Abstract: A vehicular driving assist system includes a plurality of lidar sensors having respective fields of sensing exterior the vehicle. The lidar sensors emit light pulsed at a respective pulse rate and provide a respective output to an electronic control unit based on sensed light that is reflected by objects present in the field of sensing of the respective lidar sensor. The pulse rates of light emitted by the lidar sensors are different. The vehicular driving assist system, via processing at the ECU of the outputs from the lidar sensors, generates a three dimensional (3D) point cloud. The vehicular driving assist system controls the vehicle based at least in part on light sensed by the lidar sensors that is reflected by the objects when light is emitted by the lidar sensors at the respective pulse rates.

Abstract: A vehicular driving assist system includes a plurality of lidar sensors having respective fields of sensing exterior the vehicle. The lidar sensors emit light pulsed at a respective pulse rate and provide a respective output to an electronic control unit based on sensed light that is reflected by objects present in the field of sensing of the respective lidar sensor. The pulse rates of light emitted by the lidar sensors are different. The vehicular driving assist system, via processing at the ECU of the outputs from the lidar sensors, generates a three dimensional (3D) point cloud. The vehicular driving assist system controls the vehicle based at least in part on light sensed by the lidar sensors that is reflected by the objects when light is emitted by the lidar sensors at the respective pulse rates.

Abstract: A vehicular driving assist system includes a plurality of lidar sensors having respective fields of sensing exterior the vehicle, with the fields of sensing of first and second lidar sensors partially overlapping at an overlap region. The lidar sensors emit a respective pattern of light and provide a respective output to an ECU based on sensed light that is reflected by objects present in the field of sensing of the respective lidar sensor. The pattern of light emitted by the second lidar sensor differs from the pattern of light emitted by the first lidar sensor. The ECU determines misalignment of the second lidar sensor relative to the first lidar sensor based at least in part on the light sensed by each of the lidar sensors that is reflected by an object present in the overlap region when the respective pattern of light is emitted by the respective lidar sensor.

Abstract: A vehicular driving assist system includes a plurality of lidar sensors having respective fields of sensing exterior the vehicle, with the fields of sensing of first and second lidar sensors partially overlapping at an overlap region. The lidar sensors emit a respective pattern of light and provide a respective output to an ECU based on sensed light that is reflected by objects present in the field of sensing of the respective lidar sensor. The pattern of light emitted by the second lidar sensor differs from the pattern of light emitted by the first lidar sensor. The ECU determines misalignment of the second lidar sensor relative to the first lidar sensor based at least in part on the light sensed by each of the lidar sensors that is reflected by an object present in the overlap region when the respective pattern of light is emitted by the respective lidar sensor.

Abstract: A lidar sensing system for a vehicle includes a plurality of lidar sensor modules disposed at a vehicle, with each lidar sensor module having a laser unit and a sensor unit, and with each lidar sensor module having a respective field of sensing exterior of the vehicle. Each field of sensing is different from the other fields of sensing and partially overlaps at least one other field of sensing. An output of each lidar sensor module is communicated to a control, and the control, responsive to outputs from the lidar sensor modules, determines a combined field of sensing.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle, an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera, and a display operable to display images derived from image data captured by the camera. The image processor, via processing of image data captured by the camera, determines a noise level in image data captured by the camera. The vision system applies a lens shading algorithm to captured image data, and the vision system adjusts a level of the lens shading algorithm responsive to the determined noise level.

Abstract: A lidar sensing system for a vehicle includes a plurality of lidar sensor modules disposed at a vehicle, with each lidar sensor module having a laser unit and a sensor unit, and with each lidar sensor module having a respective field of sensing exterior of the vehicle. Each field of sensing is different from the other fields of sensing and partially overlaps at least one other field of sensing. An output of each lidar sensor module is communicated to a control, and the control, responsive to outputs from the lidar sensor modules, determines a combined field of sensing.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle, an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera, and a display operable to display images derived from image data captured by the camera. The image processor, via processing of image data captured by the camera, determines a noise level in image data captured by the camera. The vision system applies a lens shading algorithm to captured image data, and the vision system adjusts a level of the lens shading algorithm responsive to the determined noise level.

Abstract: A microfluidic bioreactor includes at least two modules each having a cavity, each of which is divided by a membrane into a cell chamber for receiving cells and a material chamber through which a liquid solution comprising at least one additive and cell metabolites can flow, wherein each membrane has a reaction region in which the membrane is permeable at least in part to the solution comprising the at least one additive and the cell metabolites, and a fluid conducting system for the liquid solution comprising the at least one additive and the cell metabolites, which fluid conducting system connects the material chambers together at least one of in series or in parallel. Unidirectional flow through the fluid conducting system is ensured.

Abstract: This invention is a reactor and a process for the conversion of organic waste material such as municipal trash, sewage, post-consumer refuse, and biomass to commercially salable materials. The invention produces the following: 1. Maximum energy conversion from the organic material 2. High volume consumption of the organic feed material 3. Less pollution of gaseous products than prior art systems 4. Solid residuals for disposal are minimal and non-hazardous. The conversion is accomplished by combining anaerobic gasification and pyrolysis of the feed organic material and making it into synthetic gas. The synthetic gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons (CxHy), hydrogen, and carbon monoxide with small amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. An essential feature of the invention is a hot driver gas, devoid of free oxygen and rich in water, which supplies the entire thermal and chemical energy needed for the reactions.

Abstract: A method of analyzing elements of a metal melt contained in a melting vessel comprises the following steps: introducing an inert gas at a temperature in excess of 300.degree. C. laterally into a tube passing through a lateral wall of the melting vessel and opening thereinto; generating a laser beam; passing the laser beam through an adjustable first lens system; reflecting the laser beam by a mirror into the tube; guiding the laser beam through a quartz window which closes the tube; generating a plasma in the tube by focusing the laser beam by the adjustable first lens system onto the surface of the metal melt in the tube; guiding the light generated by the plasma through the quartz window to an adjustable second lens system; coupling the light by the adjustable second lens system with an optical waveguide; and introducing the light by the optical waveguide into a spectrometer.

Abstract: A polychromator in a Paschen-Runge mounting in which intensity measurements are made by means of a row of photodiodes. The spectral intensity distribution of at least two spectral regions on the Rowland circle is transmitted to the row of photodiodes by image conductors and is measured there.