Abstract: A frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a memory and a processor, operatively coupled to the memory, to generate a set of frequency subbands in a time domain based on an electrical signal from one or more optical detectors and filter the set of frequency subbands in the time domain based on one or more characteristics of each of the set of frequency subbands to obtain a subset of the set of frequency subbands based on at least two separate signal thresholds. The processor is further to convert the subset of the plurality of frequency subbands in the time domain to one or more subband signals in a frequency domain and detect signal peaks in the one or more subband signals in the frequency domain corresponding to target ranges in a field of view of the FMCW LIDAR system.

Abstract: A first signal is sampled at the LiDAR system to produce a first set of samples around a first detected frequency peak related to the first signal. A second signal is sampled at the LiDAR system to produce a second set of samples around a second detected frequency peak related to the second signal. A first function based on the first set of samples and a second function based on the second set of samples are convolved to produce a third function. At least one of the first signal or the second signal is refined to produce at least one of a first refined signal or a second refined signal based on the third function. Range and velocity information is extracted related to a target based on the at least one of the first refined signal or the second refined signal.

Abstract: A received signal is sampled at the LiDAR system and the received signal is converted to a frequency domain, where the received signal comprises a first frequency waveform. A matched filter is selected, where the matched filter comprises a second frequency waveform with a set of coefficients to match the first frequency waveform. The set of coefficients are updated according to a set of metrics. The received signal is filtered by the matched filter to generate a filtered received signal. Range and velocity information is extracted from the filtered received signal.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting one or more optical beams, each optical beam including different frequency chirps towards targets in a field of view of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system, receiving return signals based on reflections from the targets, each return signal including a different frequency, and generating a baseband signal in a frequency domain based on the return signals, the baseband signal including a first set of peaks each associated with a different up-chirp frequency and a second set of peaks each associated with a different down-chirp frequency. The method further includes generating one or more metrics associated with each of the first set of peaks and each of the second set of peaks and identifying the targets based on a pairing of each peak of the first set of peaks with a peak of the second set of peaks using the one or more metrics.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting one or more optical beams, each optical beam including different frequency chirps towards targets in a field of view of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system, receiving return signals based on reflections from the targets, each return signal including a different frequency, and generating a baseband signal in a frequency domain based on the return signals, the baseband signal including a first set of peaks each associated with a different up-chirp frequency and a second set of peaks each associated with a different down-chirp frequency. The method further includes generating one or more metrics associated with each of the first set of peaks and each of the second set of peaks and identifying the targets based on a pairing of each peak of the first set of peaks with a peak of the second set of peaks using the one or more metrics.

Abstract: A set of POIs of a point cloud are received at a first filter, where each POI of the set of POIs comprises one or more points. Each POI of the set of POIs is filtered. A set of neighborhood points of a POI is selected. A metric for the set of neighborhood points is computed. Based on the metric, whether to accept the POI, modify the POI, reject the POI, or transmit the POI to a second filter, to extract at least one of range or velocity information related to the target is determined. Provided the POI is accepted or modified, the POI is transmitted to a filtered point cloud; provided the POI is rejected, the POI is prevented from reaching the filtered point cloud; provided the POI is not accepted, modified, or rejected, the POI is transmitted to a second filter.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a detection threshold in a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes determining a first confidence threshold for detecting a first target from multiple targets within a frequency range, wherein the frequency range comprises frequencies corresponding to the targets. The method further includes determining a subset of frequencies within the frequency range for detecting a second target. The second target transmits signals within the subset of frequencies lower than the first confidence threshold. The method further includes adjusting the first confidence threshold to a second confidence threshold at the subset of frequencies for detecting the second target within the subset of frequencies and restoring the second confidence threshold to the first confidence threshold outside the subset of frequencies for detecting the first target.

Abstract: A received signal is sampled at the LiDAR system and the received signal is converted to a frequency domain, where the received signal comprises a first frequency waveform. A matched filter is selected, where the matched filter comprises a second frequency waveform with a set of coefficients to match the first frequency waveform. The set of coefficients are updated according to a set of metrics. The received signal is filtered by the matched filter to generate a filtered received signal. Range and velocity information is extracted from the filtered received signal.

Abstract: A set of signals are sampled at the LiDAR system and the set of signals are converted to a frequency domain to generate a set of sampled signals in the frequency domain. The set of signals are received consecutively over time. A set of first functions are created based on the set of sampled signals. The set of first functions are averaged to generate a second function. The second function represents a power spectrum density estimate of the set of signals. A peak value of the second function is detected to determine range and velocity information related to a target based on a corresponding frequency of the peak value of the second function.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system to transmit optical beams including at least up-chirp frequency and at least one down-chirp frequency toward targets in a field of view of the LIDAR system and receive returned signals of the up-chirp and the down-chirp as reflected from the targets. The LIDAR system generates a baseband signal in a frequency domain of the returned signals of the at least one up-chirp frequency and the at least one down-chirp frequency. The baseband signal includes a first set of peaks associated with the at least the at least one up-chirp frequency and a second set of peaks associated with the at least one down-chirp frequency. The LIDAR system determines the target location using the first set of peaks and the second set of peaks.

