Abstract: A lidar system comprises (1) an array of pixels for sensing incident light and (2) a circuit for processing a signal representative of the sensed incident light to detect a reflection of a laser pulse from a target within a field of view. The circuit can comprise a plurality of matched filters that are tuned to different reflected pulse shapes for detecting pulse reflections within the incident light, and wherein the circuit (1) applies the signal to the matched filters to determine an obliquity for the target based how the matched filters respond to the applied signal and (2) determines a correction angle based on the determined target obliquity, the correction angle for orienting the field of view to a frame of reference in response to a tilting of the lidar system. In an example embodiment, the circuit can comprise a signal processing circuit that performs the signal application and correction angle determination operations.

Abstract: A lidar system comprises a photodetector circuit and a signal processing circuit. The photodetector circuit comprises an array of pixels for sensing incident light. The signal processing circuit processes a signal representative of the sensed incident light to detect a reflection of a laser pulse from a target within a field of view. The signal processing circuit can comprise a plurality of matched filters that are tuned to different reflected pulse shapes for detecting pulse reflections within the incident light, and wherein the signal processing circuit applies the signal to the matched filters to determine an obliquity for the target based how the matched filters respond to the applied signal.

Abstract: A lidar system comprises a photodetector circuit and a signal processing circuit. The photodetector circuit comprises an array of pixels for sensing incident light. The signal processing circuit processes a signal representative of the sensed incident light to detect a reflection of a laser pulse from a target within a field of view. The signal processing circuit can comprise a matched filter corresponding to a retro-reflective target that is tuned to a reflected pulse shape that exhibits a vertical clipping relative to a transmitted pulse shape for the laser pulse that is indicative of the retro-reflective target, and wherein the signal processing circuit determines a retro-reflector status for the target based how the matched filter responds to the applied signal.

Abstract: A lidar system comprises a photodetector circuit and a signal processing circuit. The photodetector circuit comprises an array of pixels for sensing incident light. The signal processing circuit processes a signal representative of the sensed incident light to detect a reflection of a laser pulse from a target within a field of view. The signal processing circuit can comprise a plurality of matched filters that are tuned to different reflected pulse shapes for detecting pulse reflections within the incident light, and wherein the signal processing circuit applies the signal to the matched filters to determine an obliquity for the target based how the matched filters respond to the applied signal.

Abstract: A lidar system comprises (1) an array of pixels for sensing incident light and (2) a circuit for processing a signal representative of the sensed incident light to detect a reflection of a laser pulse from a target within a field of view. The circuit can comprise a plurality of matched filters that are tuned to different reflected pulse shapes for detecting pulse reflections within the incident light, and wherein the circuit (1) applies the signal to the matched filters to determine an obliquity for the target based how the matched filters respond to the applied signal and (2) determines a correction angle based on the determined target obliquity, the correction angle for orienting the field of view to a frame of reference in response to a tilting of the lidar system. In an example embodiment, the circuit can comprise a signal processing circuit that performs the signal application and correction angle determination operations.

Abstract: During a measurement technique, an electronic device may receive first sensor information associated with a first field of view and a first timestamp, and second sensor information associated with a second field of view and a second timestamp. For example, the electronic device may perform a first measurement using a first sensor and performing a second, different type of measurement using a second sensor. Therefore, the first sensor information and the second sensor information may be associated with different types of sensors. Moreover, the first timestamp and the second timestamp may be concurrent or in close temporal proximity, and the first field of view and the second field of view may at least substantially overlap. Then, the electronic device may store the first sensor information and the second sensor information in memory. In some embodiments, the electronic device stores the first timestamp and the second timestamp in the memory.

Abstract: A circuit board in an electronic device includes a first set of transmit antennas and a first set of receive antennas arranged along an azimuth direction, and a second set of transmit antennas and a second set of receive antennas arranged along a direction that includes components in the azimuth direction and an elevation direction. Moreover, separations between adjacent transmit antennas in the first or second set of transmit antennas along the azimuth direction may be greater than one half of the fundamental wavelength. Furthermore, separations between adjacent receive antennas in the first or second set of receive antennas along the azimuth direction may equal one half of the fundamental wavelength. Additionally, adjacent antennas in the second set of transmit antennas and the second set of receive antennas may be partially offset from each other and partially overlap with each other along the elevation direction.

