Abstract: The invention relates to a heating system for heating a living being, for instance, a person (2) within a vehicle (1) being preferentially a hybrid car or an electric car. The heating system comprises an infrared laser system (5, 6) for illuminating the living being with infrared laser light, thereby heating the living being. Thus, heating radiation is used, which has a high collimation and which can be focused relatively easily. The heating can therefore be confined to a certain region, in which the living being is located. The heating can even be confined to the living being or to parts of the living being only. This more focused heating allows for a reduction of the energy consumption.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser device (10) for projecting a structured light pattern (9) onto a scene (15). The device is formed of several arrays (1) of semiconductor lasers (2), each array (1) comprising an irregular distribution of emission areas (2a) of the semiconductor lasers (2). One or several imaging optics (4) image said arrays (1) to an imaging space and superpose the images of said arrays (1) in the imaging space to form said light pattern (9). The proposed laser device generates a light pattern with high contrast and efficiency which may be used for 3D imaging systems, e. g. in automotive applications.

Abstract: The invention describes a laser device (10) comprising an array (50) of laser emitters (100) and a control unit (200), the array (50) comprises at least a first sub array (110) of laser emitters and a second sub array (120) of laser emitters, wherein the first sub array (110) emits laser light of a first polarization and the second sub array (120) emits laser light of a second polarization being different from the first polarization, and wherein the control unit (200) is adapted to control the first sub array (110) and the second sub array (120) such that the polarization of the laser light emitted by the array (50) can be changed. The invention further describes a sensor device (300) and an optical detection system (400) comprising such a laser device (10). Furthermore, a method of determining the shape of an object by means of the optical detection system (400) is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heating system for heating a living being, for instance, a person (2) within a vehicle (1) being preferentially a hybrid car or an electric car. The heating system comprises an infrared laser system (5, 6) for illuminating the living being with infrared laser light, thereby heating the living being. Thus, heating radiation is used, which has a high collimation and which can be focused relatively easily. The heating can therefore be confined to a certain region, in which the living being is located. The heating can even be confined to the living being or to parts of the living being only. This more focused heating allows for a reduction of the energy consumption.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heating system for heating a living being, for instance, a person (2) within a vehicle (1) being preferentially a hybrid car or an electric car. The heating system comprises an infrared laser system (5, 6) for illuminating the living being with infrared laser light, thereby heating the living being. Thus, heating radiation is used, which has a high collimation and which can be focused relatively easily. The heating can therefore be confined to a certain region, in which the living being is located. The heating can even be confined to the living being or to parts of the living being only. This more focused heating allows for a reduction of the energy consumption.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for profiling the depth of a surface of a target object (30), having a two-dimensional array of lasers (5), an optical device (15) for projecting a two-dimensional illumination pattern (31) onto an area of the surface of the target object, an image capture device (10) arranged to capture an image of the two-dimensional illumination pattern projected onto the area of the surface of the target object and a processor (25) configured to process the captured image in order to reconstruct a depth profile of the two-dimensional area of the surface of the target object from the image captured by the image capture device.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program for measuring a distance using a self-mixing interference (SMI) unit that generates an SMI signal. The SMI unit comprises a laser emitting a first laser beam directed to an object and wherein the SMI signal depends on an interference of the first laser beam and a second laser beam reflected by the object. A peak width determination unit determines a peak width of the SMI signal, and a distance determination unit determines a distance between the object and the SMI unit depending on the determined peak width of the SMI signal. Since the distance is determined depending on the peak width of the SMI signal, without requiring a laser driving current modulation, advanced electronics for modulating the driving current of the laser are not needed. This reduces the technical efforts needed for determining the distance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a velocity determination apparatus (1) for determining a velocity of an object (2). A Doppler frequency measuring unit is adapted to measure Doppler frequencies in at least three different frequency directions, wherein a Doppler frequency calculation unit is adapted to calculate a Doppler frequency for a calculation frequency direction being similar to one of the at least three different frequency directions depending on the Doppler frequencies measured for at least two further frequency directions of the at least three different frequency directions. The velocity can then be determined depending on the calculated Doppler frequency and the measured Doppler frequencies. Since in the calculation frequency direction the measured Doppler frequency is not needed for determining the velocity, a reliable velocity can be determined also in the calculation frequency direction, even if the measurement of the Doppler frequency in this calculation frequency direction is disturbed.

Abstract: The invention describes a laser device (10) comprising an array (50) of laser emitters (100) and a control unit (200), the array (50) comprises at least a first sub array (110) of laser emitters and a second sub array (120) of laser emitters, wherein the first sub array (110) emits laser light of a first polarization and the second sub array (120) emits laser light of a second polarization being different from the first polarization, and wherein the control unit (200) is adapted to control the first sub array (110) and the second sub array (120) such that the polarization of the laser light emitted by the array (50) can be changed. The invention further describes a sensor device (300) and an optical detection system (400) comprising such a laser device (10). Furthermore, a method of determining the shape of an object by means of the optical detection system (400) is described.

