Abstract: A system and method for providing a dynamic region of interest in a lidar system can include scanning a light beam over a field of view to capture a first lidar image, identifying a first object within the captured first lidar image, selecting a first region of interest within the field of view that contains at least a portion of the identified first object, and capturing a second lidar image, where capturing the second lidar image includes scanning the light beam over the first region of interest at a first spatial sampling resolution, and scanning the light beam over the field of view outside of the first region of interest at a second spatial sampling resolution, wherein the second sampling resolution is different the first spatial sampling resolution.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides designs and techniques to improve turn “off” times of a bootstrapped switch, maximizing the total “on” time of the bootstrapped switch. The techniques described herein provide a protection device coupled to the bootstrapped switch. The protection device may be controlled by an input voltage to the bootstrapped switch during a boosting phase and may be controlled by a constant voltage during a non-boosting phase. The techniques for reducing turn “off” times are particularly useful in high-speed applications, such as high-speed, low-voltage analog-to-digital converters.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides designs and techniques to improve turn “off” times of a bootstrapped switch, maximizing the total “on” time of the bootstrapped switch. The techniques described herein provide a protection device coupled to the bootstrapped switch. The protection device may be controlled by an input voltage to the bootstrapped switch during a boosting phase and may be controlled by a constant voltage during a non-boosting phase. The techniques for reducing turn “off” times are particularly useful in high-speed applications, such as high-speed, low-voltage analog-to-digital converters.

Abstract: In an optical detection system, features of interest can be identified from ADC circuitry data prior to inter-circuit communication with downstream object or target processing circuitry. In this manner, a volume of data being transferred to such downstream processing circuitry can be reduced as compared to other approaches, simplifying the receive signal processing chain and providing power savings. First-tier signal processing circuitry to identify features of interest can be located on or within a commonly-shared integrated circuit package with ADC circuitry, and downstream processing circuitry for object processing or range estimation can be fed with a data link meeting less stringent requirements than a link between the ADC circuitry and first-tier signal processing circuitry.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to, among other things, techniques to quickly replenish a capacitance of a laser diode driver circuit after an optical pulse, which can enable a burst of pulses (more than one pulse), such as to enable pulse coding. An energy reservoir circuit can be coupled to a laser diode driver circuit and to a power supply circuit and configured to store enough energy to fire the RD laser diode driver more than once. The energy reservoir circuit can act as an intermediate interface between the RD laser diode driver and the power supply circuit to better optimize the current requirements of each block.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides numerous applications for the use of liquid crystal polarization gratings (LCPGs) to controllably steer light. When combined with an image sensor, light generated or reflected from different fields of view (FOV) can be steered, allowing an increase in the FOV or the resolution of the image. Further, the LCPG can stabilize the resulting image, counteracting any movement of the image sensor. The combination of LCPGs and liquid crystal waveguides (LCWGs) allows fine deflection control of light (from the LCWG) over a wild field of view (from the LCPG). Further applications of LCPGs include object tracking and the production of depth images using multiple imaging units and independently steered LCPGs. The LCPG may be used in controlling both the projection and reception of light.

Abstract: A method for determining, in an optical detection system, a distance to a target region includes obtaining first and second light pulses from a signal generator within the optical detection system and obtaining samples of the respective first and second light pulses, where the samples having a first temporal resolution. The method also includes generating a reference waveform having a second temporal resolution by combining the samples of the respective first and second light pulses, where the second temporal resolution being higher than the first temporal resolution. The method further includes obtaining a reflection of a third light pulse from the target region and determining an arrival time of the reflection of the third light pulse using the reference waveform.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to, among other things, techniques to quickly replenish a capacitance of a laser diode driver circuit after an optical pulse, which can enable a burst of pulses (more than one pulse), such as to enable pulse coding. An energy reservoir circuit can be coupled to a laser diode driver circuit and to a power supply circuit and configured to store enough energy to fire the RD laser diode driver more than once. The energy reservoir circuit can act as an intermediate interface between the RD laser diode driver and the power supply circuit to better optimize the current requirements of each block.

Abstract: Techniques to achieve higher power/shorter pulses with a laser diode. By initially applying a static reverse bias across the laser diode, the laser diode can turn on at a larger inductor current. When the laser diode is initially reverse biased, depletion charge and diffusion charge can be populated before the laser diode will lase. This causes the laser diode to initially turn on at a larger inductor current, which will reduce the rise time, thereby achieving higher power/shorter pulses.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing angular motion using a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope are described. These systems and methods may be useful for sensing angular motion in the presence of low-frequency noise, which may be noise below 1 KHz. In a system for sensing angular motion, low-frequency noise may give rise to duty cycle jitter, which may affect the demodulation of the sense signal and cause errors in angular motion estimates. The systems and methods described herein address this problem by relying on double-edge phase detection technique that involves sensing when the rising and falling edges of the resonator signal deviate from their expected values in the idealized 50% duty cycle scenario. To prevent the formation of ripples in the double-edge phase detection that may otherwise affect the demodulation of the sense signal, a switch may be used. The switch may be maintained in a non-conductive state when a ripple is received.

