Abstract: Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods to reduce a scan for identifying physical objects are disclosed. An example system includes a light source to broadcast a light signal, a window adjuster to set a scan parameter for the light signal, and a transceiver to receive communication indicative of a physical position of a mobile unit. In the example system, the window adjuster is to adjust the scan parameter based on the physical position.

Abstract: One example method involves a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device focusing light from a target region in a scene for receipt by a detector. The method also involves emitting a primary light pulse. The method also involves directing, via one or more optical elements, the primary light pulse toward the target region. The primary light pulse illuminates the target region according to a primary light intensity of the primary light pulse. The method also involves emitting a secondary light pulse. At least a portion of the secondary light pulse illuminates the target region according to a secondary light intensity of the secondary light pulse. The secondary light intensity is less than the primary light intensity.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a viewing optic. In one embodiment, the viewing optic has a direction sensor to capture the direction of wind. In one embodiment, the viewing optic has a ranging system to determine the distance to a target. In one embodiment, the viewing optic has a processor with a ballistics program that can use the distance and the wind direction to determine a ballistics trajectory. Further, the disclosure relates to methods for capturing wind direction.

Abstract: Techniques are described for computing devices to perform automated operations related to using images acquired in a building as part of generating a floor plan for the building, in some cases without using depth information from depth-sensing equipment about distances from the images' acquisition locations to objects in the surrounding building, and for subsequent use in further automated manners, such as controlling navigation of mobile devices and/or for display to end users in a corresponding GUI (graphical user interface). In some cases, the MIGM system interacts with an MIGM system operator user, such as by displaying a GUI showing information related to the images and/or a floor plan being generated, and by receiving and using input submitted by the user via the GUI to assist with the generating of the floor plan, such as to specify interconnections between particular rooms via particular inter-room wall openings of the rooms.

Abstract: Provided is a holographic display apparatus capable of providing an expanded viewing window when reproducing a holographic image via an off-axis technique. The holographic display apparatus includes a spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally; and an aperture enlargement film configured to enlarge a beam diameter of a light beam coming from each of the plurality of pixels of the spatial light modulator. The beam diameter of each light beam enlarged by the aperture enlargement film may be greater than the width of an aperture of each pixel of the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: LIDAR measurement systems employing a multiple channel, GaN based illumination driver integrated circuit (IC) are described herein. In one aspect, the multiple channel, GaN based illumination driver IC selectively couples each illumination source associated with each measurement channel to a source of electrical power to generate a measurement pulse of illumination light. In one aspect, each pulse trigger signal associated with each measurement channel is received on a separate node of the IC. In another aspect, additional control signals are received on separate nodes of the IC and communicated to all of the measurement channels. In another aspect, the multiple channel, GaN based illumination driver IC includes a power regulation module that supplies regulated voltage to various elements of each measurement channel only when any pulse trigger signal is in a state that triggers the firing of an illumination pulse.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system and method for coaxial LiDAR scanning. The system includes a first light source configured to provide first light pulses. The system also includes one or more beam steering apparatuses optically coupled to the first light source. Each beam steering apparatus comprises a rotatable concave reflector and a light beam steering device disposed at least partially within the rotatable concave reflector. The combination of the light beam steering device and the rotatable concave reflector, when moving with respect to each other, steers the one or more first light pulses both vertically and horizontally to illuminate an object within a field-of-view; obtain one or more first returning light pulses, the one or more first returning light pulses being generated based on the steered first light pulses illuminating an object within the field-of-view, and redirects the one or more first returning light pulses.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging system is presented that includes at least one light source for emitting a light pulse to the surroundings of the light detection and ranging system, at least one monitoring optical sensor for monitoring the emitting of the light pulse by the at least one light source, at least one receiving optical sensor for receiving a light signal from the surroundings of the light detection and ranging system, and at least one signal processing unit for processing the signal of the at least one receiving optical sensor which is characterized in that the at least one signal processing unit comprises a multiplexer at the input for multiplexing between the signal of the at least one receiving optical sensor and the signal of the at least one monitoring optical sensor.

