Abstract: A system and method of noise filtering light detection and ranging signals to reduce false positive detection of light generated by a light detection and ranging transmitter in an ambient light environment that is reflected by a target scene. A received data trace is generated based on the detected light. An ambient light level is determined based on the received data trace. Valid return pulses are determined by noise filtering, which can for example, by comparing magnitudes of return pulses to a predetermined variable, N, times the determined ambient light level or by comparing magnitudes of return pulses to a sum of the ambient light level and N-times the variance of the ambient light level. A point cloud comprising the plurality of data points with a reduced false positive rate is generated.

Abstract: A solid state LIDAR transmitter with matrix-addressable laser drive circuit includes a first electrical bus that provides a first voltage potential to columns of the matrix-addressable laser drive circuit and a second electrical bus that provide a second voltage potential to rows of the matrix-addressable laser drive circuit. A plurality of column switches connects the plurality of columns to the first electrical bus. A plurality of row switches connects the plurality of rows to the second electrical bus. The transmitter includes a plurality of series connected diodes comprising a laser diode in series with another diode, where a respective one of the plurality of series connected diodes is electrically connected between a respective column and row of the matrix-addressable laser drive circuit to form the LIDAR transmitter. At least some of the second diodes increasing an overall reverse breakdown voltage of the series connected diodes.

Abstract: A matrix-addressable vertical cavity surface emitting laser array for light detection and ranging systems includes a plurality of rows of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers formed on a die with one row of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers comprising a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers each configured with a common cathode electrical connection on one side of the die and another row of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers comprising a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers each configured with a common cathode electrical connection on the other side of the die. Each of the rows of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers is configured with anode connections that allow activating only a portion of the row at a particular time so that Class 1 eye safety can be maintained.

Abstract: A LIDAR illuminator includes a plurality of laser sources, each comprising an electrical input that receives a modulation drive signal that causes each of the plurality of laser sources to generate an optical beam. A controller having a plurality of electrical outputs, where a respective one of the plurality of electrical outputs is connected to an electrical input of a respective one of the plurality of laser sources, generates a plurality of modulation drive signals that cause the plurality of laser sources to generate a plurality of optical beams that form a combined optical beam. A peak optical energy of the combined optical beam in a measurement aperture at a measurement distance is less than a desired value.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transmitter includes a plurality of light emitters that generate a plurality of optical beams. A first lens is positioned in an optical path of the plurality of optical beams at a distance from at least one of the plurality of light emitters that is less than a focal length of the first lens. The first lens converges the plurality of optical beams to a converged optical beam having a beam waist. A second lens is positioned in the optical path of the converged optical beam. The second lens projects the converged optical beam to a target range. The position of the second lens and an emission width of at least one of the plurality of light emitters are configured to provide a desired field-of-view of the LIDAR transmitter at the target range.

Abstract: A LIDAR illuminator includes a plurality of laser sources, each comprising an electrical input that receives a modulation drive signal that causes each of the plurality of laser sources to generate an optical beam. A controller having a plurality of electrical outputs, where a respective one of the plurality of electrical outputs is connected to an electrical input of a respective one of the plurality of laser sources, generates a plurality of modulation drive signals that cause the plurality of laser sources to generate a plurality of optical beams that form a combined optical beam. A peak optical energy of the combined optical beam in a measurement aperture at a measurement distance is less than a desired value.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transmitter includes a plurality of light emitters that generate a plurality of optical beams. A first lens is positioned in an optical path of the plurality of optical beams at a distance from at least one of the plurality of light emitters that is less than a focal length of the first lens. The first lens converges the plurality of optical beams to a converged optical beam having a beam waist. A second lens is positioned in the optical path of the converged optical beam. The second lens projects the converged optical beam to a target range. The position of the second lens and an emission width of at least one of the plurality of light emitters are configured to provide a desired field-of-view of the LIDAR transmitter at the target range.

Abstract: A method of Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) includes generating a first optical pulse that propagates towards a target and receiving an optical return signal reflected from the target resulting from the generated first optical pulse. The optical return signal is processed to determine a number of additional optical pulses desired to be propagated towards the target to meet a performance criteria. The determined number of additional optical pulses is then generated and propagated towards the target. The additional optical return signals reflected from the target are received and processed to obtain one or more LIDAR measurements.

Abstract: A solid-state LIDAR system includes a plurality of lasers, each generating an optical beam having a FOV when energized. A plurality of detectors is positioned in an optical path of the optical beams generated by the plurality of lasers. A FOV of at least one of the plurality of optical beams generated by the plurality of lasers overlaps a FOV of at least two of the plurality of detectors. A controller is configured to generate bias signals at a plurality of laser control outputs that energize a selected group of the plurality of lasers in a predetermined time sequence and is configured to detect a predetermined sequence of detector signals generated by the plurality of detectors.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a plurality of lasers that generate an optical beam having a FOV. A plurality of detectors are positioned where a FOV of at least one of the plurality of optical beams generated by the plurality of lasers overlaps a FOV of at least two of the plurality of detectors. The lens system collimates and projects the optical beams generated by the plurality of lasers. An actuator is coupled to at least one of the plurality of lasers and the lens system to cause relative motion between the plurality of lasers and the lens system in a direction that is orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens system so as to cause relative motion between the FOVs of the optical beams generated by the plurality of lasers and the FOVs of the detectors.

Abstract: A solid state LIDAR transmitter with matrix-addressable laser drive circuit includes a first electrical bus that provides a first voltage potential to columns of the matrix-addressable laser drive circuit and a second electrical bus that provide a second voltage potential to rows of the matrix-addressable laser drive circuit. A plurality of column switches connects the plurality of columns to the first electrical bus. A plurality of row switches connects the plurality of rows to the second electrical bus. The transmitter includes a plurality of series connected diodes comprising a laser diode in series with another diode, where a respective one of the plurality of series connected diodes is electrically connected between a respective column and row of the matrix-addressable laser drive circuit to form the LIDAR transmitter. At least some of the second diodes increasing an overall reverse breakdown voltage of the series connected diodes.