Abstract: Techniques for using multiple detection paths in a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) receiver circuit. In general, the receiver circuit can perform more than one flow of filtering, detection, and estimation on the same return signal. One advantage of using multiple detection paths is the ability to extract different aspects of the return signal.

Abstract: In an optical detection system, features of interest can be identified from ADC circuitry data prior to inter-circuit communication with downstream object or target processing circuitry. In this manner, a volume of data being transferred to such downstream processing circuitry can be reduced as compared to other approaches, simplifying the receive signal processing chain and providing power savings.

Abstract: Techniques to achieve higher power/shorter pulses with a laser diode. By initially applying a static reverse bias across the laser diode, the laser diode can turn on at a larger inductor current. When the laser diode is initially reverse biased, depletion charge and diffusion charge can be populated before the laser diode will lase. This causes the laser diode to initially turn on at a larger inductor current, which will reduce the rise time, thereby achieving higher power/shorter pulses.

Abstract: A method for detecting frequency mismatch in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) gyroscopes is described. Detection of the frequency mismatch between a drive signal and a sense signal may be performed by generating an output signal whose spectrum reflects the physical characteristics of the gyroscope, and using the output signal to determine the frequency fC of the sense signal. The output signal may be generated by cross-correlating a random or pseudo-random noise signal with a response signal, where the response signal can be obtained by allowing the noise signal to pass through a system designed to have a noise transfer function that mimics the frequency response of the gyroscope. Since the noise signal is random or pseudo-random, cross-correlating the noise signal with the response signal reveals spectral characteristics of the gyroscope. To improve computational efficiency, the cross-correlation can be performed on demodulated versions of the noise signal and the response signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides numerous applications for the use of liquid crystal polarization gratings (LCPGs) to controllably steer light. When combined with an image sensor, light generated or reflected from different fields of view (FOV) can be steered, allowing an increase in the FOV or the resolution of the image. Further, the LCPG can stabilize the resulting image, counteracting any movement of the image sensor. The combination of LCPGs and liquid crystal waveguides (LCWGs) allows fine deflection control of light (from the LCWG) over a wild field of view (from the LCPG). Further applications of LCPGs include object tracking and the production of depth images using multiple imaging units and independently steered LCPGs. The LCPG may be used in controlling both the projection and reception of light.

Abstract: Techniques are described to adjust one or more parameters to vary the illumination output within at least one of the regions-of-interest (ROIs) in a field-of-view (FOV) and to adjust one or more corresponding receiver parameter(s). By associating different parameters between two or more ROIs within an FOV, this disclosure describes a LIDAR system having an adaptive FOV. An adaptive FOV can allow a LIDAR system to vary its performance between ROIs. For example, in an FOV having at least a first ROI and a second ROI, the LIDAR system can output more optical power in the first ROI then the second ROI to increase the signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio and therefore achieve a longer detection range.

Abstract: Techniques are described to encode a single light pulse with information that can provide the benefits of a single long pulse and a short, coded pulse train. For example, techniques are described to generate a light pulse for transmission that has an optical intensity profile that includes a waveform having one or more relatively narrower pulses superimposed upon a relatively wider pulse. Thus, a hybrid pulse can be generated that includes both a wide pulse and a narrow pulse train portion, for example, superimposed thereon.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a dynamic region of interest in a lidar system can include scanning a light beam over a field of view to capture a first lidar image, identifying a first object within the captured first lidar image, selecting a first region of interest within the field of view that contains at least a portion of the identified first object, and capturing a second lidar image, where capturing the second lidar image includes scanning the light beam over the first region of interest at a first spatial sampling resolution, and scanning the light beam over the field of view outside of the first region of interest at a second spatial sampling resolution, wherein the second sampling resolution is different the first spatial sampling resolution.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for compensating microelectromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscopes for quality factor variations are described. Quality factor variations arise when mechanical losses are introduced in the gyroscope's resonator, for example due to thermoelastic damping or squeeze-film damping, which may hinder the gyroscope's ability to accurately sense angular velocity. Quality factor compensation may be performed by generating a compensation signal having a time decay rate that depends on the quality factor of resonator. In this way, artifacts that may otherwise arise in gyroscope's output are limited. Additionally, or alternatively, quality factor compensation may be performed by controlling the force with which the gyroscope's resonator is driven. This may be achieved, for example, by controlling the average value of the drive signal.

Abstract: A shape of a transmitted LIDAR pulse can be measured contemporaneously with operation of the LIDAR system, such as to account for variations in the shape of the LIDAR pulse, such as due to changes in environmental or operation conditions. The measured shape can then be used to determine an arrival time of LIDAR pulses received from a target region with improved accuracy.