Abstract: Provided is a measuring system (1), which comprises a sender unit (10) with at least one individually operable LED lighting unit (12) with a luminous area which has a characteristic longitudinal extent (107) of less than or equal to 100 ?m and/or a surface area of less than or equal to 104 ?m2, wherein the LED lighting unit (12) is configured to emit at least one light pulse as a sender signal (11) during operation, and comprises the one receiver unit (20) with at least one detector unit (22) for receiving a return signal (21), which comprises at least a part of the sender signal (11) reflected by an external object. Furthermore, use of at least one individually operable LED lighting unit as a sender unit in a measuring system, a method for operating a measuring system and a lighting source having a measuring system are provided.

Abstract: A light projection method with safety protection and a light projection device with safety projection. The light projection method (200) comprises: turning on a light source at a safe power level (S201); using a diffractive optical element to modulate light emitted from the light source so as to project a pattern onto a target surface (S202); acquiring the pattern (S203); determining whether the pattern is normal (S204); and if so, turning on the light source at a rated power level, wherein the rated power level is higher than the safe power level (S205). The invention enables an optical system to have a smaller size while ensuring safety of a user, simplifies a structure, reduces costs, and facilitates efficient utilization of optical energy.

Abstract: A method for multi-sensor calibration includes imaging a calibration target with a first sensor using a first modality to obtain a first set of data and a second sensor using a second modality that is different from the first modality to obtain a second set of data. A border of the calibration target is identified based on the first set of data. A first centroid location of the calibration target is identified based on the border of the calibration target. A border of a pattern disposed on the calibration target is identified based on the second set of data. A second centroid location of the calibration target is identified based on the border of the pattern. Calibration data for the first sensor and the second sensor is generated based on the first centroid location and the second centroid location.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a technology in flash LiDAR applicable to a wide incidence-angle range. [Solution] An optical radar device (100) includes a light emitting unit (110) that diffusively radiates a laser beam, an arrayed light receiving unit (120) that receives the laser beam emitted from the light emitting unit (110) and reflected off an object whose range is to be determined (10), the arrayed light receiving unit (120) including light receiving elements arrayed two-dimensionally, and a telecentric lens (140) disposed between the object whose range is to be determined and the light receiving element.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a three-dimensional LIDAR system includes a light source (e.g., laser) to emit a light beam (e.g., a laser beam) to sense a physical range associated with a target. The system includes a camera and a light detector (e.g., a flash LIDAR unit) to receive at least a portion of the light beam reflected from the target. They system includes a dichroic mirror situated between the target and the light detector, the dichroic mirror configured to direct the light beam reflected from the target to the light detector to generate a first image, wherein the dichroic mirror further directs optical lights reflected from the target to the camera to generate a second image. The system includes an image processing logic coupled to the light detector and the camera to combine the first image and the second image to generate a 3D image.

Abstract: A method of operating a measurement device. The method includes performing a first measurement, by emitting a first beam of light having a first wavelength, at a first instant of time. The method further introducing a first passive period of time after the first measurement, wherein, during the first passive period of time, no beam of light is emitted. The method further includes performing a second measurement, by emitting a second beam of light having a second wavelength, at a second instant of time, wherein the second wavelength is different than the first wavelength the second instant of time is after the first passive period of time. The method further includes introducing a second passive period of time after the second instant of time, wherein, during the second passive period of time, no beam of light is emitted and the second passive period of time is different from the first passive period of time.

Abstract: An electromagnetic wave detection apparatus (10) includes an irradiator (11), a first detector (17), a memory (13), and a controller (14). The irradiator (11) irradiates electromagnetic waves. The first detector (17) includes detection elements. The detection elements detect, by irradiation position, reflected waves of the electromagnetic waves irradiated onto an object (ob). The memory (13) stores related information. The related information is information associating any two of the emission direction of the electromagnetic waves and elements defining two points on a path. The path refers to a path of the electromagnetic waves emitted from the irradiator (11) to the first detector (17) via the object (ob). The controller (14) updates the related information based on the emission direction of the electromagnetic waves and the position of the detection element, among the detection elements, that detects the reflected waves of the electromagnetic waves.

