A transmitting device, preferably containing at least two laser diodes and a scanning mirror, which is deflectable about its center (MP) and is arranged in a housing with a transparent cover element. The cover element is formed, at least in a coupling-out region, by a section of a monocentric hemispherical shell (HK) with a center of curvature (K) and is arranged to cover the scanning mirror in such a way that the center of curvature (K) of the hemispherical shell (HK) and the center (MP) of the scanning mirror coincide, and is formed in a coupling-in region by an optical block, comprising a toroidal entrance surface, in the special form of a cylindrical surface, at least one toroidal exit surface and at least two first mirror surfaces arranged between them, for deflecting and pre-collimating the laser beams.

One example system comprises a light source configured to emit light. The system also comprises a waveguide configured to guide the emitted light from a first end of the waveguide toward a second end of the waveguide. The waveguide has an output surface between the first end and the second end. The system also comprises a plurality of mirrors including a first mirror and a second mirror. The first mirror reflects a first portion of the light toward the output surface. The second mirror reflects a second portion of the light toward the output surface. The first portion propagates out of the output surface toward a scene as a first transmitted light beam. The second portion propagates out of the output surface toward the scene as a second transmitted light beam.

One example system comprises a light source configured to emit light. The system also comprises a waveguide configured to guide the emitted light from a first end of the waveguide toward a second end of the waveguide. The waveguide has an output surface between the first end and the second end. The system also comprises a plurality of mirrors including a first mirror and a second mirror. The first mirror reflects a first portion of the light toward the output surface. The second mirror reflects a second portion of the light toward the output surface. The first portion propagates out of the output surface toward a scene as a first transmitted light beam. The second portion propagates out of the output surface toward the scene as a second transmitted light beam.

Provided are an optical modulating device and a system including the optical modulating device. The optical modulating device includes a substrate, and a phase modulator formed on the substrate and including a Fabry-Perot cavity. The Fabry-Perot cavity of the phase modulator includes a first reflective layer, a second reflective layer, and a tunable core formed between the first reflective layer and the second reflective layer, wherein the tunable core is formed of a semiconductor material and is configured to modulate a phase of light corresponding to modulation of a refractive index of the tunable core according to electrical control.

Provided are an optical modulating device and a system including the optical modulating device. The optical modulating device includes a substrate, and a phase modulator formed on the substrate and including a Fabry-Perot cavity. The Fabry-Perot cavity of the phase modulator includes a first reflective layer, a second reflective layer, and a tunable core formed between the first reflective layer and the second reflective layer, wherein the tunable core is formed of a semiconductor material and is configured to modulate a phase of light corresponding to modulation of a refractive index of the tunable core according to electrical control.

Systems and methods are disclosed to identify a presence of a volumetric medium in an environment associated with a LIDAR system. In some implementations, the LIDAR system may emit a light pulse into the environment, receive a return light pulse corresponding to reflection of the emitted light pulse by a surface in the environment, and determine a pulse width of the received light pulse. The LIDAR system may compare the determined pulse width with a reference pulse width, and determine an amount of pulse elongation of the received light pulse. The LIDAR system may classify the surface as either an object to be avoided by a vehicle or as air particulates associated with the volumetric medium based, at least in part, on the determined amount of pulse elongation.

A method for scanning and measuring using a 3D measurement device is provided. The method includes providing the 3D measurement device having a light emitter, a light receiver and a command and evaluation device. The 3D measurement device is further includes a first near-field communication (NFC) device having a first antenna. A second NFC device having a second antenna is positioned adjacent the 3D measurement device. An NFC link is established between the first NFC device and the 3D measurement device. An identifier is transmitted from the second NFC device to the 3D measurement device. It is determined that the second NFC device is authorized to communicate with the 3D measurement device. Commands are transferred to the 3D measurement device from the second NFC device based at least in part on the determination that the second NFC device is authorized to communicate with the 3D measurement device.

The present disclosure provides a lidar and a lidar control method. The lidar includes a plurality of laser transmitters configured to transmit laser light, and an oscillating mirror configured to change a direction of a light path of the transmitted laser light. The lidar control method includes transmitting, by a plurality of transmitters, laser light; and changing, by an oscillating mirror, a direction of a light path of the transmitted laser light. The plurality of laser transmitters constitute a laser transmitter array of M rows and N columns, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2 and N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

The present disclosure provides a lidar and a lidar control method. The lidar includes a plurality of laser transmitters configured to transmit laser light, and an oscillating mirror configured to change a direction of a light path of the transmitted laser light. The lidar control method includes transmitting, by a plurality of transmitters, laser light; and changing, by an oscillating mirror, a direction of a light path of the transmitted laser light. The plurality of laser transmitters constitute a laser transmitter array of M rows and N columns, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2 and N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

The present disclosure relates to systems, vehicles, and methods for adjusting a pointing direction and/or a scanning region of a lidar. An example method includes determining a plurality of points of interest within an environment of a vehicle. The method also includes assigning, to each point of interest of the plurality of points of interest, a respective priority score. The method additionally includes partitioning at least a portion of the environment of the vehicle into a plurality of sectors. Each sector of the plurality of sectors includes at least one point of interest. For each sector of the plurality of sectors, the method includes adjusting a scanning region of a lidar unit based on the respective sector and causing the lidar unit to scan the respective sector.