Example embodiments relate to LIDAR systems with multi-faceted mirrors. An example embodiment includes a LIDAR system. The system includes a multi-faceted mirror that includes a plurality of reflective facets, which rotates about a first rotational axis. The system also includes a light emitter configured to emit a light signal toward one or more regions of a scene. Further, the system includes a light detector configured to detect a reflected light signal. In addition, the system includes an optical window positioned between the multi-faceted mirror and the one or more regions of the scene such that light reflected from one or more of the reflective facets is transmitted through the optical window. The optical window is positioned such that the optical window is non-perpendicular to the direction toward which the light emitted along the optical axis is directed for all angles of the multi-faceted mirror.

Example embodiments relate to LIDAR systems with multi-faceted mirrors. An example embodiment includes a LIDAR system. The system includes a multi-faceted mirror that includes a plurality of reflective facets, which rotates about a first rotational axis. The system also includes a light emitter configured to emit a light signal toward one or more regions of a scene. Further, the system includes a light detector configured to detect a reflected light signal. In addition, the system includes an optical window positioned between the multi-faceted mirror and the one or more regions of the scene such that light reflected from one or more of the reflective facets is transmitted through the optical window. The optical window is positioned such that the optical window is non-perpendicular to the direction toward which the light emitted along the optical axis is directed for all angles of the multi-faceted mirror.

An information processing apparatus (10a) according to the present disclosure includes a control unit (60). The control unit (60) detects a saturation region of light reception image information generated based on a pixel signal output from a light receiving sensor, the light receiving sensor being configured to receive reflected light being reflection, by a measurement object, of projection light projected from a light source. The pixel signal is used to calculate a distance to the measurement object. The saturation region is a region of light reception image information generated based on the pixel signal which is saturated. The control unit (60) corrects the light reception image information of the saturation region based on the pixel signal.

A three-dimensional image element and an optical radar device that have low cost and are capable of detecting a distance to a measurement object at a close distance before a final result of counting the number of pulses is acquired are realized. A pixel storage element has a plurality of binary counters that integrate the number of electrical pulses at mutually different timings and the reading of data by a signal processing circuit and the integration are able to be performed in parallel.

It is an object to provide a solid-state imaging apparatus and a distance measurement system that can detect high-frequency pulsed light. The solid-state imaging apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, a drive section, and a time measurement section. Each of the plurality of pixels has a light-receiving element that converts received light into an electric signal. The drive section drives the plurality of pixels by shifting operation timings of the light-receiving elements. The time measurement section is provided such that the electric signal is input from each of the plurality of pixels and measures the time until light emitted from a light source is reflected by a subject and received by the light-receiving element on the basis of the input of the electric signal.

The present technology relates to a distance measuring device and a distance measuring method that inhibit possible noise in a pixel signal based on reflected light from an object to allow accuracy of distance measurement to be maintained. A distance measuring device according to an aspect of the present technology includes a light emitting section emitting irradiation light, a light receiving section receiving reflected light corresponding to the irradiation light reflected at an object, a calculation section calculating a distance to the object on the basis of a time from emission of the irradiation light until reception of the reflected light, and a control section controlling emission of the irradiation light. The light receiving section includes a plurality of AD converting section AD-converting pixel signals read from the pixels. A first pixel signal and a second pixel signal respectively read from a first pixel and a second pixel of the plurality of pixels forming the light receiving section are AD-converted by an identical AD converting section of the plurality of AD converting sections, the first and second pixels being adjacent to each other. During a process of calculating the time, the calculation section calculates a difference between the first pixel signal and the second pixel signal AD-converted by the identical AD converting section.

In a solid-state imaging element that measures a distance, distance measurement accuracy is improved.

The solid-state imaging element includes a photon number detection unit, a histogram generation unit, and a distance measurement unit. The photon number detection unit detects the number of photons incident on a pixel array unit over a predetermined number of times and outputs a detection result including the number of photons and a detection timing. The histogram generation unit generates, for each number of photons, a histogram indicating a detection frequency of the number of photons as a frequency for each detection timing, on the basis of the detection result. The distance measurement unit measures a distance to a predetermined object on the basis of the histogram generated.

A distance measurement device according to the present disclosure includes: a light detection unit that receives light from a subject; a depth calculation section that calculates depth information of the subject on the basis of an output of the light detection unit; and an artifact removal section that divides an image into respective segments on the basis of the depth information and validates a segment of the respective segments in which a number of pixels exceeds a predetermined threshold and invalidates a segment in which the number of pixels is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold.

A distance measurement device according to the present disclosure includes: a light detection unit that receives light from a subject; a depth calculation section that calculates depth information of the subject on the basis of an output of the light detection unit; and an artifact removal section that divides an image into respective segments on the basis of the depth information and validates a segment of the respective segments in which a number of pixels exceeds a predetermined threshold and invalidates a segment in which the number of pixels is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold.

A light emitting element (151) is configured to emit detecting light (L1). A first lens (152) is configured to allow passage of the detecting light (L1). A first optical fiber (153) is configured to guide the detecting light (L1) to the first lens (152). A second lens (154) is configured to allow passage of reflected light (L2) that is the detecting light (L1) reflected by an object (200). A second optical fiber (155) is configured to guide the reflected light (L2) having passed the second lens (154) to a light receiving element (156). A processor (157) is configured to calculate a distance to the object (200) based on a time length from time when the detecting light (L1) is emitted from the light emitting element (151) to time when the reflected light (L2) is incident on the light receiving element (156).