Abstract: A color depth integration method, a receiver, and a light detection and ranging apparatus thereof are disclosed to integrate image capturing with 3D depth measuring efficiently. A receiver includes at least one detector macro-cell, each of which includes a first detector configured to capture reflected light and a second detector configured to capture first external light. The first detector and the second detector are arranged in an array to constitute one detector macro-cell. The reflected light represents light emitted from a transmitter and reflected by at least one object. A frequency range of the first external light and a frequency range of the reflected light is non-overlapping or at least partially non-overlapping.

Abstract: A LiDAR apparatus includes a light transmitter configured to emit pulse light, a light receiver configured to capture reflected pulse light, a determination circuit configured to determine a plurality of distances to the at least one object and a plurality of reflectivity of the at least one object, and an event detector configured to output the present distance or the present reflectivity only after determining a distance difference between the present distance of the first pixel of the present frame and a previous distance of the first pixel of a previous frame exceeds a distance threshold or only after determining a reflectivity difference between the present reflectivity of the first pixel of the present frame and a previous reflectivity of the first pixel of the previous frame exceeds a reflectivity threshold. A plurality of pixels are regularly mapping to a two-directional FOV of the LiDAR apparatus.

Abstract: A reference axis adjustment method and a reference axis adjustment controller thereof are disclosed. The reference axis adjustment method for the reference axis adjustment controller includes obtaining an inclination angle of a slope with respect to a relative horizontal plane, and instructing to adjust a reference axis of an apparatus according to the inclination angle of the slope before the apparatus enters the slope.

Abstract: A time multiplexing flash light detection and ranging apparatus includes a light transmitter configured to emit pulse light, a beam steering unit optically coupled to the light transmitter and including a plurality of beam steering components, and a light receiver optically coupled to the light transmitter and configured to capture a portion of reflected pulse light from one of the plurality of field of view at a time. The plurality of beam steering components are activated sequentially to multiplex the reflected pulse light from a plurality of field of views, and the reflected pulse light represents the pulse light reflected by at least one object.

Abstract: An electrowetting apparatus includes an optical substrate, a plurality of electrodes disposed on the optical substrate, and a hydrophilic layer disposed on the optical substrate. A plurality of voltages are applied to at least part of the plurality of electrodes to move a droplet out of the electrowetting apparatus after the droplet appears on the hydrophilic layer.

Abstract: A scanning flash light detection and ranging apparatus includes a light transmitter, a beam steering unit configured to steer pulse light and the reflected pulse light, and a light receiver configured to capture the reflected pulse light. The light transmitter includes a plurality of light sources. Each of the plurality of light sources is configured to emit the pulse light. The pulse light is non-visible. The reflected pulse light represents the pulse light reflected by at least one object. The pulse light incident on the beam steering unit and the reflected pulse light deflected by the beam steering unit are parallel or coaxial. Alternatively, the pulse light deflected by the beam steering unit and the reflected pulse light incident on the beam steering unit are parallel or coaxial. The light receiver is a Geiger mode avalanche photodiode receiver including a plurality of light detectors.

Abstract: A MEMS micro-mirror device includes a middle substrate, a movable structure, at least one stopper coupled with the movable structure, at least one flexure, an upper cap, and a lower cap. The movable structure includes a micro-mirror plate having a reflective surface. The flexure connects the stopper and the middle substrate. The upper cap, bonded with the middle substrate, has a first opening for allowing the movable structure's movement and has at least one first recess facing a first side of the flexure and a first side of the stopper. The lower cap, bonded with the middle substrate, has a second opening for allowing space for the movement and has at least one second recess facing a second side of the flexure and a second side of the stopper.

Abstract: A scanning mirror apparatus, including a hermetic package having a cavity formed therein; a micro-mirror device with a reflective mirror surface disposed within the cavity; a gaseous species with pressure and with humidity content less than a predetermined index value disposed within the cavity; an optical transparent window disposed on the hermetic package bonded by glass frit bonding or metal bonding covering the internal cavity, the optical transparent window containing the gaseous species inside the internal cavity; and at least one metal pin for providing a signal, power, or ground to the micro-mirror device, attached to the hermetic package by glass frit bonding.

