Abstract: In embodiments a detection system includes a detector configured to provide a received signal and a processing circuit configured to provide a plurality of quantized signals, each quantized signal being associated with a respective threshold level, and each quantized signal being representative of portions of the received signal in which a signal level of the received signal is greater than the respective threshold level and to provide an encoded signal based on the plurality of quantized signals, the encoded signal including a first plurality of first encoded signal values being representative of the portions of the received signal in which the signal level of the received signal becomes greater than one of the threshold levels, and a second plurality of second encoded signal values being representative of the portions of the received signal in which the signal level of the received signal becomes less than one of the threshold levels.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system, which comprises: a distance measuring unit configured to emit a plurality of first pulses towards an object located in a field of view (FOV), wherein the object is associated with one or more markers; and a detector configured to receive at least one second pulse from the one or more markers of the object, wherein each of the at least one second pulse indicates object information identifying the object.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to various embodiments of an optical component for a LIDAR Sensor System. The optical component may include an optical element having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface, a first lens array formed on the first main surface, and/or a second lens array formed on the second main surface. The optical element has a curved shape in a first direction of the LIDAR Sensor System.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a LIDAR system includes a detector having a plurality of detector pixels configured to detect a light signal, wherein the detector pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional array, a light emission system configured to emit a light signal into a field of view of the LIDAR system and one or more processors configured to associate a first detected light signal provided by a first set of detector pixels of the plurality of detector pixels with a direct reflection of the emitted light signal and associate a second detected light signal provided by a second different set of detector pixels of the plurality of detector pixels with a light signal other than the direct reflection of the emitted light signal, wherein the one or more processors are configured to associate the second detected light signal with a light signal from an external emitter located outside the LIDAR system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to various embodiments of an optical component for a LIDAR Sensor System. The optical component includes a first photo diode implementing a LIDAR sensor pixel in a first semiconductor structure and configured to absorb received light in a first wavelength region, a second photo diode implementing a camera sensor pixel in a second semiconductor structure over the first semiconductor structure and configured to absorb received light in a second wavelength region, and an interconnect layer (e.g. arranged between the first semiconductor structure and the second semiconductor structure) including an electrically conductive structure configured to electrically contact the second photo diode. The received light of the second wavelength region has a shorter wavelength than the received light of the first wavelength region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to various embodiments of an optical package for a LIDAR sensor system having a substrate including an array of a plurality of capacitors formed in the substrate, a plurality of switches formed in the substrate, where each switch is connected between at least one laser diode and at least one capacitor of the plurality of capacitors; and at least one laser diode being mounted in close proximity to the plurality of capacitors on the substrate in order to provide small parasitic inductances and capacitances. A processor is configured to control the plurality of switches to control a first current flow to charge the plurality of capacitors, wherein the processor is configured to control the plurality of switches to control a second current flow to drive the at least one laser diode with current discharged from at least one capacitor of the plurality of capacitors.

Abstract: A method for initializing a tracking algorithm for target objects, includes generating a 3D point cloud of the target object and iteratively determining a spatial position and orientation of the target object using a 3D model. A spatial position and orientation of the target object is first determined using an artificial neural network, thereafter the tracking algorithm is initialized with a result of this determination. A method for training an artificial neural network for initializing a tracking algorithm for target objects includes generating a 3D point cloud of the target object by a scanning method, and iteratively determining a spatial position and orientation of the using a 3D model of the target object. The artificial neural network is trained using training data to initially determine a spatial position and orientation of the target object and thereafter initialize the tracking algorithm with a result of this initial determination.

Abstract: A 3D scene is acquired using a LIDAR system including a transmitter, a receiver, and a pivotable mirror arrangement between the transmitter and the 3D scene. The transmitter is operated as a laser light source and the receiver is configured as a matrix sensor with an irradiation optical system and light sensors distributed over a surface. Light points reflected in a spatially resolved manner at pixels of a point cloud of the 3D scene are generated by light pulses of the transmitter and by pivoting the mirror arrangement. An input signal is acquired from each of the light points by the light sensors and a distance of the light points to the matrix sensor is determined based on a light propagation time measurement. A defocused input signal of a light point including a plurality of light sensors is displayed by the irradiation optical system and the input signals are compared.

Abstract: A method for detecting and autonomously tracking a target object using a LIDAR sensor that continuously emits laser pulses onto the target object and generates a 3-D point cloud from measurement points reflected by the target objects at predetermined time intervals. A current relative position of the target object is calculated for six degrees of freedom of movement of the target object at the predetermined time intervals based on algorithms estimating the position. The method includes acquiring a high-resolution initializing point cloud over a plurality of predetermined time intervals, generating a reference model with a small number of measurement points from the initializing point cloud, and, in subsequent iterative steps, determining temporal position clouds and comparing the position clouds with the reference model using the algorithms. Position information of the target object is calculated, wherein the reference model is continuously adapted to the changes in the point clouds.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to various embodiments of an optical component for a LIDAR Sensor System. The optical component may include an optical element having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface, a first lens array formed on the first main surface, and/or a second lens array formed on the second main surface. The optical element has a curved shape in a first direction of the LIDAR Sensor System.

