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 deflector to deflect light from a plurality of light sources along a plurality of outbound paths, towards a plurality of regions forming a field of view while the at least one deflector is in a particular instantaneous position; control the at least one deflector such that while the at least one deflector is in the particular instantaneous position, light reflections from the field of view are received on at least one common area of the at least one deflector; and receive from each of a plurality of detectors, at least one signal indicative of light reflections from the at least one common area while the at least one deflector is in the particular instantaneous position.

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 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 light emission of a light source; scan a field of view by repeatedly moving at least one light deflector located in an outbound path of the light source; while the at least one deflector is in a particular instantaneous position, receive via the at least one deflector, reflections of a single light beam spot along a return path to a sensor; receive from the sensor on a beam-spot-by-beam-spot basis, signals associated with an image of each light beam-spot, wherein the sensor includes a plurality of detectors and wherein a size of each detector is smaller than the image of each light beam-spot; and determine, from signals resulting from the impingement on the plurality of detectors, at least two differing range measurements associated with the image of the single light beam-spot.

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.