G01S17/02

Sensor steering for multi-directional long-range perception
11592575 · 2023-02-28 · ·

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.

LiDAR device and method of operating the same for determining a number of photodiodes to be activated based on a detected illuminance
11506758 · 2022-11-22 · ·

Provided is a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) device including an illuminance sensor configured to detect illuminance of light received by the LiDAR device, a photodiode array including a plurality of photodiodes that are connected in parallel, the plurality of photodiodes being configured to generate a current based on the light received, and a processor configured to determine a number of photodiodes included in the photodiode array to be activated based on the illuminance and activate the determined number of photodiodes.

LiDAR device and method of operating the same for determining a number of photodiodes to be activated based on a detected illuminance
11506758 · 2022-11-22 · ·

Provided is a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) device including an illuminance sensor configured to detect illuminance of light received by the LiDAR device, a photodiode array including a plurality of photodiodes that are connected in parallel, the plurality of photodiodes being configured to generate a current based on the light received, and a processor configured to determine a number of photodiodes included in the photodiode array to be activated based on the illuminance and activate the determined number of photodiodes.

SENSOR DATA SEGMENTATION
20230055888 · 2023-02-23 ·

A system may include one or more processors configured to receive a plurality of images representing an environment. The images may include image data generated by an image capture device. The processors may also be configured to transmit the image data to an image segmentation network configured to segment the images. The processors may also be configured to receive sensor data associated with the environment including sensor data generated by a sensor of a type different than an image capture device. The processors may be configured to associate the sensor data with segmented images to create a training dataset. The processors may be configured to transmit the training dataset to a machine learning network configured to run a sensor data segmentation model, and train the sensor data segmentation model using the training dataset, such that the sensor data segmentation model is configured to segment sensor data.

Waveguide Diffusers for LIDARs

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.

Waveguide Diffusers for LIDARs

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.

Lidar imaging receiver

Described examples include a receiver having a beam splitter arranged to receive reflected light from a scene illuminated by a transmitted light signal, the beam splitter structured to provide at least two copies of the reflected light including at least two regions having sub-regions, wherein the sub-regions are not adjacent to each other. The receiver also includes a first sensor array arranged to receive one region of the reflected light and provide an output representative of that region of the reflected light. The receiver also includes a second sensor array arranged to receive the other region of the reflected light and provide a second output representative of the second region of the reflected light. The receiver also includes a combiner arranged to receive the outputs of the sensor arrays to provide a combined representation of the reflected light.

LIDAR AND DEVICE HAVING LIDAR

This application discloses a LiDAR and a device. The LiDAR includes: a casing, demarcating an emission chamber and a receiving chamber; a laser emission device, arranged in the emission chamber and configured to emit a laser beam to the first target region; and a plurality of laser receiving devices, arranged in the receiving chamber, where the plurality of laser receiving devices are configured to receive a laser beam reflected from the second target region, and the first target region and the second target region are at least partially overlapped. The second target region includes a plurality of detection subregions, each detection subregion is smaller than the first target region and is at least partially overlapped with the first target region, and each laser receiving device receives, in a one-to-one correspondence manner, a laser beam reflected from each detection subregion.

LIDAR AND DEVICE HAVING LIDAR

This application discloses a LiDAR and a device. The LiDAR includes: a casing, demarcating an emission chamber and a receiving chamber; a laser emission device, arranged in the emission chamber and configured to emit a laser beam to the first target region; and a plurality of laser receiving devices, arranged in the receiving chamber, where the plurality of laser receiving devices are configured to receive a laser beam reflected from the second target region, and the first target region and the second target region are at least partially overlapped. The second target region includes a plurality of detection subregions, each detection subregion is smaller than the first target region and is at least partially overlapped with the first target region, and each laser receiving device receives, in a one-to-one correspondence manner, a laser beam reflected from each detection subregion.

Optical sensing in MEMS package for LiDAR system

Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for incorporating an optical sensing system in a MEMS package for real-time sensing of angular position of a MEMS mirror. The system may include an optical source configured to emit an optical signal to a backside of the MEMS mirror. The system may also include an optical detector configured to receive a returning optical signal reflected by the backside of the MEMS mirror. The system may further include at least one controller. The at least one controller may be configured to determine a scanning angle of the MEMS mirror based on a position on the optical detector where the returning optical signal is received.