Abstract: A multi-wavelength LIDAR system includes a first laser source that generates a first optical beam having a first wavelength and a second laser source that generates a second optical beam having a second wavelength. An optical element projects the first optical beam to form a first beam profile at a target plane and projects the second optical beam to form a second beam profile at the target plane. An optical receiver generates a first wavelength signal corresponding to the received reflected portion of the first beam profile and generates a second wavelength signal corresponding to the reflected portion of the second beam profile at the target plane. A controller generates a measurement point cloud from the first and second wavelength signals, wherein an angular resolution of the measurement point cloud depends on a relative position of the first and second beam profiles at the target plane.

Abstract: A multi-wavelength LIDAR system includes a first laser source that generates a first optical beam having a first wavelength and a second laser source that generates a second optical beam having a second wavelength. An optical element projects the first optical beam to form a first beam profile at a target plane and projects the second optical beam to form a second beam profile at the target plane. An optical receiver generates a first wavelength signal corresponding to the received reflected portion of the first beam profile and generates a second wavelength signal corresponding to the reflected portion of the second beam profile at the target plane. A controller generates a measurement point cloud from the first and second wavelength signals, wherein an angular resolution of the measurement point cloud depends on a relative position of the first and second beam profiles at the target plane.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transmitter includes a plurality of light emitters that generate a plurality of optical beams. A first lens is positioned in an optical path of the plurality of optical beams at a distance from at least one of the plurality of light emitters that is less than a focal length of the first lens. The first lens converges the plurality of optical beams to a converged optical beam having a beam waist. A second lens is positioned in the optical path of the converged optical beam. The second lens projects the converged optical beam to a target range. The position of the second lens and an emission width of at least one of the plurality of light emitters are configured to provide a desired field-of-view of the LIDAR transmitter at the target range.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a first optical transmitter comprising a plurality of first emitters, where each of the plurality of first emitters is positioned to generate an optical beam with a FOV at a target range when energized. A second optical transmitter includes a plurality of second emitters, where each of the plurality of second emitters is positioned to generate an optical beam with a FOV at the target range when energized. The first and second optical transmitters are positioned relative to each other so the FOVs of at least some of the optical beams generated by the first and second optical transmitter when energized overlap at the target range. An optical receiver includes a plurality of optical detectors, where a respective one of the plurality of optical detectors is positioned to detect a respective optical beam generated by at least one of the first and second optical transmitter and reflected by a target in the FOV at the target range.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transmitter includes a plurality of light emitters that generate a plurality of optical beams. A first lens is positioned in an optical path of the plurality of optical beams at a distance from at least one of the plurality of light emitters that is less than a focal length of the first lens. The first lens converges the plurality of optical beams to a converged optical beam having a beam waist. A second lens is positioned in the optical path of the converged optical beam. The second lens projects the converged optical beam to a target range. The position of the second lens and an emission width of at least one of the plurality of light emitters are configured to provide a desired field-of-view of the LIDAR transmitter at the target range.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes an optical transmitter comprising a plurality of lasers, each illuminating a FOV in an illumination region. A transmitter controller has outputs connected to respective laser inputs. The transmitter controller generates electrical pulses at the outputs so that the lasers generate light in a desired pattern in the illumination region. An optical receiver has an input FOV in the illumination region and comprises a plurality of detectors, each having a FOV and being positioned to detect light over the illumination region; and a TOF measurement circuit that measures the TOF from the lasers to the detectors. The receiver calculates range information. An adaptive optical shutter positioned between the optical transmitter and the optical receiver has a transparent or reflected region FOV, where the optical shutter restricts illumination at the input of the optical receiver to a region which is smaller than the optical receiver FOV.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes an optical transmitter comprising a plurality of lasers, where each of the plurality of lasers illuminates a field-of-view. A transmitter controller is configured to pulse desired ones of the plurality of lasers so that the plurality of lasers generate light in a desired illumination region. An optical receiver comprises a plurality of detectors positioned to detect light over the desired illumination region. The plurality of detectors generates an electrical detection signal. A time-of-flight measurement circuit measures the time-of-flight of light from the plurality of lasers to the plurality of detectors. The optical receiver calculates range information from the time-of-flight measurements. A receiver controller is electrically connected to the transmitter controller and is configured to bias at least some of the plurality of detectors at a bias point that achieves a desired detection signal noise level.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transmitter includes a plurality of light emitters that generate a plurality of optical beams. A first lens is positioned in an optical path of the plurality of optical beams at a distance from at least one of the plurality of light emitters that is less than a focal length of the first lens. The first lens converges the plurality of optical beams to a converged optical beam having a beam waist. A second lens is positioned in the optical path of the converged optical beam. The second lens projects the converged optical beam to a target range. The position of the second lens and an emission width of at least one of the plurality of light emitters are configured to provide a desired field-of-view of the LIDAR transmitter at the target range.

Abstract: A LIDAR illuminator includes a plurality of laser sources, each comprising an electrical input that receives a modulation drive signal that causes each of the plurality of laser sources to generate an optical beam. A controller having a plurality of electrical outputs, where a respective one of the plurality of electrical outputs is connected to an electrical input of a respective one of the plurality of laser sources, generates a plurality of modulation drive signals that cause the plurality of laser sources to generate a plurality of optical beams that form a combined optical beam. A peak optical energy of the combined optical beam in a measurement aperture at a measurement distance is less than a desired value.