Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over a scan of a field of view using light from the at least one light source; control at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source; use first detected reflections associated with a scan of a first portion of the field of view to determine an existence of a first object in the first portion at a first distance; determine an absence of objects in a second portion of the field of view at the first distance; alter a light source parameter; and use second detected reflections in the second portion of the field of view to determine an existence of a second object at a second distance greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over a scan of a field of view; control projection of at least a first light emission directed toward a first portion of the field of view to determine an absence of objects in the first portion of the field of view at a first distance; when an absence of objects is determined in the first portion of the field of view, control projection of at least a second light emission directed toward the first portion of the field of view; and control projection of at least a third light emission directed toward the first portion of the field of view to determine an existence of an object in the first portion of the field of view.

Abstract: A LIDAR system for use in a vehicle may include at least one processor configured to control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux of at least one light source to vary over scans of a field of view. The processor may also be configured to control at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source in order to scan the field of view. The processor may also be configured to receive input indicative of a current driving environment of the vehicle, and based on the current driving environment, coordinate the control of the at least one light source with the control of the at least one light deflector to dynamically adjust an instantaneous detection distance by varying an amount of light projected and a spatial light distribution of light across the scan of the field of view.

Abstract: A LIDAR system for use with a roadway vehicle traveling on a highway may include at least one processor configured to control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux of light from at least one light source to vary over a scanning cycle of a field of view. The processor may also be configured to control at least one deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source in order to scan the field of view. The processor may also be configured to coordinate the control of the at least one light source with the control of the at least one light deflector such that during scanning of the field of view that encompasses a central region, a right peripheral region, and a left peripheral region, more light is directed to the central region than to the peripheral regions.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux of at least one light source to vary over a plurality of scans of a field of view, the field of view including a near-field portion and a far-field portion; control at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source in a manner scanning the field of view; implement a first scanning rate for first frames associated with scanning cycles that cover the near-field portion and a second scanning rate for second frames associated with scanning cycles that cover the far-field portion; and control the at least one light source to alter a light source parameter and thereby project light in a manner enabling detection of objects in the second frames associated with the far-field portion.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux of light from at least one light source to vary over a scanning cycle of a field of view; receive from at least one sensor reflections signals indicative of light reflected from objects in the field of view; coordinate light flux and scanning in a manner to cause at least three sectors of the field of view to occur in a scanning cycle, a first sector having a first light flux and an associated first detection range, a second sector having a second light flux and an associated second detection range, and a third sector having third light flux and an associated a third detection range; and detect an object in the second sector.

Abstract: A LIDAR system for use in a vehicle may include at least one processor configured to control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux of light to vary over a scanning cycle of a field of view. The processor may also be configured to control at least one deflector to deflect light to scan the field of view. The processor may also be configured to obtain input indicative of an impending cross-lane turn of the vehicle, and in response, coordinate the control of the at least one light source with the control of the at least one light deflector to increase light flux on a side of the vehicle opposite a direction of the cross-lane turn, causing a detection range opposing the direction of the cross-lane turn of the vehicle to temporarily exceed a detection range toward a direction of the cross-lane turn.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: access an optical budget stored in memory, the optical budget being associated with at least one light source and defining an amount of light that is emittable in a predetermined time period by the at least one light source; receive information indicative of a platform condition for the LIDAR system; based on the received information, dynamically apportion the optical budget to a field of view of the LIDAR system based on at least two of: scanning rates, scanning patterns, scanning angles, spatial light distribution, and temporal light distribution; and output signals for controlling the at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over scanning of the field of view in accordance with the dynamically apportioned optical budget.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over a scan of a field of view using light from the at least one light source; control at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source; use first detected reflections associated with a scan of a first portion of the field of view to determine an existence of a first object in the first portion at a first distance; determine an absence of objects in a second portion of the field of view at the first distance; alter a light source parameter; and use second detected reflections in the second portion of the field of view to determine an existence of a second object at a second distance greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over a scan of a field of view; control projection of at least a first light emission directed toward a first portion of the field of view to determine an absence of objects in the first portion of the field of view at a first distance; when an absence of objects is determined in the first portion of the field of view, control projection of at least a second light emission directed toward the first portion of the field of view; and control projection of at least a third light emission directed toward the first portion of the field of view to determine an existence of an object in the first portion of the field of view.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over a scan of a field of view, the field of view including a first portion and a second portion; receive on a pixel-by-pixel basis, signals from at least one sensor; estimate noise in at least some of the signals associated with the first portion of the field of view; alter a sensor sensitivity for reflections associated with the first portion of the field of view; estimate noise in at least some of the signals associated with the second portion of the field of view; and alter a sensor sensitivity for reflections associated with the second portion of the field of view based on the estimation of noise in the second portion of the field of view.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over scans of a field of view using light from the at least one light source; control at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source; receive from at least one sensor, reflections signals indicative of light reflected from objects in the field of view; determine, based on the reflections signals of an initial light emission, whether an object is located in an immediate area of the LIDAR system and within a threshold distance from the at least one light deflector, and when no object is detected in the immediate area, control the at least one light source such that an additional light emission is projected toward the immediate area.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system comprises at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light intensity to vary over a scan of a field of view using light from the at least one light source; control at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source; obtain an identification of at least one distinct region of interest in the field of view; and increase light allocation to the at least one distinct region of interest relative to other regions, such that following a first scanning cycle, light intensity in at least one subsequent second scanning cycle at locations associated with the at least one distinct region of interest is higher than light intensity in the first scanning cycle at the locations associated with the at least one distinct region of interest.

Abstract: Disclosed is a scanning device including: a photonic emitter assembly (PTX) to emit at least one pulse of inspection photons in accordance with at least one adjustable pulse parameter, a photonic reception and detection assembly (PRX) to receive reflected photons reflected back from an object, the PRX including a detector to detect in accordance with at least one adjustable detection parameter the reflected photons and produce a detected scene signal, and a closed loop controller to: (a) control the PTX and PRX, (b) receive the detected scene signal from the detector and (c) update said at least one pulse parameter and at least one detection parameter at least partially based on a work plan derived at least partially from the detected scene signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a scanning device including a photonic emitter assembly (PTX) to emit at least one pulse of inspection photons in accordance with at least one adjustable pulse (generation) parameter, a photonic reception and detection assembly (PRX) to receive reflected photons reflected back from an object, the PRX including a dynamic detector to detect the reflected photons based on one or more adjustable detector parameter, the detector further configured to produce a detected scene signal, and a closed loop controller to control the PTX and PRX and to receive a PTX feedback and a PRX feedback, the controller further comprising a situational assessment unit to receive the detected scene signal from the detector and produce a scanning plan and update the at least one pulse parameter and at least one detector parameter at least partially based on the scanning plan.