Abstract: Methods are provided for using a light ranging system. A computing system receives, from light ranging devices, ranging data including distance vectors to environmental surfaces. A distance vector can correspond to a pixel of a three-dimensional image stream. The system can identify a pose of a virtual camera relative to the light ranging devices. The light ranging devices are separated from the pose by first vectors that are used to translate some of the distance vectors using the first vectors. The system may determine colors associated with the translated distance vectors and display pixels of the three-dimensional image stream using the colors at pixel positions specified by the translated distance vectors. The system may use one or more models with the ranging data to provide semantic labels that describe a region that has been, or is likely to be, in a collision.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a system for laser distance measurement. The method includes: obtaining, from a control circuit, a synchronization signal; generating, by at least one signal generator, a first periodic signal, a second periodic signal, and a third periodic signal based on the synchronization signal; emitting, by a laser emitting device, a laser beam toward a target, the laser beam being generated under a modulation of the first periodic signal; generating, by an optical detector, a measurement signal in response to a signal mixing of the second periodic signal and a reflected laser beam from the target; and determining a distance to the target based on the measurement signal and the third periodic signal.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a first body that rotates a sensor component about an axis, and a second body coupled to the first body to form a separation gap. The separation gap extends radially inward from a gap inlet to a sealed barrier of the second body. The separation gap may be configured with a set of air guide structural features, to induce formation of eddies from air intake received through the gap inlet, as air from the air intake moves inward towards the sealed barrier.

Abstract: An imaging and asynchronous laser pulse detector (ALPD) device, imaging cell of the imaging and ALPD device and method of use is disclosed. A detector generates an electrical signal in response to receiving an optical signal, wherein a frequency of the electrical signal is indicative of a frequency of the optical signal. A first detection/readout circuit is sensitive to a first frequency range, and a second detection/readout circuit is sensitive to a second frequency range. The first detection/readout circuit allows the electrical signal to pass from the first detection/readout circuit to the second detection/readout circuit.

Abstract: A system includes a ground-based area, an electromagnetic (EM) interrogation device having an EM emitter that directs an EM beam at the ground-based area. The EM interrogation device includes a detector array that receives reflected EM radiation from the EM beam, and a controller having a ground movement description module that determines a movement profile of the ground-based area in response to the reflected EM radiation.

Abstract: An aerosol measurement apparatus for measuring an aerosol contained in a scatterer present in an atmosphere includes a light source, an optical element (i) that irradiates the scatterer with interfering light produced by causing emitted light emitted from the light source to interfere in an interior of the optical element, the interfering light having a plurality of peaks spaced at frequency intervals equal to one another, and (ii) that emits Mie scattered light by causing scattered light generated in the scatterer to interfere in the interior, and a photodetector that receives the Mie scattered light and outputs a signal corresponding to an intensity of light received.

Abstract: An illumination system for a vehicle includes a headlight configured to emit a light beam along an optical path and into an environment. The illumination system includes an optical element having a body comprising four sides. The optical element is positioned along the optical path and configured to redirect the light beam. The illumination system includes a front lens positioned along the optical path and configured to receive the light beam from the optical element and collimate the light beam as the light beam passes into the environment. The optical element is configured to move around an optical element axis to translate the light beam relative to an azimuth plane of the environment.

Abstract: An optical beam steering device may include a tunable laser diode configured to emit laser beams and an antenna that includes a grating structure and is configured to convert the laser beams to a linear light source based on the grating structure. The tunable laser diode may emit a first laser beam having a first wavelength, and emit a second laser beam having a second wavelength, the second wavelength different from the first wavelength. The antenna may receive the first laser beam and, in response, output a first linear light source having a first emission angle with a surface of the antenna. The antenna may further receive the second laser beam and, in response, output a second linear light source having a second emission angle with the surface of the antenna, the second emission angle different from the first angle.

Abstract: A 3-dimensional measuring device includes: a light source unit; a projection optical system; a scanning mirror that is provided to be rotatable about a rotating shaft in a state of being inclined with respect to a shaft center of the rotating shaft to radiate a range-finding light within a plane crossing the rotating shaft in a rotary manner; a light-receiving optical system that receives a reflection range-finding light; a reference light optical system that is provided in a range outside a measuring range within a radiation range to receive and reflect the range-finding light as an internal reference light, the reference light optical system being capable of changing a light quantity of the internal reference light; and a light receiving element that receives the reflection range-finding light and the internal reference light.

Abstract: A target reflector search device. This device comprises an emitting unit for emitting an emission fan, a motorized device for moving the emission fan over a spatial region, and a receiving unit for reflected portions of the emission fan within a fan-shaped acquisition region, and a locating unit for determining a location of the reflection. An optoelectronic detector of the receiving unit is formed as a position-resolving optoelectronic detector having a linear arrangement of a plurality of pixels, each formed as an SPAD array, and the receiving unit comprises an optical system having an imaging fixed-focus optical unit, wherein the optical system and the optoelectronic detector are arranged and configured in such a way that portions of the optical radiation reflected from a point in the acquisition region are expanded on the sensitivity surface of the optoelectronic detector in such a way that blurry imaging takes place.