Abstract: A circuit board in an electronic device includes a first set of transmit antennas and a first set of receive antennas arranged along an azimuth direction, and a second set of transmit antennas and a second set of receive antennas arranged along a direction that includes components in the azimuth direction and an elevation direction. Moreover, separations between adjacent transmit antennas in the first or second set of transmit antennas along the azimuth direction may be greater than one half of the fundamental wavelength. Furthermore, separations between adjacent receive antennas in the first or second set of receive antennas along the azimuth direction may equal one half of the fundamental wavelength. Additionally, adjacent antennas in the second set of transmit antennas and the second set of receive antennas may be partially offset from each other and partially overlap with each other along the elevation direction.

Abstract: During a measurement technique, an electronic device may receive first sensor information associated with a first field of view and a first timestamp, and second sensor information associated with a second field of view and a second timestamp. For example, the electronic device may perform a first measurement using a first sensor and performing a second, different type of measurement using a second sensor. Therefore, the first sensor information and the second sensor information may be associated with different types of sensors. Moreover, the first timestamp and the second timestamp may be concurrent or in close temporal proximity, and the first field of view and the second field of view may at least substantially overlap. Then, the electronic device may store the first sensor information and the second sensor information in memory. In some embodiments, the electronic device stores the first timestamp and the second timestamp in the memory.

Abstract: During a location technique, a sensor module in a vehicle, which has non-retractable wheels in contact with a driving surface, determines a location of the vehicle. In particular, the sensor module is positioned on or in a direction of a side-facing surface of the vehicle. Moreover, during operation, the sensor module may transmit radar signals approximately perpendicular to a direction of motion of the vehicle. Then, the sensor module may receive reflected radar signals. Furthermore, the sensor module may analyze a time sequence of the reflected radar signals. Next, the sensor module may determine the location of the vehicle based at least in part on the analyzed time sequence of reflected radar signals.

Abstract: During a measurement technique, an electronic device may receive first sensor information associated with a first field of view and a first timestamp, and second sensor information associated with a second field of view and a second timestamp. For example, the electronic device may perform a first measurement using a first sensor and performing a second, different type of measurement using a second sensor. Therefore, the first sensor information and the second sensor information may be associated with different types of sensors. Moreover, the first timestamp and the second timestamp may be concurrent or in close temporal proximity, and the first field of view and the second field of view may at least substantially overlap. Then, the electronic device may store the first sensor information and the second sensor information in memory. In some embodiments, the electronic device stores the first timestamp and the second timestamp in the memory.

Abstract: During a measurement technique, an electronic device may receive first sensor information associated with a first field of view and a first timestamp, and second sensor information associated with a second field of view and a second timestamp. For example, the electronic device may perform a first measurement using a first sensor and performing a second, different type of measurement using a second sensor. Therefore, the first sensor information and the second sensor information may be associated with different types of sensors. Moreover, the first timestamp and the second timestamp may be concurrent or in close temporal proximity, and the first field of view and the second field of view may at least substantially overlap. Then, the electronic device may store the first sensor information and the second sensor information in memory. In some embodiments, the electronic device stores the first timestamp and the second timestamp in the memory.

Abstract: During an annotation technique, an electronic device may receive an optical image associated with an object and other sensor information associated with the object, where the optical image and the other sensor information have associated timestamps that are concurrent or in close temporal proximity. Then, the electronic device may identify the object based at least in part on the optical image and/or the other sensor information. Moreover, the electronic device may extract a signature associated with the object from the other sensor information. The signature may include: a range to the object, a first angle to the object along a first axis, Doppler information associated with the object and/or a second angle to the object along a second axis. Next, the electronic device may store annotation information associated with the identified object and the extracted signature in a data structure in memory.

Abstract: During a location technique, a sensor module in a vehicle, which has non-retractable wheels in contact with a driving surface, determines a location of the vehicle. In particular, the sensor module is positioned on or in a direction of a side-facing surface of the vehicle. Moreover, during operation, the sensor module may transmit radar signals approximately perpendicular to a direction of motion of the vehicle. Then, the sensor module may receive reflected radar signals. Furthermore, the sensor module may analyze a time sequence of the reflected radar signals. Next, the sensor module may determine the location of the vehicle based at least in part on the analyzed time sequence of reflected radar signals.

Abstract: A method for optimizing a dc operating drive current of a laser diode is presented. Lasers of a particular type are characterized in terms of the dependency of certain parameters on temperature and of the minimum bias current required for adequate laser speed. The minimum bias current is determined using the operating bias current minus the threshold current all normalized by the threshold current. For individual laser diodes, the threshold current and slope efficiency are obtained at various temperatures to allow calculation at operating temperatures of interest. The minimum laser bias current for speed can then be determined over the operating temperature range. This may be done by setting the optical power to the highest value calculated using this minimum acceptable bias criterion over the operating temperature range. The ac and dc laser driver current sourcing requirements may be computed to ensure laser and module compatibility.