A distance measurement apparatus comprises a distance measurement optical signal generation part, a collimating part, a beam diameter change part, an emission direction control part, and a beam diameter change control part. The distance measurement optical signal generation part generates an optical signal for measuring the distance to a target. The collimating part collimates the optical signal. The beam diameter change part is able to change a beam diameter of the collimated light. The emission direction control part controls an emission destination of the collimated light with the diameter changed. The beam diameter change control part controls the changing of the beam diameter by the beam diameter change part according to the emission direction of an outgoing.

A distance measurement apparatus comprises a distance measurement optical signal generation part, a collimating part, a beam diameter change part, an emission direction control part, and a beam diameter change control part. The distance measurement optical signal generation part generates an optical signal for measuring the distance to a target. The collimating part collimates the optical signal. The beam diameter change part is able to change a beam diameter of the collimated light. The emission direction control part controls an emission destination of the collimated light with the diameter changed. The beam diameter change control part controls the changing of the beam diameter by the beam diameter change part according to the emission direction of an outgoing.

A transmitting unit of a LIDAR device includes at least two radiation sources for generating and emitting punctiform or linear electromagnetic beams into a scanning range, at least one of the radiation sources including an operating temperature settable as a function of an emission angle of the electromagnetic beams generated by the at least one radiation source. The different operating temperatures can generate beams having angle-dependent emission wavelengths, which can result in an improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio of a LIDAR device.

An optical sensor includes a plurality of detectors arranged in an array. Each detector of the plurality of detectors includes one or more absorption regions configured to receive an optical signal and generate charge carriers in response to receiving the optical signal; one or more readout regions configured to collect a portion of the charge carriers for output; and one or more control regions coupled to one or more control signals, the one or more control regions configured to control, in response to the one or more control signals, a flow of charge carriers from the one or more absorption regions to the one or more readout regions. The optical sensor includes driver circuitry configured to provide the control signals to enable or disable a subset of the plurality of detectors based on an operating mode of multiple operating modes.

Lidar transmission optics and systems project more laser pulse energy per pixel instantaneous field-of-view (IFOV) to a portion of a sensor field of view (FOV), e.g., a portion that would be expected to have both close and distant objects of interest, and proportionally less pulse energy per pixel IFOV to other portions of the sensor FOV, e.g., those that would be expected to have or see only close objects of interest. Optics such as diffractive optical elements (DOEs), gradient-index (GRIN) lenses, and/or compound lens systems can be used for producing desired irradiance distributions having multiple parts or regions. The optics and systems improve range performance by providing for more efficient use of the total available laser pulse energy than transmit optics that project uniform pulse energy per pixel IFOV across the sensor FOV.

Technologies described herein include a programmable power module for a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system. In some aspects, the programmable power module includes circuitry that supplies a bias voltage to a photodetector array, and a programmable interface comprising a serial interface and multiple configurable ports. Each one of the multiple configurable ports is configured as one of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) output port, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) input port, a digital output port, or a digital input port. The serial interface can be configured to receive program code defining a control voltage that causes the circuitry to set the bias voltage. A first configurable port of the multiple configurable ports can be connected to the circuitry and can be configured as a first DAC output port that outputs the control voltage to the circuitry.

The receiver captures an electromagnetic transmission carrying a bauded signal, such as a transmission from an orbiting satellite, and processes it for Doppler shift analysis. The electromagnetic transmission is captured and a non-linear operation is performed to expose a cyclostationary feature of the captured transmission that will define a rate-line. This rate-line will exist at a frequency that is related to the bauded signal and Doppler shift relative to the motion of the transmitter to the receiver. The rate-line frequency is tracked in time to generate data indicative of a Doppler shift associated with the satellite and processed by an estimator fed by satellite propagator to supply positioning, navigation and timing services at the receiver output.

Provided is a non-mechanical-scanning-type optical radar apparatus that is capable of long distance measurement and its cost is reduced. The optical radar apparatus includes: a light emitting section; and a light receiving system, the light receiving system at least including a focusing optical element and a distance sensor that includes a light receiver, the target field of view being projected on the light receiver through the focusing optical element, the distance sensor being configured to set an activation region in a part of the light receiver depending on the scanning with the light and measure a distance to the object with use of a signal from the activation region.

Provided is a driving apparatus including: a calculation unit which calculates a driving amount of an optical element based on a detection position and target position of the optical element; a correction unit which generates a correction driving amount obtained by correcting the driving amount based on the driving amount, a parameter corresponding to a tilt of the optical element, and either the detection position or the target position, and outputs the driving amount and the correction driving amount; a first driving unit which applies a first driving force corresponding to either one of the driving amount or the correction driving amount to a first driving source out of driving sources for moving the optical element in a predetermined direction; and a second driving unit which applies a second driving force corresponding to another one of the driving amount or the correction driving amount to a second driving source.

An apparatus includes a laser rangefinder, an imaging device aligned to an optical path of the laser rangefinder, a control interface to activate the laser rangefinder and to cause the imaging device to capture an image during an operating cycle of the laser rangefinder, and a display to display an image of an object captured by the imaging device and a corresponding distance to the target determined by the laser rangefinder. The imaging device can capture an image of an intended target, allowing the operator to verify that the ranged distance provided by the laser rangefinder corresponds to the intended target.