Abstract: A distance meter for the high-accuracy single-point distance measurement to a target point by means of an oriented emitted beam, wherein the receiver has an optoelectronic sensor based on an arrangement of microcells for acquiring the received beam. The receiver and a computer unit are configured in this case for deriving a set of runtimes with respect to different cross-sectional components of the received beam acquired using subregions of the receiver, and therefore, for example, an evaluation is enabled as to whether the received beam has parts of the emitted beam reflected on a single target or a multiple target in its lateral extension.

Abstract: A sensor calibration system periodically receives scene data from a detector in a calibration scene. The calibration scene includes calibration targets. The sensor calibration system generates a calibration map based on the scene data. The calibration map is a virtual representation of the calibration scene and includes features of the calibration targets that can be used as ground truth features for calibrating AV sensors. The sensor calibration system can periodically update the calibration map. For instance, the sensor calibration system receives the scene data at a predetermined frequency and updates the calibration map every time it receives new scene data. The predetermined frequency may be a frequency of the detector completing a full scan of the calibration scene. The sensor calibration system provides a latest version of the calibration map for being used by an AV to calibrate a sensor on the AV 110.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle having a LIDAR system mounted thereon or incorporated therein is described. The LIDAR system has N channels, with each channel being a light emitter/light detector pair. A computing system identifies M channels that are to be active during a scan of the LIDAR system, wherein M is less than N. The computing system transmits a command signal to the LIDAR system, and the LIDAR system performs a scan with the M channels being active (and N-M channels being inactive). The LIDAR system constructs a point cloud based upon the scan, and the computing system controls the autonomous vehicle based upon the point cloud.

Abstract: A system and method for enhanced velocity resolution and signal to noise ratio in optical phase-encoded range detection includes receiving an electrical signal generated by mixing a first optical signal and a second optical signal, wherein the first optical signal is generated by modulating an optical signal, wherein and the second optical signal is received in response to transmitting the first optical signal toward an object, and determining a Doppler frequency shift of the second optical signal, and generating a corrected electrical signal by adjusting the electrical signal based on the Doppler frequency shift, and determining a range to the object based on a cross correlation of the corrected electrical signal with a radio frequency (RF) signal that is associated with the first optical signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a LIDAR apparatus for a vehicle including a light-emitting unit configured to generate and emit laser light, a light-receiving unit configured to receive reflected light based on the laser light, at least one electronic component electrically connected to the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit, and a case configured to accommodate the light-emitting unit, the light-receiving unit, and the electronic component therein, wherein the case is formed of a metal material, and is in contact with at least one element included in at least one of the light-emitting unit, the light-receiving unit, or the electronic component.

Abstract: Provided is a surveying instrument configured so that the optical axis of a guide light irradiation unit that irradiates guide light for guiding a survey operator and the optical axis of a lens barrel portion of a distance-measuring optical system become parallel to each other on a horizontal plane. The guide light irradiation unit is not disposed above the lens barrel portion that substantially matches a collimation direction is horizontally shifted with respect to the lens barrel portion. The horizontal shift distance D is configured so that a horizontal distance D between the optical axis of guide light and the optical axis of the lens barrel portion satisfies tan(?/2)×Cmin>D provided that ? is an irradiation angle of the guide light in the horizontal direction, and Cmin is a shortest use distance of the surveying instrument.

Abstract: The present application discloses a positioning method for a movable platform, including: detecting, by a laser positioning system (LPS) mounted on the movable platform, a plurality of reflectors mounted on a target object, wherein the movable platform is moving; calculating in real-time, by the LPS, according to the current position information, relative positions of the plurality of reflectors with respect to the LPS; and obtaining, by the LPS, a relative position of the movable platform with respect to the target object based on the relative positions of the plurality of reflectors with respect to the LPS. The present application also discloses positioning system that performs the positioning method.

