Abstract: Described herein are analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that utilize time-to-digital converters (TDCs) and a histogram block to generate time-correlated histograms from analog signals. In some implementations, the time-to-digital converters determine time intervals for which the analog signal above or below a ramp signal, and the histogram block generates the time-correlated histograms of values using the determined time intervals. Furthermore, in some implementations, the analog-to-digital converters receive the analog signals from photodiodes, such as photo diodes used in Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) devices. In some such applications, the use of time intervals to generate time-correlated histograms may be used to reduce the effects of time jitter.

Abstract: LIDAR measurement system with a LIDAR transmitting unit and a LIDAR receiving unit, which is configured in a focal-plane-array arrangement, wherein the LIDAR receiving unit has a plurality of sensor elements and wherein the LIDAR transmitting unit has a plurality of emitter elements, wherein a plurality of sensor elements form a macrocell, wherein the macrocell is associated with a single emitter element, wherein the distance between two adjacent emitter elements is unequal to an integer multiple of the distance between two adjacent sensor elements.

Abstract: Light signals are converted into first electric signals by a first group of light-receiving elements, and the light signals are additionally converted into second electrical signals by a second group of light-receiving elements. The second group has a lower degree of sensitivity for converting the photons into an electric current than the first group. The first electric signals are used to ascertain the distance to an object by means of a time-correlated photon counting process depending on a starting time for the emission of the light signals. Furthermore, the second electric signals are used to determine the distance depending on the starting time but using a second signal processing different from the process used for the first electric signals.

Abstract: Method for the improved near and remote detection of a LIDAR receiving unit for motor vehicles, wherein the receiving unit has a plurality of sensor elements, wherein the sensor elements can be activated and deactivated, wherein at least a subset of the sensor elements are activated at a first point in time within a measurement cycle, wherein one or more sensor elements are activated and/or one or more sensor elements are deactivated at a second point in time within the measurement cycle, said second point in time occurring after the first point in time.

Abstract: A receiving arrangement for receiving light signals and a method for receiving light signals are proposed, wherein a light receiver is provided, which serves for receiving the light signals and converting them into electrical signals. Furthermore, an evaluation circuit is provided, which, depending on the electrical signals and a start signal for the emission of the light signals, determines a distance between the receiving arrangement and an object at which the light signals are reflected. A characterizing feature is that the light receiver has a first group of light-receiving elements, which has a higher sensitivity for receiving the light signals than at least one further group of light-receiving elements, wherein the first and the further groups are ready for reception at different times.

Abstract: A receiver assembly for receiving light pulses, a lidar module containing such a receiver assembly, and a method for receiving light pulses are proposed. There is at least one photosensitive receiver (SPAD) therein, which converts the light pulses into an electric signal. An evaluation circuit is connected to the receiver, which determines a distance between the receiver assembly and at least one object that reflects the light pulses from the electric signal, by means of a time-correlated photon counting with at least one histogram, via a time of flight of the light pulse. The evaluation circuit is configured to reduce the resolution of the distance determination starting at no further than a predetermined distance.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating backscatter histogram data for determining a diffuse backscatter during an optical runtime measurement, comprising: At least one histogram accumulation unit, which has several signal inputs, so as to receive time-correlated histogram data; and wherein the histogram accumulation unit is set up to generate backscatter histogram data based upon the time-correlated histogram data received at the signal inputs.

Abstract: A method for analyzing backscatter histogram data in an optical pulse runtime method, including the steps of receiving backscatter histogram data; and analyzing the received backscatter histogram data.

Abstract: A device for generating test data for testing a distance determination during an optical runtime measurement, comprising: A test pattern generator, which is set up to generate a chronological sequence of test events, so as to provide the latter to a test histogram channel for generating time-correlated test histogram data for testing the distance determination during the optical runtime measurement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lidar receiving unit in a focal plane array arrangement, having: a multiplicity of sensor elements for receiving light pulses of a lidar emitting unit; and a plurality of routing channels for transporting signals of the sensor elements to an edge region (R) of the lidar receiving unit, wherein in each case a plurality of sensor elements are arranged in a macro cell, which is allocated to an emission element of the lidar emitting unit; in each case a plurality of macro cells form a macro cell cluster and in each case a plurality of macro cell clusters are arranged in a plurality of rows (Z1, Z2, Z3); and the routing channels cross the plurality of rows in each case between adjacent macro cell clusters of a row and are configured for transporting the signals in a direction orthogonal to the rows. The present invention furthermore relates to a lidar measuring device for detecting an object in an environment of a vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reading device for determining a signal propagation time of a light pulse between a lidar transmission unit and a lidar receiving unit of a lidar measuring device in a focal plane array arrangement, comprising: an input interface for receiving detections from multiple sensor elements of the lidar receiving unit, said sensor elements being arranged in a macrocell paired with a transmission element of the lidar transmission unit; a weighting unit for determining a respective individual weighting parameter for each of the plurality of sensor elements, said weighting parameter being based on a signal-to-noise ratio of the sensor element; a summation unit for generating a histogram with an allocation of the detections to the detection times of the detections, said summation unit being configured to weight the detections on the basis of the individual weighting parameters; a propagation time unit for determining the signal propagation time on the basis of the generated histogram;

