Abstract: LIDARs are often placed at the perimeter of a vehicle to detect objects close to the vehicle (e.g. pedestrians walking close to the vehicle bumper). An ongoing challenge is the interaction of these LIDARs with one another, specifically the interaction of their respective light emitters (e.g. Lasers). In one embodiment a perimeter LIDAR system comprises a ranging subassembly, a plurality of LIDARs and a shared light emitter, each mounted separate from one another on a vehicle. The ranging subassembly is configured to transmit an emitter time reference signal to the shared light emitter and transmits a detector time reference signal to each of the plurality of LIDARs, wherein these time reference signals are generated from a common clock signal. Each of the plurality of LIDARs is configured to receive light reflections from the share light emitter and to use the detector time reference signal to generate a set of time of flight signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment a LIDAR can comprise two similar photodetector arrays and a malfunction indicator circuit operable to generate a malfunction signal when a measure of difference between range data from similar directions reported by each of the photodetectors exceeds a threshold value. A challenge associated with LIDARs is malfunction detection and failsafe operation in the event of a malfunction. Embodiments provide for two photodetectors in a shared remote ranging subassembly to address the challenges of malfunction detection. The two photodetector arrays can each receive light reflections from overlapping angular ranges in one or more FOVs (e.g. transferred using CFOBs) and thereby function to provide redundancy and confirmation of reflection distances. Within embodiments a reflection splitter can serve to uniformly distribute laser reflections from a common field of view among two photodetectors, thereby providing each with a half-resolution image for range comparison.

Abstract: An autonomous truck may have several blind spots. These blind spots can be regions outside the direct field of view (FOV) of on-board sensors e.g. Cameras, LIDARs or RADARs. A remote mirror can be attached to the tractor or trailer of the truck and augment the direct FOV of sensors by illuminating a blind spot with emitted light AND/OR providing light reflections from a blind spot. However, remote mirrors are prone to move as a truck moves (e.g. as a truck articulates while turning). Within embodiments, a computer can process sensor data to identify a current location of the remote mirror in the FOV of a sensor and thereby identify a portion of the sensor data as being deflected by the remote mirror. In other embodiments the remote mirror is repositioned as the vehicle moves to perform a specific task, for example parking or reversing.

Abstract: A smart speaker is disclosed with an interactive speaker grille. In one embodiment a smart speaker comprises a housing with a speaker grille comprising a plurality of openings. Circuitry coupled to the speaker grille is configured to sense direct user interaction with one or more of a plurality of regions of the speaker grille and to generate corresponding electrical signals indicative of the one or more regions of the speaker grille experiencing direct user interaction. The circuitry can include portions in the path of sound transmission to detect user interaction with regions of the grille and portions outside the path of sound transmission for controlling aspects of the smart speaker (e.g. speaker volume, radio station or media stream selection) based on the particular regions touched.

Abstract: Vehicle-based distributed LIDAR apparatuses and methods. These apparatuses may include coherent fiber optic image bundles (CFOBs) that transfer laser reflections from several fields of view (FOVs) around the vehicle to a shared remotely located detector array, thereby enabling correlation of the original reflection directions with fiber locations within a bundle. These apparatuses may operate with a remotely located mirror (e.g. a convex roadside mirror); the apparatus and methods can track the mirror region as it moves in the local environment with an increased density of outgoing laser pulses and thereby interrogate the remote mirror for reflection data from a wide indirect field of view.

Abstract: A smart speaker is disclosed with an interactive speaker grille. In one embodiment a smart speaker comprises a housing with a speaker grille comprising a plurality of openings. Circuitry coupled to the speaker grille is configured to sense direct user interaction with one or more of a plurality of regions of the speaker grille and to generate corresponding electrical signals indicative of the one or more regions of the speaker grille experiencing direct user interaction. The circuitry can include portions in the path of sound transmission to detect user interaction with regions of the grille and portions outside the path of sound transmission for controlling aspects of the smart speaker (e.g. speaker volume, radio station or media stream selection) based on the particular regions touched.