Abstract: A satellite includes a fast tracking mirror (“mirror”) placed at or near center of mass (CoM) of the satellite along a line of sight between the CoMs of two satellites. The satellite also includes a detector at a distance away from the mirror. The mirror is adjusted to maintain the distance between the mirror and the detector, when a location of the detector changes due to pitch and yaw of the satellite.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the control of material transfer machines and/or construction machines having camera assistance. The invention here in particular relates to a method and to an apparatus for controlling a material transfer machine and/or a construction machine, in particular in the form of a crane, of an excavator, or of a crawler-type vehicle, wherein an image of the piece of working equipment is provided to a machine operator and/or to a machine control by an imaging sensor. The invention furthermore also relates to the material transfer machine and/or construction machine itself, in particular to a crane, having a display apparatus for displaying an image of the piece of working equipment and/or of the environment of the piece of working equipment.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) includes: a light-emitting unit, a light receiving unit and a control unit. In the light emitting unit, first light from a first light source, after being reflected by a first surface of a first mirror, reaches the scan unit. In the light emitting unit, second light from a second light source, after being reflected by a second mirror and transmitted through the first mirror via a second surface of the first mirror, reaches the scan unit, using an overlapping path with the first light. Light intensity of the second light transmitted through the first mirror is lower than that of the first light reflected by the first mirror. The control unit enables only the first light source, and in response to determining that measurements from the light receiving unit are saturated, automatically switches off the first light source and enable the second light source.

Abstract: A LIDAR system is provided. The LIDAR system includes: a light transmitting unit configured to drive a plurality of light emitting elements by light emitting units to irradiate light to different positions of a target object; and a light receiving unit configured to detect light that is reflected at different positions of the target object and then is incident to different light receiving positions through a plurality of light receiving regions.

Abstract: A detection device includes (a) a LiDAR sensing device and (b) a housing enclosing the LiDAR sensing device, the housing including at least one cover lens. At least a portion of the cover lens is made of at least one glass sheet having an absorption coefficient lower than 5 m?1 in the wavelength range from 750 to 1650 nm. The cover lens helps to protect the LiDAR sensing device from external degradation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved lidar apparatus (11) that can scan a surrounding volume without requiring the rotation or other movement of any component other than a scanning mirror (17). The apparatus (11) comprises: a receiving lens (16) having an optical axis; the scanning mirror (17) that is angled to the optical axis of the receiving lens (16) and controlled to rotate about the optical axis of the receiving lens; at least one stationary laser source (12) that is positioned to emit light along an associated emission beam path (14) to be reflected by the scanning mirror (17) along an associated scanning beam path (18); and at least one detector (19), associated with a laser source (12) and positioned to receive light from said laser source (12) that is reflected by external objects and returned through the receiving lens (16) via the scanning mirror (17).

Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a light source, an interferometer, a light receiver, and a signal processor. The light source emits laser light to a scatterer in the atmosphere. The laser light has multiple oscillation frequencies separated from each other at equal frequency intervals. The interferometer produces interference in scattered light generated as a result of the laser light being scattered by the scatterer. The light receiver receives Mie scattered light included in the scattered light subjected to the interference produced by the interferometer and generates a signal. The signal processor detects the quantity of the Mie scattered light based on the signal. Each of the equal frequency intervals is smaller than the full width at half maximum of the peak of a frequency spectrum of Rayleigh scattered light. The Rayleigh scattered light is generated as a result of the laser light being scattered by molecules forming the atmosphere.

Abstract: A circuit device includes an analog front-end circuit that receives a target signal is input, and a processing circuit that performs arithmetic processing based on an output signal from the analog front-end circuit. The analog front-end circuit includes a plurality of comparator circuits that compare the voltage level of the target signal to a plurality of threshold voltages and output a plurality of comparison result signals. The processing circuit obtains the transition timing of the target signal based on the comparison result signals and delayed-time information of the analog front-end circuit.

Abstract: One example system includes a first light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device that scans a first field-of-view defined by a first range of pointing directions associated with the first LIDAR device. The system also includes a second LIDAR device that scans a second FOV defined by a second range of pointing directions associated with the second LIDAR device. The second FOV at least partially overlaps the first FOV. The system also includes a first controller that adjusts a first pointing direction of the first LIDAR device. The system also includes a second controller that adjusts a second pointing direction of the second LIDAR device synchronously with the adjustment of the first pointing direction of the first LIDAR device.

Abstract: An optical device comprises: a line sensor having a plurality of light reception elements that receive incident light including reflection light resulting from laser light having been emitted from a light source and reflected by an object, and including ambient light; a diffraction grating that guides the incident light to the plurality of light reception elements by diffracting the incident light to a direction depending on the wavelength; and a control unit that detects the reflection light on the basis of the light reception amounts of the light reception elements. The diffraction grating is configured to guide, to one of the plurality of light reception elements, a wavelength within a predetermined range that includes the wavelength of the laser light emitted from the light source.

