A lidar receiver that includes a photodetector circuit can be controlled so that the detection intervals used by the lidar receiver to detect returns from fired laser pulse shots are closely controlled. Such control over the detection intervals used by the lidar receiver allows for close coordination between a lidar transmitter and the lidar receiver where the lidar receiver is able to adapt to variable shot intervals of the lidar transmitter (including periods of high rate firing as well as periods of low rate firing). The lidar receiver can derive the detection intervals based on map data indicative of a geographic location for the system.

A lidar receiver can employ multiple processors to distribute the workload of processing returns from laser pulse shots. Activation/deactivation times of pixel sets that are used by the lidar receiver to sense returns can be used to define which samples in a return buffer will be used for processing to detect each return, and multiple processors can share the workload of processing these samples in an effort to improve the latency of return detection

An optical receiver module includes: a lens array including a plurality of condenser lenses arranged in one direction to define a plane with optical axes in parallel to each other; and a light receiving element array including a plurality of light receiving elements each configured to receive light emitted from each of the condenser lenses. The light receiving element array includes: a semiconductor substrate to which the light from each of the condenser lenses is input and through which the light is transmitted; and light receiving portions each configured to receive the light transmitted through the semiconductor substrate and convert the light into an electrical signal. A shift of the optical axis of each of the condenser lenses from a center of each corresponding one of the light receiving portions is larger in a direction perpendicular to the one direction within the plane than in the one direction.

A novel multi-junction detector device and method of manufacture is disclosed, which includes providing a housing, at least one system mount body positioned within the housing, forming at least one beam dump region in the system mount body in optical communication with at least one first detector having a first wavelength responsivity range positioned on the system mount body and at least one second detector having a second wavelength responsivity range positioned on the system mount body in optical communication with the first detector. An arcuate shape, an arcuate shape of varying radius, a polygonal shape or a polyhedral shape may be formed on at least one mount body wall in the beam dump region. The method may also comprise depositing at least one reflectivity enhancing material onto the mount body wall. The method may further comprise depositing an energy dissipating material on the mount body wall.

A sensing device comprising an electromagnetic sensor having a surface with a plurality of different electromagnetic radiation interception areas arranged one above the other, one or more controllable flaps adapted to cover one or more of the different electromagnetic radiation interception areas preventing the electromagnetic sensor from intercepting electromagnetic radiation on the covered electromagnetic radiation interception areas, at least one control mechanism adapted to maneuver the controllable flaps so as to change the covered electromagnetic radiation interception areas and a plurality of lenses located in front of the electromagnetic sensor, each having a different focal length. One of the lenses has a certain focal length and focuses electromagnetic radiation to at least one of the different electromagnetic radiation interception areas, and another of the lenses has a different focal length and focuses electromagnetic radiation to another electromagnetic radiation interception area.

A dual sensor module includes a substrate, a light source, a first encapsulant, a second encapsulant, a photodetector, and an electrode. The light source is disposed on the substrate. The first encapsulant is formed over the light source. The photodetector is disposed on the substrate. The second encapsulant is formed over the photodetector. The electrode is electrically connected to the substrate and is entirely located between the light source and the photodetector. A dual sensing accessory and a dual sensing device having the dual sensor module for detecting optical and electrical properties are also provided.

A method and apparatus for a light fixture that uses current sharing across any one or more parallel LED strings within the light fixture. A processor determines the current requirements of the one or more LED strings that are needed to produce a given intensity level. The processor then apportions the current generation capability of a power supply across all active LED strings using time division multiple access (TDMA) whereby each LED string conducts its apportioned current within its allocated time slot to the mutual exclusion of the remaining active LED strings in any given time period. The light fixture utilizes LEDs with increased forward voltage interspersed with LEDs having reduced forward voltage in the same LED string. A processor utilizes shunt devices across the one or more LEDs with increased forward voltage to substantially match the cumulative forward voltage of each LED string.

A method and apparatus for a horticultural light system for use in a greenhouse where aspects of ambient light in the greenhouse are measured and compared against a prescribed light recipe. A light controller commands a light fixture contained within the greenhouse to augment the ambient light in response to the comparison. Photosynthetic photon flux, light intensity, color temperature and color spectrum among other aspects of light generated by the light fixture are altered by the controller to fill in deficiencies of the ambient light as compared to the prescribed light recipe.

A novel multi-junction detector device and method of manufacture is disclosed, which includes providing a housing, at least one system mount body positioned within the housing, forming at least one beam dump region in the system mount body in optical communication with at least one first detector having a first wavelength responsivity range positioned on the system mount body and at least one second detector having a second wavelength responsivity range positioned on the system mount body in optical communication with the first detector. An arcuate shape, an arcuate shape of varying radius, a polygonal shape or a polyhedral shape may be formed on at least one mount body wall in the beam dump region. The method may also comprise depositing at least one reflectivity enhancing material onto the mount body wall. The method may further comprise depositing an energy dissipating material on the mount body wall.

The present invention provides a multi-channel light sensor comprising a fragmented lens and a camera sensor; wherein the fragmented lens comprises lens elements; and wherein each lens element comprises an own optical axis and is adapted to direct light from a spatial area onto the camera sensor such that the light intensities of different spatial areas are spatially resolved on the camera sensor. Furthermore, a system is provided, which comprises at least one such multi-channel light sensor, at least one lighting device, and a light management device; wherein the light management device is adapted to receive the light intensities of the different spatial areas from the multi-channel light sensor; and wherein the light management device is adapted to control the at least one lighting device on the basis of the light intensities of the different spatial areas.