Abstract: LIDAR receiving unit in a focal plane array assembly, including a plurality of sensor elements arranged in macro cells and a plurality of readout elements, wherein at least two sensor elements are assigned to a macro cell, and each sensor element can be activated and deactivated individually or can be activated and deactivated in groups of sensor elements.

Abstract: An adjustment device for adjusting a detection process of a Lidar measuring device in a focal plane array arrangement on a vehicle, with: an input interface for receiving a setting with information about at least two vertical acquisition zones; a setting unit for determining a control parameter of a detection process for each of the at least two acquisition zones (E1-E4) based upon the received setting; a selection unit for determining a partial quantity of rows running parallel to a longitudinal plane of the vehicle of transmitting elements of a Lidar transmitting unit of the Lidar measuring device and/or sensor elements of a Lidar receiving unit of the Lidar measuring device for each of the at least two acquisition zones based upon the received setting; and a control unit for controlling the Lidar measuring device, wherein the determined partial quantity of rows is controlled for each acquisition zone based upon the determined control parameter, so as to detect objects within the at least two acquisition zo

Abstract: An adjustment device for adjusting a visual field of a Lidar measuring device in a focal plane array arrangement on a vehicle, with: a pitch angle estimating unit for determining a pitch angle (N) of the vehicle; an area unit for determining a desired object detection area in relation to an alignment of the vehicle based upon the pitch angle; a selection unit for determining a selection of rows (Z1-Z6) of transmitting elements of a Lidar transmitting unit of the Lidar measuring device and/or sensor elements of a Lidar receiving unit of the Lidar measuring device running parallel to a horizontal plane of the vehicle based upon the desired object detection area; and a control interface for activating the selection of rows of transmitting elements of the Lidar transmitting unit and/or sensor elements of the Lidar receiving unit of the Lidar measuring device, so as to detect objects within the object detection area.

Abstract: A Lidar measuring system for detecting an object in an environment of a vehicle, with a first Lidar measuring device, which is configured to scan a first visual field with a first vertical resolution; and a second Lidar measuring device, which is configured to scan a second visual field with a second vertical resolution, wherein the second visual field lies in a vertical direction within the first visual field, and comprises an area of a roadway in front of the vehicle; and the second vertical resolution is higher than the first vertical resolution. Further, a vehicle with a Lidar measuring system and a method for detecting an object in an environment of a vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for operating a light source for the optical time-of-flight measurement. The light source operating device includes a light source, which is configured to emit light pulses according to a pulse signal sequence and a monitoring circuit for monitoring a light output emitted by the light source based on a current signal and/or voltage signal of the light source.

Abstract: The invention relates to an analog-to-digital converter (1), comprising: an analog input for receiving an analog signal; a first time-to-digital converter (7); and a histogram block (10), wherein the first time-to-digital converter (7) scans the analog signal based on a ramp signal, and delivers an output (20, 25) to the histogram block (10), which, based thereon, generates a time-correlated histogram (21, 26, 30).

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly or a method for ascertaining the distance to at least one object. The light signals are converted into first electric signals by a first group of light-receiving elements, and the light signals are additionally converted into second electrical signals by a second group of light-receiving elements. The first electric signals are used to ascertain the distance by means of a time-correlated photon counting process depending on a starting time for the emission of the light signals. Furthermore, the second electric signals are used to determine the distance by means of an additional signal processing which differs from the time-correlated photon counting process. The second group has a lower degree of sensitivity for converting the photons into an electric current than the first group.

Abstract: A receiving arrangement for receiving light signals and a method for receiving light signals are proposed, wherein a light receiver is provided, which serves for receiving the light signals and converting them into electrical signals. Furthermore, an evaluation circuit is provided, which, depending on the electrical signals and a start signal for the emission of the light signals, determines a distance between the receiving arrangement and an object at which the light signals are reflected. A characterizing feature is that the light receiver has a first group of light-receiving elements, which has a higher sensitivity for receiving the light signals than at least one further group of light-receiving elements, wherein the first and the further groups are ready for reception at different times.

Abstract: A method for controlling sensor elements of a LIDAR measuring system, wherein a sensor element is activated and deactivated during a measurement cycle, wherein a measurement process comprises a plurality of measurement cycles, wherein the sensor element is activated at a first time during a first measurement cycle and the same sensor element is activated at a second time during a second measurement cycle.