Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices that relate to light detection and ranging (LIDAR). A controlling means for a LIDAR system includes a means for determining a current operational state of the LIDAR system regarding a predefined threshold state. The controlling means also switches the LIDAR system from a first operational mode to a second operational mode when the determined operational state exceeds the predefined threshold state. The second operational mode corresponds to an operational power of at least one operational means of the LIDAR system being lower than in the first operational mode.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system, including: a laser source configured to emit one or more optical beams; at least one optical channel configured to emit the one or more optical beams from an optical output interface of the optical channel over a scene and capture reflections of the one or more optical beams from the scene in an optical input interface of the optical channel; wherein the one or more optical beams are scanned in a first direction, and wherein the optical input interface and the optical output interface are arranged along a second direction different from the first direction, and wherein the optical channel comprises a polarization beam displacer configured to guide reflections of the one or more beams from a receiving position arranged along the first direction towards the optical input interface.