Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system that provides a large field-of-view (FOV) includes an angle tolerant birefringent electro-optic shutter, an optical system, and one or more image sensors. The electro-optic shutter includes a birefringent material. The optical system is configured to receive optical pulses that are reflected from an environment and that include a first set of angles. The optical system is configured to compress the first set of angles into a second set of angles below a threshold angle associated with the birefringent material. The electro-optic shutter is configured to receive the optical signals with the second set of angles. The image sensor(s) are configured to generate an image of the environment based on the optical pulses with the second set of angles that pass through the electro-optic shutter.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system with a large field-of-view (FOV) and low operating power includes an intensity modulator, a controller, and one or more camera sensors. The intensity modulator includes a modulating cell that is configured to receive an optical signal and change a polarization state of the optical signal, in response to an electrical signal received from the controller. The modulating cell includes a material that (i) has at least one of a first order electro-optic effect and a second order electro-optic effect and (ii) has an amount of birefringence that is less than or equal to a predefined amount of birefringence. The camera sensor(s) are configured to measure an intensity of the optical signal and determine range information of an object based on the measured intensity.

Abstract: A technique for increasing the measurement range of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes triggering a light source of the LIDAR system to emit light pulses towards an environment at a first repetition rate. A different second repetition rate for operation of a shutter of the LIDAR system is determined. The operation of the shutter is synchronized with the light source, based on the second repetition rate, such that reflections caused by the light pulses arrive at the shutter when the shutter is in different states during the time period. An intensity of the reflections that arrive at the shutter is determined. A range to objects in the environment is determined based on the measured intensity of the reflections.

Abstract: LIDAR systems are less accurate in the presence of background light which can saturate the sensors in the LIDAR system. The embodiments herein describe a LIDAR system with a shutter synchronized to a laser source. During a first time period, the laser source is synched with the shutter so that the reflections are received when the shutter is in the process of changing between on and off states, during which time a function of the shutter (e.g., a phase retardation or opacity) monotonically changes so that reflections received at different times have different time-dependent characteristics (e.g., different polarizations). To mitigate the effects of background light, during a second time period, the laser source is synched with the shutter so that the background light is measured (in the absence of the reflections) which can be used to remove the effects of the background light from a range measurement.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system with a large field-of-view (FOV) and low operating power includes an intensity modulator, a controller, and one or more camera sensors. The intensity modulator includes a modulating cell that is configured to receive an optical signal and change a polarization state of the optical signal, in response to an electrical signal received from the controller. The modulating cell includes a material that (i) has at least one of a first order electro-optic effect and a second order electro-optic effect and (ii) has an amount of birefringence that is less than or equal to a predefined amount of birefringence. The camera sensor(s) are configured to measure an intensity of the optical signal and determine range information of an object based on the measured intensity.