associated with the at least one distinct region of interest.

Abstract: Disclosed is a scanning device including: a photonic emitter assembly (PTX) to emit at least one pulse of inspection photons in accordance with at least one adjustable pulse parameter, a photonic reception and detection assembly (PRX) to receive reflected photons reflected back from an object, the PRX including a detector to detect in accordance with at least one adjustable detection parameter the reflected photons and produce a detected scene signal, and a closed loop controller to: (a) control the PTX and PRX, (b) receive the detected scene signal from the detector and (c) update said at least one pulse parameter and at least one detection parameter at least partially based on a work plan derived at least partially from the detected scene signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a scanning device including a photonic emitter assembly (PTX) to emit at least one pulse of inspection photons in accordance with at least one adjustable pulse (generation) parameter, a photonic reception and detection assembly (PRX) to receive reflected photons reflected back from an object, the PRX including a dynamic detector to detect the reflected photons based on one or more adjustable detector parameter, the detector further configured to produce a detected scene signal, and a closed loop controller to control the PTX and PRX and to receive a PTX feedback and a PRX feedback, the controller further comprising a situational assessment unit to receive the detected scene signal from the detector and produce a scanning plan and update the at least one pulse parameter and at least one detector parameter at least partially based on the scanning plan.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light detection and ranging (Lidar) device including a photonic pulse emitter assembly including one or more photonic emitters to generate and focus a photonic inspection pulse towards a photonic transmission (TX) path of the Lidar device, a photonic detection assembly including one or more photo sensors to receive and sense photons of a reflected photonic inspection pulses received through a receive (RX) path of the device, a photonic steering assembly located along both the TX and the RX paths and including a Complex Reflector (CR) made of an array of steerable reflectors, where a first set of steerable reflectors are part of the TX path and a second set of steerable reflectors are part of the RX path.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing a video record of a user's entertainment experience. The system includes a video camera system for continuous, close-up personal recording of the entertainment experience of the user and transmitting the video recording to a base unit. The system also includes a base unit for receiving, processing and distributing the video recording, such that the video record of the user's entertainment experience becomes available to the user. A method is disclosed for providing a video record of a user's entertainment experience. The method includes installing, on a vehicle provided for the entertainment experience, a video camera system comprising at least one video camera for continuous, close-up personal recording of the entertainment experience of the user.