Abstract: A device and method for operating a multi-axle powertrain for a motor vehicle, with a first axle being permanently in operative connection and a second axle being at least temporarily in operative connection by a drive device via a clutch coupling. It is provided that, when the second axle is decoupled from the drive device and the starting clutch is disengaged, an expected wheel force is predictively ascertained. The determination of the wheel force takes into account a torque caused by a mass moment of inertia of the drive device, and the second axle is coupled with the drive device if the expected wheel force surpasses a maximum wheel force.

Abstract: A multi-axle drive device and method for operating a multi-axle drive device. The multi-axle drive device is provided with a synchronization clutch present in an operational connection between a first output shaft and a connecting shaft and at least one disconnecting clutch present in an operational connection between the connecting shaft and a second output shaft. The synchronization clutch and the disconnecting clutch are opened in a first operating state and closed in a second operating state. At the same time, with an intended change from the second operating state to the first operating state, the synchronization clutch is maintained at least partially opened and the separation clutch is maintained closed, so that, when a first operating mode is carried out, the disconnecting clutch is opened, and when a second operating mode is carried out, the synchronization clutch is closed again.

Abstract: A device and a method for operating a multi-axle drive train for a vehicle. A first axle is operatively connected permanently and a second axle is operatively connected at least intermittently via a clutch to a drive device. For the second axle coupled to the drive device, a maximum torque of the drive device is reduced by a specific safety value. At drive start, the safety value is set to a specific initial value and subsequently is reduced or increased throughout a specific period of time.

Abstract: A method for initializing a tracking algorithm for target objects, includes generating a 3D point cloud of the target object and iteratively determining a spatial position and orientation of the target object using a 3D model. A spatial position and orientation of the target object is first determined using an artificial neural network, thereafter the tracking algorithm is initialized with a result of this determination. A method for training an artificial neural network for initializing a tracking algorithm for target objects includes generating a 3D point cloud of the target object by a scanning method, and iteratively determining a spatial position and orientation of the using a 3D model of the target object. The artificial neural network is trained using training data to initially determine a spatial position and orientation of the target object and thereafter initialize the tracking algorithm with a result of this initial determination.

Abstract: A device and a method for operating a multi-axle drive device. The multi-axle drive device has a synchronizing clutch present in an operative connection between a first output shaft and a connecting shaft and at least one separating clutch present in an operative connection between the connecting shaft and a second output shaft. The synchronizing clutch and the separating clutch are disengaged in a first operating state and are engaged in a second operating state. When a shifting variable exceeds a first shifting threshold during the first operating state, the synchronizing clutch is at least partially engaged and the separating clutch is engaged only when a second shifting threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: A dog clutch having two clutch members provided with claws or teeth, one of which is movable, as well as a positioning device for engaging and disengaging the clutch by a positioning movement of the movable clutch member. In order to establish a proper engaging of the dog clutch, a sensor is arranged along the movement path of the movable clutch member, which detects the movement of the clutch member into the engaged state, while the clutch member is provided with an activating contour which, upon engaging the clutch, moves past the sensor, which is preferably an electromagnetic actuator for holding the movable clutch member in the disengaged state of the clutch.

Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle including an all-wheel drive that can be enabled and disabled, and a drive train including two clutches actuated by a control unit for enabling and disabling the all-wheel drive, and components rotating between the two clutches, which components are driven when the all-wheel drive is enabled and are uncoupled from the remaining drive train when the all-wheel drive is disabled. In order to allow early detection of defects and, in particular, bearing defects of the rotating components, and to determine the applied drag torque even without knowing the oil temperature, in one embodiment, when the all-wheel drive is disabled, the rotational speed (n) of at least one of the uncoupled components is measured in a time interval, and an angular acceleration of the uncoupled components is determined therefrom.

Abstract: A device and a method for operating a multi-axle drive train for a motor vehicle. A first axle and a second axle are operatively connected, at least temporarily, to a drive device. When the second axle is decoupled from the drive device and a request for multi-axle drive with a first value is present, the second axle is coupled to the drive device only when a noise-masking event occurs, or when the second axle is coupled to the drive device and the request for multi-axle drive is absent, the second axle is decoupled from the drive device only when the noise-masking event occurs.

Abstract: A method for detecting and autonomously tracking a target object using a LIDAR sensor that continuously emits laser pulses onto the target object and generates a 3-D point cloud from measurement points reflected by the target objects at predetermined time intervals. A current relative position of the target object is calculated for six degrees of freedom of movement of the target object at the predetermined time intervals based on algorithms estimating the position. The method includes acquiring a high-resolution initializing point cloud over a plurality of predetermined time intervals, generating a reference model with a small number of measurement points from the initializing point cloud, and, in subsequent iterative steps, determining temporal position clouds and comparing the position clouds with the reference model using the algorithms. Position information of the target object is calculated, wherein the reference model is continuously adapted to the changes in the point clouds.

Abstract: A device and a method for operating a multi-axle drive device. The multi-axle drive device has a synchronizing clutch present in an operative connection between a first output shaft and a connecting shaft and at least one separating clutch present in an operative connection between the connecting shaft and a second output shaft. The synchronizing clutch and the separating clutch are disengaged in a first operating state and are engaged in a second operating state. When a shifting variable exceeds a first shifting threshold during the first operating state, the synchronizing clutch is at least partially engaged and the separating clutch is engaged only when a second shifting threshold is exceeded.