Abstract: A depth thermal imaging module, including a thermal imager array, which includes a plurality of at least two thermal imagers that capture thermal radiation of a wavelength of a scene from different viewpoints. Each thermal imager includes a thermal imager chip, a lens stack, and a focal plane with focal length f. The thermal imagers are separated by a baseline distance of 2h and depth measurement Z is performed on an object of interest based on Z=2hf/? where ? is the difference in location of the object of interest between its location in the thermal image captured by a first thermal imager and the location of the object of interest in the thermal image captured by a second thermal imager and represents as an offset of the point on the focal plane of the first thermal imager and the second thermal imagers relative to their optical axis.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) apparatus, including a package having a cavity formed therein; a semiconductor device disposed within the cavity and including at least one electromagnetically driven MEMS micro-mirror device; a high refractive index fluid disposed within the cavity and at least partially surrounding a portion of the semiconductor device; and a magnet assembly disposed outside the cavity isolating from the fluid. The magnet assembly is magnetically coupled with the micro-mirror device.

Abstract: A MEMS micro-mirror device includes a middle substrate, a movable structure, at least one stopper coupled with the movable structure, at least one flexure, an upper cap, and a lower cap. The movable structure includes a micro-mirror plate having a reflective surface. The flexure connects the stopper and the middle substrate. The upper cap, bonded with the middle substrate, has a first opening for allowing the movable structure's movement and has at least one first recess facing a first side of the flexure and a first side of the stopper. The lower cap, bonded with the middle substrate, has a second opening for allowing space for the movement and has at least one second recess facing a second side of the flexure and a second side of the stopper.

Abstract: A depth thermal imaging module, including a thermal imager array, which includes a plurality of at least two thermal imagers that capture thermal radiation of a wavelength of a scene from different viewpoints. Each thermal imager includes a thermal imager chip, a lens stack, and a focal plane with focal length f. The thermal imagers are separated by a baseline distance of 2h and depth measurement Z is performed on an object of interest based on Z=2hf/? where ? is the difference in location of the object of interest between its location in the thermal image captured by a first thermal imager and the location of the object of interest in the thermal image captured by a second thermal imager and represents as an offset of the point on the focal plane of the first thermal imager and the second thermal imagers relative to their optical axis.

Abstract: A multi-sensor apparatus for monitoring a fluid is described. The apparatus includes a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor is configured to be exposed to a fluid, and includes at least one membrane that covers the plurality of sensors. A mechanical member or a heating element can be used to selectively expose a particular sensor to the fluid leaving another of the sensors unexposed to the fluid.

Abstract: Various sensor unit configurations are disclosed within the context of a fluid quality monitoring system. The distribution of sensor units can be accomplished using existing product distribution channels to sell, distribute and install sensor units so that a fluid distribution monitoring system can be established at relatively low cost, on a wider basis, and by locating sensor units at the most desirable location from problem detection standpoint, the location of the end user.

Abstract: Various sensor unit configurations are disclosed within the context of a fluid quality monitoring system. The distribution of sensor units can be accomplished using existing product distribution channels to sell, distribute and install sensor units so that a fluid distribution monitoring system can be established at relatively low cost, on a wider basis, and by locating sensor units at the most desirable location from problem detection standpoint, the location of the end user.

Abstract: Various sensor unit configurations are disclosed within the context of a fluid quality monitoring system. The distribution of sensor units can be accomplished using existing product distribution channels to sell, distribute and install sensor units so that a fluid distribution monitoring system can be established at relatively low cost, on a wider basis, and by locating sensor units at the most desirable location from problem detection standpoint, the location of the end user.

Abstract: Various sensor unit configurations are disclosed within the context of a fluid quality monitoring system. The distribution of sensor units can be accomplished using existing product distribution channels to sell, distribute and install sensor units so that a fluid distribution monitoring system can be established at relatively low cost, on a wider basis, and by locating sensor units at the most desirable location from problem detection standpoint, the location of the end user.