Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system comprises a laser diode; a laser diode driver circuit configured generate a laser beam using the laser diode and to frequency chirp the generated laser beam according to a frequency chirp period; a laser splitter to split the generated laser beam into N transmit laser beams pointed at different angles, wherein N is an integer greater than one, and a frequency chirp period of each of the N transmit laser beams is the frequency chirp period of the generated laser beam; and multiple return beam paths to receive N return beams and determine time of flight values for the N return beams in parallel.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system comprises a laser diode; a laser diode driver circuit configured generate a laser beam using the laser diode and to frequency chirp the generated laser beam according to a frequency chirp period; a laser splitter to split the generated laser beam into N transmit laser beams pointed at different angles, wherein N is an integer greater than one, and a frequency chirp period of each of the N transmit laser beams is the frequency chirp period of the generated laser beam; and multiple return beam paths to receive N return beams and determine time of flight values for the N return beams in parallel.

Abstract: Techniques for using multiple detection paths in a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) receiver circuit. In general, the receiver circuit can perform more than one flow of filtering, detection, and estimation on the same return signal. One advantage of using multiple detection paths is the ability to extract different aspects of the return signal.

Abstract: Techniques are described to encode a single light pulse with information that can provide the benefits of a single long pulse and a short, coded pulse train. For example, techniques are described to generate a light pulse for transmission that has an optical intensity profile that includes a waveform having one or more relatively narrower pulses superimposed upon a relatively wider pulse. Thus, a hybrid pulse can be generated that includes both a wide pulse and a narrow pulse train portion, for example, superimposed thereon.

Abstract: A Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system comprises a memory configured to store LIDAR measurement data obtained by the LIDAR system representative of a three-dimensional (3D) space in a field of view of the LIDAR system and signal processing circuitry. The signal processing circuitry is and configured to convert the LIDAR measurement data to a voxel characteristic of voxels of the 3D space, process and adjust a voxel characteristic of a first voxel of the 3D space using a voxel characteristic of other voxels within a specified distance of the first voxel in the 3D space, continue to process and adjust the voxel characteristics of all voxels in the 3D space, and generate an indication of presence of an object in the field of view according to the adjusted voxel characteristics.

Abstract: Techniques are described to adjust one or more parameters to vary the illumination output within at least one of the regions-of-interest (ROIs) in a field-of-view (FOV) and to adjust one or more corresponding receiver parameter(s). By associating different parameters between two or more ROIs within an FOV, this disclosure describes a LIDAR system having an adaptive FOV. An adaptive FOV can allow a LIDAR system to vary its performance between ROIs. For example, in an FOV having at least a first ROI and a second ROI, the LIDAR system can output more optical power in the first ROI then the second ROI to increase the signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio and therefore achieve a longer detection range.