Abstract: A method to compensate for phase impairments in a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes transmitting a first optical beam towards a target, receiving a second optical beam from the target to produce a received optical beam; and generating a digitally-sampled target signal using a local oscillator (LO) beam, a first photo-detector and the received optical beam. The method also includes generating a digitally-sampled reference signal using a reference beam transmitted through a fiber delay device and a second photo-detector, and estimating one or more phase impairments in the LiDAR system using the digitally-sampled reference signal to produce one or more estimated phase impairments. The method also includes performing a first correction on a first phase impairment introduced into the digitally-sampled target signal by the LO beam; performing a second correction on a second phase impairment introduced into the digitally-sampled target signal by the received optical beam.

Abstract: A method of compensation in a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system. The method includes generating a digitally-sampled target signal. The method also includes compensating for ego-velocity and target velocity in the digitally-sampled target signal based on an estimated ego-velocity and an estimated target velocity to produce a compensated digitally-sampled target signal.

Abstract: A first signal is sampled at the LiDAR system to produce a first set of samples around a first detected frequency peak related to the first signal. A second signal is sampled at the LiDAR system to produce a second set of samples around a second detected frequency peak related to the second signal. A first function based on the first set of samples and a second function based on the second set of samples are created. The first and second functions are convolved to produce a third function. Provided an index of a convolution peak value is the same as a first peak index, it is determined not to refine the first signal or the second signal. Provided the index of the convolution peak value is not the same as the first peak index, at least one of the first signal or the second signal is refined.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system including a processor to receive a return signal from a target based on an optical beam transmitted towards the target and receive a baseband signal in a time domain based on the return signal. The processor of the LIDAR system further to produce a comparison of signal peaks of the baseband signal with an estimate of LIDAR system noise in the frequency domain, and identify targets based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system including an optical receiver to receive a return beam from the target. The optical receiver is to combine a second frequency modulate signal portion transmitted towards a local oscillator with a first frequency modulate portion to produce a beat frequency. The system further including a processor and a memory to store instructions executable by the processor. The processor to sample the beat frequency to produce a plurality of frequency subbands, and classify the plurality of frequency subbands into a plurality of subband types based on a subband criteria. The processor further to select one or more subband processing parameters based on the subband criteria, and process the plurality of frequency subbands, using the subband processing parameters, to determine a range and velocity of the target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system to generate a baseband signal in the time domain from the return signal, where the baseband signal includes frequencies corresponding to LIDAR target ranges; and a signal processing system coupled with the optical processing system to measure energy of the baseband signal in the frequency domain, to compare the energy to an estimate of LIDAR system noise, and to determine a likelihood that an signal peak in the frequency domain indicates a detected target.

Abstract: A return signal associated with a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) optical beam is received. A correction for Doppler scanning artifacts in the return signal is made. A determination as to whether the return signal is caused by an obstruction on or proximate to a LIDAR window is made. A field of view (FOV) reflectivity map is generated based on the determination. The FOV reflectivity map is analyzed by identifying an obstructed FOV of the LIDAR system and determining a reflected energy from the obstructed FOV.

Abstract: A signal processing system includes a time domain processing module to receive samples of a range-dependent time domain baseband signal in a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) LIDAR system, and to generate and select time domain subband signals based on time domain subband selection criteria, a time domain to frequency domain converter coupled with the time domain processing module, to generate range-dependent frequency outputs from the selected time domain subbands, and a frequency domain processing module coupled with the time domain to frequency domain converter, to generate and select frequency domain subbands based on frequency domain subband collection criteria, and to detect energy peaks corresponding to target ranges in the field of view of the LIDAR system.

Abstract: A method to compensate for phase impairments in a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes transmitting a first optical beam towards a target, receiving a second optical beam from the target to produce a received optical beam; and generating a digitally-sampled target signal using a local oscillator (LO) beam, a first photo-detector and the received optical beam. The method also includes generating a digitally-sampled reference signal using a reference beam transmitted through a fiber delay device and a second photo-detector, and estimating one or more phase impairments in the LiDAR system using the digitally-sampled reference signal to produce one or more estimated phase impairments. The method also includes performing a first correction on a first phase impairment introduced into the digitally-sampled target signal by the LO beam; performing a second correction on a second phase impairment introduced into the digitally-sampled target signal by the received optical beam.

Abstract: A method of compensating for phase impairments in a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes transmitting a first optical beam towards a target; and receiving a second optical beam from the target to produce a return signal. The method also includes generating a digitally-sampled target signal using a local oscillator (LO) beam, a first photo-detector, and the return signal; and compensating for ego-velocity and target velocity in the digitally-sampled target signal based on an estimated ego-velocity and estimated target velocity. The method also includes performing a phase impairment correction on the digitally-sampled target signal.