Abstract: A lidar system comprises a photodetector circuit and a signal processing circuit. The photodetector circuit comprises an array of pixels for sensing incident light. The signal processing circuit processes a signal representative of the sensed incident light to detect a reflection of a laser pulse from a target within a field of view. The signal processing circuit can comprise a matched filter corresponding to a retro-reflective target that is tuned to a reflected pulse shape that exhibits a vertical clipping relative to a transmitted pulse shape for the laser pulse that is indicative of the retro-reflective target, and wherein the signal processing circuit determines a retro-reflector status for the target based how the matched filter responds to the applied signal.

Abstract: A lidar system comprises (1) an array of pixels for sensing incident light and (2) a circuit for processing a signal representative of the sensed incident light to detect a reflection of a laser pulse from a target within a field of view. The circuit can comprise a plurality of matched filters that are tuned to different reflected pulse shapes for detecting pulse reflections within the incident light, and wherein the circuit (1) applies the signal to the matched filters to determine an obliquity for the target based how the matched filters respond to the applied signal and (2) determines a correction angle based on the determined target obliquity, the correction angle for orienting the field of view to a frame of reference in response to a tilting of the lidar system. In an example embodiment, the circuit can comprise a signal processing circuit that performs the signal application and correction angle determination operations.

Abstract: A lidar receiver that includes a photodetector circuit can be controlled so that the detection intervals used by the lidar receiver to detect returns from fired laser pulse shots are closely controlled. Such control over the detection intervals used by the lidar receiver allows for close coordination between a lidar transmitter and the lidar receiver where the lidar receiver is able to adapt to variable shot intervals of the lidar transmitter (including periods of high rate firing as well as periods of low rate firing). The lidar receiver can determine the detection intervals using a cost function that optimizes determination of the detection intervals for a plurality of the laser pulse shots from a shot list.

Abstract: A lidar receiver can employ multiple processors to distribute the workload of processing returns from laser pulse shots.

Abstract: A lidar system that includes a laser source and transmits laser pulses produced by the laser source toward range points in a field of view via a mirror that scans through a plurality of scan angles can use (1) a laser energy model to model the available energy in the laser source over time and (2) a mirror motion model to model motion of the mirror over time. The mirror can exhibit a variable scan amplitude, and a control circuit can then evaluate whether benefits such as a shorter completion time for firing laser pulse shots at a list of range points can be achieved by changing the mirror's scan amplitude. When making such decisions, the control circuit can take into account a settle time for the variable amplitude mirror that arises from changing the mirror's scan amplitude.

Abstract: A lidar system that includes a laser source and a scannable mirror can be controlled to adaptively schedule the firing of laser pulse shots at range points in a field of view. A first plurality of laser pulse shots that are fired during a scan of the mirror in a first scan direction can trigger the detection of a region of interest in the field of view. In response to this detection, a second plurality of laser shots targeting the region of interest can be scheduled for the next return scan of the mirror in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A lidar system that includes a laser source can be controlled to schedule the firing of laser pulse shots at range points in a field of view. As part of this scheduling, the system can prioritize which elevations will be targeted with shots before other elevations based on defined criteria. Examples of such criteria can include prioritizing elevations corresponding to a horizon, prioritizing elevations which contain objects of interest (e.g., nearby objects, fast moving objects, objects heading toward the lidar system, etc).

Abstract: A lidar system that includes a laser source and transmits laser pulses produced by the laser source toward range points in a field of view can use a laser energy model to model the available energy in the laser source over time. The timing schedule for laser pulses fired by the lidar system can then be determined using energies that are predicted for the different scheduled laser pulse shots based on the laser energy model. This permits the lidar system to reliably ensure at a highly granular level that each laser pulse shot has sufficient energy to meet operational needs, including when operating during periods of high density/high resolution laser pulse firing. The laser energy model is capable of modeling the energy available for laser pulses in the laser source over very short time intervals (such as 10-100 nanoseconds).

Abstract: A lidar system that includes a laser source and transmits laser pulses produced by the laser source toward range points in a field of view via a mirror that scans through a plurality of scan angles can use (1) a laser energy model to model the available energy in the laser source over time and (2) a mirror motion model to model motion of the mirror over time. Time slots for transmitting the targeted laser pulses can be identified using the mirror motion model, and a schedule for these pulses can be determined using energies predicted for the pulses at these time slots according to the laser energy model. Linking the model of mirror motion with the model of laser energy provides highly precise granularity when scheduling laser pulses targeted at specific range points in the field of view.

Abstract: A lidar receiver that includes a photodetector circuit can be controlled so that the detection intervals used by the lidar receiver to detect returns from fired laser pulse shots are closely controlled. Such control over the detection intervals used by the lidar receiver allows for close coordination between a lidar transmitter and the lidar receiver where the lidar receiver is able to adapt to variable shot intervals of the lidar transmitter (including periods of high rate firing as well as periods of low rate firing).

Abstract: A lidar system that includes a laser source and transmits laser pulses produced by the laser source toward range points in a field of view via a mirror that scans through a plurality of scan angles can use (1) a laser energy model to model the available energy in the laser source over time and (2) a mirror motion model to model motion of the mirror over time. Time slots for transmitting the targeted laser pulses can be identified using the mirror motion model, and a schedule for these pulses can be determined using energies predicted for the pulses at these time slots according to the laser energy model. Linking the model of mirror motion with the model of laser energy provides highly precise granularity when scheduling laser pulses targeted at specific range points in the field of view.

Abstract: A lidar system that includes a laser source and transmits laser pulses produced by the laser source toward range points in a field of view can use a laser energy model to model the available energy in the laser source over time. The timing schedule for laser pulses fired by the lidar system can then be determined using energies that are predicted for the different scheduled laser pulse shots based on the laser energy model. This permits the lidar system to reliably ensure at a highly granular level that each laser pulse shot has sufficient energy to meet operational needs, including when operating during periods of high density/high resolution laser pulse firing. The laser energy model is capable of modeling the energy available for laser pulses in the laser source over very short time intervals (such as 10-100 nanoseconds).

Abstract: A lidar system that includes a laser source and a scannable mirror can be controlled to maximize the firing of laser pulse shots per scan line of the scannable mirror. For example, a control circuit for the lidar system can (1) process a pool of range points to be targeted with a plurality of shots from the laser source, (2) schedule shots for a single scan of the mirror along the first axis in a given scan direction to target as many of the range points from the pool as permitted by a laser energy model as compared to a plurality of energy requirements relating to the shots, and (3) control a firing of the scheduled shots during the single scan of the mirror in the given scan direction so that the scheduled shots are fired into the field of view toward the targeted range points via the mirror.