Abstract: The method is based on a determination of the orientation of the sensor to the surface moving with respect to the sensor and then acquiring data where the lateral velocity is small and the forward velocity is large. Then, the orientation of the sensor with respect to the direction of the forward velocity is determined and the velocity data subsequently measured are corrected using the measured orientation of the sensor with respect to the reference surface and the forward velocity direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser device (10) for projecting a structured light pattern (9) onto a scene (15). The device is formed of several arrays (1) of semiconductor lasers (2), each array (1) comprising an irregular distribution of emission areas (2a) of the semiconductor lasers (2). One or several imaging optics (4) image said arrays (1) to an imaging space and superpose the images of said arrays (1) in the imaging space to form said light pattern (9). The proposed laser device generates a light pattern with high contrast and efficiency which may be used for 3D imaging systems, e. g. in automotive applications.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for profiling the depth of a surface of a target object (30), having a two-dimensional array of lasers (5), an optical device (15) for projecting a two-dimensional illumination pattern (31) onto an area of the surface of the target object, an image capture device (10) arranged to capture an image of the two-dimensional illumination pattern projected onto the area of the surface of the target object and a processor (25) configured to process the captured image in order to reconstruct a depth profile of the two-dimensional area of the surface of the target object from the image captured by the image capture device.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method of operating a self-mixing interference sensor and a corresponding self-mixing interference sensor device. In the method the laser (1) of the device is controlled to periodically emit a laser pulse followed by an emission period of laser radiation having a lower amplitude. The pulse width of the laser pulse is selected such that the pulse after reflection at the object (3) re-enters the laser (1) during the emission period of laser radiation with lower amplitude. The corresponding SMI signal has an increased signal to noise ratio.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heating system for heating a living being, for instance, a person (2) within a vehicle (1) being preferentially a hybrid car or an electric car. The heating system comprises an infrared laser system (5, 6) for illuminating the living being with infrared laser light, thereby heating the living being. Thus, heating radiation is used, which has a high collimation and which can be focused relatively easily. The heating can therefore be confined to a certain region, in which the living being is located. The heating can even be confined to the living being or to parts of the living being only. This more focused heating allows for a reduction of the energy consumption.

Abstract: A sensor system is described, using self-mixing laser sensors (10) and an analyzer circuit (30) in order to determine the velocity of a vehicle, such as a car, and the rotational velocity of a wheel (20) of the car. Deviations between the velocity of the vehicle and the rotational velocity of the wheel (20) can be used to determine sliding of the wheel (20) and, finally, the traction or, more specifically, the coefficient of driving friction between the wheel (20) and the surface the car is driving on. Furthermore, a vehicle control system is described, initiating test accelerations of a wheel (20) by means of a control circuit (50) and control means (300, 400) in order to determine the coefficient of driving friction during driving. The test accelerations initiate short periods of sliding of the wheel (20) and the sliding is detected by means of the sensor system.

Abstract: A sensor module (1) for measuring the distance to a target and/or the velocity of the target (50), the sensor module (1) comprising at least one laser source (100), at least one detector (200) being adapted to detect modulated laser light and at least one control element the control element (400) being adapted to vary the focus point of the laser light and/or the intensity of the laser light and/or the direction of the laser light. The control of the laser light emitted by the laser source (100) either by active optical devices as variable focus lenses or controllable attenuators or passive optical elements in combination with arrays of laser sources (100) and detectors (200) enable flexible and robust sensor modules.

Abstract: The invention relates to a velocity determination apparatus for determining a relative velocity between a first object (12), to which the velocity determination apparatus is attachable, and a second object (1). The velocity determination apparatus comprises a laser (3) having a laser cavity (4) for emitting first radiation (5), which is reflected by the second object (1), wherein the reflected radiation interferes with the first radiation (5) within the laser cavity (4). An interference signal detector (7) detects an interference signal depending on the interference within the laser cavity (4) and a velocity determination unit (8) determines the relative velocity based on the interference signal. A reliability value determination unit (9) determines a reliability value for indicating the reliability of the determined relative velocity based on at least one of the group consisting of the detected interference signal, the determined relative velocity and a characteristic of the laser.

Abstract: The invention relates to a velocity determination apparatus (1) for determining a velocity of an object (2). A Doppler frequency measuring unit is adapted to measure Doppler frequencies in at least three different frequency directions, wherein a Doppler frequency calculation unit is adapted to calculate a Doppler frequency for a calculation frequency direction being similar to one of the at least three different frequency directions depending on the Doppler frequencies measured for at least two further frequency directions of the at least three different frequency directions. The velocity can then be determined depending on the calculated Doppler frequency and the measured Doppler frequencies. Since in the calculation frequency direction the measured Doppler frequency is not needed for determining the velocity, a reliable velocity can be determined also in the calculation frequency direction, even if the measurement of the Doppler frequency in this calculation frequency direction is disturbed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for measuring a distance. A self-mixing interference (SMI) unit (2) generates an SMI signal, wherein the SMI unit comprises a laser (3) emitting a first laser beam (4) for being directed to an object (5) and wherein the SMI signal depends on an interference of the first laser beam and a second laser beam (6) reflected by the object. A peak width determination unit (8) determines a peak width of the SMI signal, and a distance determination unit (9) determines a distance between the object and the SMI unit depending on the determined peak width of the SMI signal. Since the distance is determined depending on the peak width of the SMI signal, without requiring a laser driving current modulation, advanced electronics for modulating the driving current of the laser are not needed. This reduces the technical efforts needed for determining the distance.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device comprising a laser diode with an integrated photodiode, wherein one of the components of the laser diode with the integrated photodiode is also used for heating the laser diode. A simpler design of a wavelength-controlled semiconductor laser is thus obtained.