Abstract: Aspects for an on-chip or integrated continuous-wave Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) are described herein. The aspects may include one or more laser light sources configured to generate one or more light beams and multiple light engines configured to respectively receive the light beams. The light frequency is modulated in a predefined pattern. A light transmitter of each light engine may be configured to receive a first portion of one of the light beams and transmit the first portion of the light beam at a predetermined angle. A light receiver of each light engine may be configured to receive the first portion of the light beam reflected from an object and transmit the reflected first portion of the light beam to a balanced detector. The balanced detector may be configured to detect a beat between the reflected first portion of the light beam with a second portion of the light beam.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device includes a pixel, a mirror, and a birefringent material. The pixel is configured to emit light having a first polarization orientation. The mirror is configured to reflect the light to a surface. The birefringent material is disposed between the pixel and the mirror. The birefringent material introduces an offset in a position of the emitted light having the first polarization orientation propagating through the birefringent material. The birefringent material shifts a reflected beam in space horizontally back on the pixel.

Abstract: To reduce power consumption in an apparatus for measuring a distance on the basis of a phase difference between light beams. A distance measuring apparatus includes: a phase difference detecting section; and a distance measuring section. In the distance measuring apparatus, the phase difference detecting section detects a phase difference between light beams from a pair of external light sources. In addition, in the distance measuring apparatus, the distance measuring section acquires any one of a distance from one of the pair of external light sources and an interval between the pair of external light sources as known data and measures a distance from another of the pair of external light sources on a basis of the known data and the phase difference.

Abstract: A LiDAR detection system includes optical sources disposed along a first direction and a scanning device for scanning optical signals over a second direction different than the first direction into the region. A receiver receives reflected optical signals generated by reflection of the transmitted optical signals and generates receive signals indicative of the reflected optical signals. A mask is disposed near the receiver between the region and the receiver, the mask comprising a plurality of optically transparent slits through which at least a substantial portion of the reflected optical signals pass and an optically opaque portion adjacent to the slits being adapted to substantially block ambient light from reaching the receiver. A processor coupled to the receiver receives and processes the receive signals to generate detections of one or more objects in the region.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for measuring distances in two directions. The apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may include a sensor module configured to include a light emission unit configured to emit a first wavelength beam and a second wavelength beam, a light reception unit configured to receive reflected light emitted by the light emission unit and reflected from an object and first and second beam splitters respectively disposed ahead of the light emission unit and the light reception unit and configured to transmit the first wavelength beam and reflect the second wavelength beam; and a motor configured to rotate the sensor module. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that a production cost can be reduced because distance measurement and height measurement are performed using a single module.

Abstract: A device and method for measuring moving material includes a processor and operating software associated therewith; a light source for emitting at least two polarized light beams in a manner wherein the beams cross thereby creating an interference region and generate a set of fringes; a sensor aligned relative to the interference region wherein the fringes have a predetermined orientation to the directional movement of the material and wherein the sensor is operably equipped to receive scattered light emanating from the interference region and provide a time varying signal to the processor such that the processor can manipulate and convert the signal to speed and distance and a polarizing filter operably associating a polarizing filter with one of the sensor and the emitting means in a manner to substantially preclude reflected polarized light from the interference region back to one of the sensor and the emitting source.

Abstract: A scannerless 3-D imaging apparatus is disclosed which utilizes an amplitude modulated cw light source to illuminate a field of view containing a target of interest. Backscattered light from the target is passed through one or more loss modulators which are modulated at the same frequency as the light source, but with a phase delay ? which can be fixed or variable. The backscattered light is demodulated by the loss modulator and detected with a CCD, CMOS or focal plane array (FPA) detector to construct a 3-D image of the target. The scannerless 3-D imaging apparatus, which can operate in the eye-safe wavelength region 1.4-1.7 ?m and which can be constructed as a flash LADAR, has applications for vehicle collision avoidance, autonomous rendezvous and docking, robotic vision, industrial inspection and measurement, 3-D cameras, and facial recognition.

Abstract: A system is provided including a unique marker configured to engage an unknown optical fiber and an identification device configured to selectively engage the unknown optical fiber and detect the unique marker. A method is further provided including the steps of attaching a unique identifier to an unknown optical fiber, engaging an identification device to the unknown optical fiber, and identifying the unique identifier via the unknown optical fiber.

Abstract: To obtain a coherent laser radar device that realizes high reliability and the high output of a transmitted light, the device includes a first optical coupler that branches a laser beam from a laser source into two lights, a local light and a transmitted light, an optical modulator that modulates the transmitted light, a space type optical amplifier that amplifies the modulated transmitted light, a transmitting/receiving optical system that applies the amplified transmitted light toward a target and receives a scattered light from the target, a transmitting/receiving light splitting device that splits the transmitted light and the received light, a second optical coupler that mixes the local light and the split received light together, a photodetector that detects heterodyne of a mixed light, a beat signal amplifier that amplifies a detected signal, a signal processing device that processes an amplified signal, and a display device that displays a processed result.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optical distance measurement, in which a transmitter of a transmission branch (14), which branch is integrated with a measuring device (10), transmits a modulated measurement beam (16, 36) in the direction of a target object (20), and the measurement beam (17, 44) reflected or scattered by the target object (20) is detected by a measurement receiver (54) integrated with the measuring device (10) and is transformed by a frequency mixing process into a low-frequency range. According to the invention, for detection and frequency transformation of the returning measurement signal (17, 44), a measuring diode (62) whose cathode voltage and anode voltage are modulated with high frequency to generate a mixing signal is used. An apparatus (10) is also proposed for performing the method of the invention.

Abstract: An improvement in a semi-active laser last pulse logic missile seeker is disclosed and claimed. In one embodiment, the improvement includes a first polarizer disposed in the detection field of view of the PIN photodiode detector and a second polarizer disposed in the detection field of view of the staring imaging infrared focal plane array. Each of the first and second polarizers has an identically configured plurality of segments. Each segment allows transmission of a different polarization than other segments and is sized to completely cover the fields of view of both the PIN photodiode detector and the staring imaging infrared focal plane array. First and second actuators are connected to the first and second polarizers, respectively, to synchronously and simultaneously step identical and corresponding segments in a plurality of discrete steps within the fields of view in response to incoming temporal and spatial laser returns.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for measuring water current direction and magnitude. A plurality of beams of radiation are transmitted radially outward from a location above a body of water. Each beam is incident on the water's surface at an angle with respect thereto. Each beam experiences a Doppler shift as a result of being incident on the water's surface such that a plurality of Doppler shifts are generated. Each Doppler shift is measured with the largest one thereof being indicative of water current direction and magnitude.

Abstract: The invention particularly relates to a mixing apparatus using an eccentric phase plate, and an optical rangefinder using the mixing apparatus. In the optical rangefinder, an external distance measurement optical path leads light from the light source to a light receiving part passing through an article to be measured, an internal distance measurement optical path leads the light from the light source to the light receiving part not passing through the article to be measured, and processing means calculates the distance to the article to be measured from the difference between the distance value obtained by the external distance measurement optical path and the distance value obtained by the internal distance measurement optical path. In the mixing apparatus, driving means drives the phase plate.

Abstract: Fluorescence imaging of tissue is used as a diagnostic tool in which geometric effects and specular reflections are compensated for by normalizing a fluorescence image with a cross-polarized image.