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 analog pulse capture circuit is disclosed. The circuit may include one or more input sources configured to receive one or more optical signals and generate one or more electrical input signals. The circuit may include one or more distributed capacitors configured to store a target charge, the one or more distributed capacitors including one or more top plates and one or more bottom plates. The circuit may include one or more amplifiers coupled to the one or more distributed capacitors, the one or more amplifiers configured to generate one or more electrical output signals. The circuit may include one or more dump switches coupled to the one or more input sources, the one or more dump switches configured to release the stored target charge of the one or more distributed capacitors.

A measuring device for time-resolved measurement of a measurement signal and for temporal separation of at least a first portion of the measurement signal, having a light source for emitting a pulsed excitation signal, at least one detector for receiving the measurement signal, the detector generating a detector signal from the measurement signal, at least one first forming unit for generating a first comparison signal, and at least one evaluation unit, the first comparison signal correlating with the excitation signal. At least one first logic function is provided which links at least the first comparison signal with a signal dependent on the detector signal so that the output of the logic function provides a measure of the intensity of the first portion of the measurement signal or of the detector signal. The output of the first logic function is connected to the at least one evaluation unit.

A method of detecting pulsed radiation comprising the steps of irradiating at least a portion of an array of sensor elements with pulsed radiation (71); addressing the array using a rolling shutter operation (72); reading the array to obtain a radiation image (73); and then applying a pulse detection operation (74) to the radiation image. The rolling shutter operation (72) is configured to address each element line of the array for a predetermined integration period. The predetermined integration period being calculated using an integration period function, itself a function of an anticipated pulse repetition interval of the pulsed radiation. The method and apparatus for the same enable low cost camera arrays to be used for pulse detection and for wider application in the field of low cost communications.

A low-jitter digital clock signal generating system which uses optical pulses output from a pulse laser includes a first balanced photodetector that converts first and second optical pulses with a delayed time interval into first and second electrical pulses through first and second photodiodes and outputs first and second modulated pulses generated by allowing the first and second electrical pulses to partially overlap each other, a second balanced photodetector that converts third and fourth optical pulses with the delayed time interval into third and fourth electrical pulses through third and fourth photodiodes, and outputs a second modulated pulse generated by allowing the third and fourth electrical pulses to partially overlap each other, and a capacitor. The capacitor is charged by the first modulated pulse, is discharged by the second modulated pulse, and outputs a voltage according to the charging and discharging as a clock signal.

A light-modulated photodiode-based monitor for detecting a control signal of a display is disclosed. The monitor includes an emitter configured to emit a control signal, a polarizer configured to linearly polarize the pulsed signal, one or more fold mirrors configured to reflect the pulsed signal from the emitter onto a test portion and/or reflect the pulsed signal that has reflected off of the test portion. The monitor further includes an analyzer configured to block or transmit the polarized pulse signal reflected from at least one of the fold mirror or the test portion, and a detector configured to receive the pulsed signal transmitted from the analyzer and convert the pulsed signal into an electrical signal. The monitor further includes a controller that includes one or more processors and is configured to receive the electrical signal, filter and rectify the electrical signal, and determine a functional state of the display.

A system for determining a characteristic of a laser includes a collection housing receiving a laser beam comprising a first pulse, a second pulse and a time period between the first pulse and the second pulse. A photon counting detector receives photons from the laser beam disposed to generate photon signals from the laser beam and generating a start signal. A fast diode generates a stop signal to provide a time reference of counted photons ns. A controller is coupled to the photon counting detector and the fast diode. The controller counts photons from the photon counting detector occurring during the time period between the first and second pulse and generates a first output signal corresponding to a power during the time period between the first pulse and the second pulse.

A light receiver designed to determine a position or orientation relative to a reference light wherein the light receiver comprises an elongated rod-shaped light receptor with two ends, a light coupler, a light guide, and light detection means at both ends and a signal processor to process the electric signals of the detection means and to determine the relative position and/or orientation by a comparative evaluation of the electric signals. The light guide serves as a light propagation path of defined length for light coupled into the light guide by the light coupler and the signal processor determines the position and/or orientation based on light propagation speed of the reference light propagating in the light guide.

A system includes a switch-mode power supply for drawing low and constant current from a power source. The switch-mode power supply may charge an energy storage element with low and constant current. In a normal condition, a current driver may cause the illuminator to emit electromagnetic radiation as a plurality of flashes. In the normal condition, the system may include an average power that is less than or equal to a threshold value associated with the illuminator. In a fault condition, the illuminator may continuously emit electromagnetic radiation, at low current. In the fault condition, the switch-mode power supply may supply low and constant current to the illuminator. Similarly, in the fault condition, the system may include an average power that is less than or equal to a threshold value associated with the illuminator.

A system for generating clock signals for a photonic quantum computing system includes a pump photon source configured to generate a plurality of pump photon pulses at a first repetition rate, a waveguide optically coupled to the pump photon source, and a photon-pair source optically coupled to the first waveguide. The system also includes a photodetector optically coupled to the photon-pair source and configured to generate a plurality of electrical pulses in response to detection of at least a portion of the plurality of pump photon pulses at the first repetition rate and a clock generator coupled to the photodetector and configured to convert the plurality of electrical pulses into a plurality of clock signals at the first repetition rate.