Abstract: A LIDAR may be configured to scan a field of view (FOV) with non-uniform density, based on previous scans of the FOV. However reconfiguring a LIDAR during an ongoing scan of a FOV to perform a dense scan of an object, poses additional challenges (e.g. completing the scan of the whole FOV within the original timeframe). Within embodiments, a LIDAR that is originally configured to scan a FOV can be reconfigured during the scan, in response to detecting an object, to thereby investigate the object with a higher than initially planned density of laser pulses. In order to complete the scan of the FOV in a target time the LIDAR may be reconfigured a second time to scan a remaining portion of the FOV with a lower than initially planned density.

Abstract: With the proliferation of laser ranging systems (e.g. LIDAR) there is a need to avoid transmitting high power laser pulses towards certain objects such as people's eyes. Recently, advancements in electronically-steerable lasers have made it possible to dynamically steer a laser in 2-D. In one embodiment a LIDAR can identify a portion of an object to be avoided with laser pulses e.g. a persons head or a car windshield. The LIDAR can compute a keepout region or portion of the field of view that will be avoided by a subsequent laser scan. The LIDAR can dynamically steer a laser beam around the keepout region. In another embodiment a laser range finder can use sensor date form the local environment to track an object to be avoided and dynamically update laser steering instructions to avoid the dynamic keepout region of the field of view.

Abstract: Described herein are LIDAR systems that dynamically enhance a complex shape region of interest in a field of view (FOV) using a micromirror array. Also described herein are LIDAR systems that generate low-intensity (e.g. eye-safe) laser pulses in a protective guard region (e.g. a guard ring) that surrounds the high-intensity laser pulses to adapt or steer an angular range of the high-intensity laser pulses to avoid an object detected within the low-intensity guard region.

Abstract: LIDAR measurements can be sparse in comparison to camera measurements. Hence, dynamically steering a LIDAR to regions of a field of view with more information (e.g. the detailed boundaries of objects) is beneficial. In one embodiment, a LIDAR system performs a non-uniform laser scan of a field of view based on sensor data. Data from an on-going or previous scan can be used to define dense scan regions within the field of view. The shape of dense scan regions can be iteratively improved (e.g. narrowed) based on localization of time-of-flight boundaries. Dense scan regions can be expressed in term of a set of laser steering parameters operable to dynamically steer a LIDAR. Within embodiments complex-shaped dense scan patterns can be selected or adapted based on an object classification (e.g. person or vehicle) or LIDAR location (e.g. an urban environment).

Abstract: Dynamically steering a LIDAR to regions of a field of view with more information (e.g. the detailed boundaries of objects) is beneficial. Within embodiments a time target to complete a LIDAR scan of a FOV can be combined with sensor data from the local environment to generate laser steering parameters operable to configure a LIDAR to dynamically steer a laser beam within the course of a laser ranging scan. In this way, laser steering parameters based in part on a target time for a scan can function to tailor the density of laser ranging measurements to ensure that important objects are densely scanned while completing the laser ranging scan within the target time.

Abstract: In one embodiment a LIDAR generates high-intensity laser pulses with intensities above a threshold intensity (e.g. above an eye-safe intensity) in a 2-D angular range in a field of view. The LIDAR further generates low-intensity (e.g. eye-safe) laser pulses in a protective guard region (e.g. a guard ring) that surrounds the high-intensity laser pulses. In response to detecting an aspect of an object using reflections from the low-intensity laser pulses (e.g. a person on a trajectory that will intersect the high-intensity laser pulses) the LIDAR modifies the angular range of subsequent high-intensity laser pulses. In this way the LIDAR can adapt or steer the angular range of the high-intensity laser pulses to avoid an object detected within the low-intensity guard region.

Abstract: A smart speaker is disclosed with an interactive speaker grille. In one embodiment a smart speaker comprises a housing with a speaker grille comprising a plurality of openings. Circuitry coupled to the speaker grille is configured to sense direct user interaction with one or more of a plurality of regions of the speaker grille and to generate corresponding electrical signals indicative of the one or more regions of the speaker grille experiencing direct user interaction. The circuitry can include portions in the path of sound transmission to detect user interaction with regions of the grille and portions outside the path of sound transmission for controlling aspects of the smart speaker (e.g. speaker volume, radio station or media stream selection) based on the particular regions touched.

