An outer surface of a casing (100) is provided with a first shape portion (152) and a second shape portion (154). The first shape portion (152) and the second shape portion (154) are engageable with other shape portions located outside the casing (100). The first shape portion (152) and the second shape portion (154) are aligned on the same straight line as a virtual straight line passing through the center of a field of view when viewed from a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the field of view expands. Alternatively, the first shape portion (152) and the second shape portion (154) may be aligned along a direction parallel to this straight line when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the field of view expands.

An optical device (100) has a field of view (F) which enlarges as advancing toward one direction from a predetermined position. A housing (200) includes a transmission unit (210). The transmission unit (210) crosses the field of view (F). The housing (200) accommodates the optical device (100). The transmission unit (210) includes a first side (212) and a second side (214). The second side (214) is located on an opposite side to the first side (212). A width of the transmission unit (210) on a side with the second side (214) is narrower than a width of the transmission unit (210) on a side with the first side (212). The second side (214) of the transmission unit (210) is located closer to the predetermined position in the one direction than the first side (212) of the transmission unit (210).

A laser radar includes: an emitter including a laser array being configured to emit a plurality of laser beams for detecting a target object (OB); a receiver including a detector array being configured to receive echoes of the plurality of laser beams emitted from the laser array reflected by the target object (OB), and convert the echoes into electrical signals, where the laser array and the detector array form a plurality of detection channels, and each detection channel includes one laser and one detector; and a processor coupled to the emitter and the receiver, and configured to read a first electrical signal of a detector of a first detection channel and a second electrical signal of a detector of a second detection channel when a laser beam emitted from the laser array.

A flexible substrate includes a heater portion and a wiring portion. A heater wire is formed in the heater portion. The heater portion is fixed to a transparent window. In the wiring portion, a wiring to the heater wire is formed. The wiring portion extends to a rear side of a casing in a case where a side on which the transparent window is provided in the casing is set as a front side. A fixing member fixes the wiring portion within the casing. A light shielding member is constituted to shield stray light from the fixing member toward a detection unit.

A distance measurement apparatus measures a distance to an object by irradiating emission light and detecting reflected light from the object onto which the emission light is irradiated. This apparatus includes a transmission window, a heater wire, and a flexible substrate that is provided in the transmission window. The flexible substrate includes: a surface-mounted-type electronic component; a land to which an electrode of the electronic component is electrically connected, and a conductive adhesive that is formed on the land and adheres the electrode of the electronic component and the land. When a longitudinal direction of a surface of the electronic component that opposes the land is a reference direction, a length along the reference direction of a contact surface between the land and the conductive adhesive is equal to or greater than twice a length along the reference direction of a mounting surface of the electrode of the electronic component.

A detection device of a light detection and ranging (lidar) device, a detection method, and a lidar device are provided. The detection device predicts the location of light spots of a reflected echo on a detector array, and reads electric signals of a subset of the photodetectors corresponding to the light spots. According to the detection method, the location on a detector array for light spots of a reflected echo is predicted according to a time of flight of a detection beam, a subset of the photodetectors corresponding to the light spots are activated, and their electric signals are read. All received light is detected, without increasing the receiving field of view, ambient light interference is suppressed, and the problem of shift of the light spots on a focal plane caused by optical path distortion is effectively solved.

A phase shifter includes a substrate layer, a cladding layer, and a waveguide. The phase shifter includes a waveguide and a heating element. The phase shifter includes a thermally conductive structure disposed on the cladding layer to disperse heat from the waveguide. The thermally conductive structure may include a metal strip disposed longitudinally along the beam, may include thermally conductive pads, and/or may include thermally conductive vias coupled between the cladding layer and the substrate layer. The phase shifter may be incorporated into light detection and ranging (LIDAR) devices, telecommunications devices, and/or computing devices.

A single photon counting sensor array includes one or more emitters configured to emit a plurality of pulses of energy, and a detector array comprising a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes one or more detectors, a plurality of which are configured to receive reflected pulses of energy that were emitted by the one or more emitters. A mask material is positioned to cover some but not all of the detectors of the plurality of pixels to yield blocked pixels and unblocked pixels so that each blocked pixel is prevented from detecting the reflected pulses of energy and therefore only detects intrinsic noise.

An example apparatus may include a first plate having a first side. A first plurality of fins may be integral with the first side of the first plate and protruding perpendicularly therefrom. The first plurality of fins may be arranged in first concentric circles separated radially by a first distance. The apparatus may also include a second plate having a first side. The second plate may be rotatably coupled to the first plate. A second plurality of fins may be integral with the first side of the second plate and protruding perpendicularly therefrom. The second plurality of fins may be arranged in second concentric circles separated radially by the first distance. Each fin of the second plurality of fins may interpose between adjacent fins of the first plurality of fins to transfer heat between the second plate and the first plate.

A method for operating a sensor system may include predefining a spatial region to be detected in the surroundings of a light emission device, scanning the predefined spatial region by light beams emitted by the light emission device in different spatial directions, driving an emitter with a control unit based on a random component, emitting light beams from the emitter in the direction of a scanning unit at random points in time, and deflecting the light beams, using the scanning unit, in the different spatial directions along which the light beams leave the light emission device. The sensor system may include the control unit and the light emission device where the light emission device includes the emitter and the scanning unit.