Abstract: To calculate the propagation times of signals transmitted and received between the devices more easily and accurately. There is provided a wireless communication device comprising a control section configured to control transmission and reception of a wireless signal by an antenna in conformity with a designated communication standard, wherein the control section controls a timing of causing the antenna to transmit a second signal in response to a first signal received by the antenna, on a basis of fixed time and delay time related to internal transfer in the wireless communication device, the fixed time being decided in advance.

Abstract: A phase modulation active device and a method of driving the same are provided. The method may include configuring, for the phase modulation active device including a plurality of channels that modulate a phase of incident light, a phase profile indicating a phase modulation target value to be implemented by the phase modulation active device; setting a phase limit value of the phase modulation active device; generating a modified phase profile based on the phase profile by modifying the phase modulation target value, for at least one channel from the plurality of channels that meets or exceeds the phase limit value, to a modified phase modulation target value that is less than the phase limit value in the phase profile; and operating the phase modulation active device based on the modified phase profile. Thus, improved optical modulation performance may be achieved.

Abstract: A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) measurement circuit includes an array of single photon detectors configured to detect photons responsive to emission of an optical signal from an emitter, and a pixel processing circuit that is configured to calculate an estimated time of arrival of photons incident on the array of single photon detectors by utilizing a plurality of coarse histogram bins. Respective ones of the plurality of coarse histogram bins are associated with a duration that is greater than one-sixteenth of a pulse width of the optical signal.

Abstract: A server device 200 is a map generation device which assigns, to voxel data in the map DB 20 which is divided into multiple voxels, a first weight value for each voxel, wherein the first weight value is associated with the presence of a stationary object and a moving object. Then, the server device 200 acquires upload information Iu which includes position information relating to a travelling route of a measurement vehicle during measurement of point cloud data needed for generation or update of the voxel data. Then, the server device 200 determines the first weight value for each voxel based on the travelling route of the measurement vehicle identified by the position information included in the upload information Iu.

Abstract: A parameter adjustment device (500) adjusts a parameter relating to control of laser light emitted from a measurement sensor (210) onto an object. A parameter calculator (520) calculates the parameter by applying, to a trained model generated through machine learning using training data sets each including waveform data of an amount of light received by the measurement sensor (210) and data indicating the parameter used to acquire the waveform data, waveform data newly acquired in a new state. The parameter calculated by the parameter calculator (520) enables measurement of the object using the measurement sensor (210) in the new state. A parameter outputter (530) outputs data indicating the parameter calculated by the parameter calculator (520).

Abstract: A lidar system that includes a laser source and transmits laser pulses produced by the laser source toward range points in a field of view via a mirror that scans through a plurality of scan angles can use (1) a laser energy model to model the available energy in the laser source over time and (2) a mirror motion model to model motion of the mirror over time. A shot list for the upcoming laser pulse shots that are modeled according to the laser energy and mirror motion models can further be controlled based on eye safety and/or camera safety models to prevent the lidar system firing too much laser energy into defined spatial areas over defined time periods and thus reduce the risk of damage to eyes and/or cameras in the field of view.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) for detecting objects in a monitoring region (20), the sensor (10) having a scanning unit (12, 58) movable about an axis of rotation (18), a plurality of scanning modules (22) for periodically scanning the monitoring region (20) and for generating corresponding received signals, and an evaluation unit (48) for obtaining information about the objects from the received signals, the scanning modules (22) comprising at least one light transmitter (24) for transmitting several light beams (28) separated from one another and at least one light receiver (36) for generating the received signals from the light beams (32) remitted by the objects, wherein at least one scanning module (22) is at least one of tilted by a tilt angle (?) relative to its main viewing direction and rotated by a rotation angle (?).

Abstract: Through discrimination of the scattered signal polarization state, a lidar system measures a distance through semi-transparent media by the reception of single or multiple scattered signals from a scattered medium. Combined and overlapped single or multiple scattered light signals from the medium can be separated by exploiting varying polarization characteristics. This removes the traditional laser and detector pulse width limitations that determine the system's operational bandwidth, translating relative depth measurements into the conditions of two surface timing measurements and achieving sub-pulse width resolution.