Abstract: In one embodiment an imaging system (e.g., a LIDAR or camera) contains a micromirror array that is configured in response to sensor data to dynamically enhance a complex shape region of interest in a field of view (FOV). The micromirror array functions as like an electronically controllable transfer function for light, between an input FOV and a detector array, thereby providing dynamically defined resolution across the detector array. Data from various configurations of the micromirror array is then combined in a 2D or 3D output image. In one aspect the imaging system begins with a first uniform resolution at the detector array and subsequently reconfigures the micromirror array to enhance resolution at a first portion of the detector array (e.g., spread an interesting object across more pixels) reduce resolution from in a less interesting part of a scene and thereby sample all of the original FOV with anisotropic resolution.

Abstract: Vehicle-based distributed LIDAR apparatuses and methods. These apparatuses may include coherent fiber optic image bundles (CFOBs) that transfer laser reflections from several fields of view (FOVs) around the vehicle to a shared remotely located detector array, thereby enabling correlation of the original reflection directions with fiber locations within a bundle. These apparatuses may operate with a remotely located mirror (e.g. a convex roadside mirror); the apparatus and methods can track the mirror region as it moves in the local environment with an increased density of outgoing laser pulses and thereby interrogate the remote mirror for reflection data from a wide indirect field of view.

Abstract: A smart speaker is disclosed with an interactive speaker grille. In one embodiment a smart speaker comprises a housing with a speaker grille comprising a plurality of openings. Circuitry coupled to the speaker grille is configured to sense direct user interaction with one or more of a plurality of regions of the speaker grille and to generate corresponding electrical signals indicative of the one or more regions of the speaker grille experiencing direct user interaction. The circuitry can include portions in the path of sound transmission to detect user interaction with regions of the grille and portions outside the path of sound transmission for controlling aspects of the smart speaker (e.g. speaker volume, radio station or media stream selection) based on the particular regions touched.

Abstract: A central controller for building automation can use historical user profiles to select output devices (e.g. automated lights and speakers). Users often interact with personally identifying electronic devices such as cellular telephones and laptops. These interactions enable a central building controller to associate sensor data with a specific user and build historical user profiles. In one embodiment first data from a wireless sensor associated with a building is processed to select a historical user profile and an output device is selected based on the historical user profile. In a related embodiment a plurality of identity estimates (e.g. probability of user #1=80% and user #2=20%) are used to generate a blended user profile e.g. a probability of future occupancy of another room in a building, and select output devices accordingly.

Abstract: A central controller for device automation can control output devices (e.g. automated lights and speakers) based on calculating the indoor location of a person. In familiar surroundings (e.g. homes), people may leave their favorite wireless devices unattended (e.g. smartphones and tablet PCs) and in general people exhibit varying proximity to their mobile wireless devices. Hence, the indoor locations of mobile wireless devices are of variable importance when calculating indoor occupant locations. (e.g. exhibiting highly-correlated locations when handheld). In one embodiment, the central controller aggregates wireless signals from mobile wireless devices. The central controller calculates one or more mobile device location estimates and person-to-device proximities from the wireless signals.

Abstract: A LIDAR can encounter a remotely located mirror as it moves through a local environment (e.g. a convex roadside mirror). The remote mirror can occupy a small portion of the LIDAR field of view but offer a wealth of reflection data regarding a larger indirect field of view (e.g. around a corner). In one embodiment a LIDAR can learn the location of the remote mirror and then can dynamically increase the density of laser ranging measurements in an associated mirror region of the field of view. The LIDAR can track the mirror region as it moves in the local environment with an increased density of outgoing laser pulses and thereby interrogate the remote mirror for reflection data from a wide indirect field of view.

Abstract: Mounting a LIDAR above or external to a vehicle can enhance the LIDAR field of view but can conflict with vehicle aesthetics and ergonomics. Within embodiments, vehicle-integrated systems for distributing laser beams around a vehicle to increase coverage with a low-profile laser range finder are disclosed. A LIDAR can be embedded beneath a roof or body panel of a vehicle as part of a laser distribution system including a set of reflectors and lenses operable to adapt the LIDAR field of view to the vehicle shape. The set of embedded reflectors can guide laser beams parallel (e.g. within the roof structure), to and from the set of lenses at the roof edge to transmit the guided laser into regions of the surrounding beyond the direct field of view of the LIDAR. In other embodiments a beam guide (e.g. including a headlight assembly) can enable a LIDAR to perform ranging from behind a vehicle body panel.